The mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado is a little slice of heaven baked by the sun and carved from the desert. Singletrack trails crisscross the desert around the now-famous 18 road and even more trails skip along the spiny backs of nearby ridges that protrude from the mountains. Unless there’s a storm clouding the sky, sunsets light up the horizon nightly and stars blaze from one side of your vision to the other.

Camping on 18 Road – Pro Tips

• You only need one bike to ride in this zone and it could easily be a well-maintained 29er hardtail or a short-travel cross country bike. Either will do. Leave anything bigger at home—you won’t use it.
• Bring water. More than you believe you and two other people need. You’ll drink all of it.
• Bring sunscreen. It’s a brutal, unshaded world out there. Better yet, bring a sunshade.
• Visit during the early Spring or late, late Fall. Temperatures are more bearable during these times.
• There’s overflow camping just off the main road. This camping can get crowded but it’s mostly a free-for-all, too. Be courteous.
• Bring TP. The bathrooms get hit hard on the weekends and necessary supplies can be hard to come by.
• Visit the Hot Tomato for the best pizza you’ve ever had. Unless you’re from New York.