Round Trip Distance: 5.4 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 6408 - 6592 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Phil's World
Fee: none
Attractions: Fun option
The Stinking Spring Loop is part of the Phil's World Mountain Bike Trails System near Cortez, Colorado. Stinky makes a 5 mile loop that covers a variety of singletrack ranging from fast downhill to rocky rims and washes. Most of the trail is at the intermediate skill level but there are a couple of spots where more advanced skills will keep you in the saddle.
The Stinking Springs Loop begins at a junction with the Ledges Loop and the Rib Cage trail. Stinky is an optional trail that can be skipped all together but to get to it will require at a minimum following the Kokopelli Bike & Board, Coco Race and Abajo trails.
Stinky starts out on a slight uphill grade along an easy dirt track that parallels the return side of the Ledges Loop. If you are riding the Ledges Loop first there is a short connector that ties the two trails together and skips the uphill portion of Stinky.
The climb gets a little steeper and rockier as the trail climbs a hill to its high point.
From the high point the trail turns toward the south and passes a sign that says 'Maxxit!'. From there it starts a fun downhill run of dips and rollers.
The trail ends up dropping into a wash that has a ledgy climb coming out of it.
From the wash the trail continues along where it climbs up a rounded topped hill.
The trail works its way eastward and ends up on a rim overlooking a small canyon. From here the trail travels around the rim along broken slickrock.
The route continues along the rim until it ends up heading around to the west side of the hill.
Someone with a nice sense of humor had a lot of fun decorating the trails in Phil's World.
The trail angles down the hillside as it leaves the mesa and wraps around the upper end of a wash. From there it works its way back toward where it began as it closes the loop. There are a few rocky stretches but there is also a lot of smooth dirt track as the trail finishes up.
