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4,406 ft
Distance
35 ft
Climb
-74 ft
Descent
00:07:36
Avg time
-40 ft
Altitude change
8,681 ft
Altitude min
8,737 ft
Altitude max
8,720 ft
Altitude start
8,681 ft
Altitude end
-0.9%
Grade
-16.8%
Grade max
7.2%
Grade min
1,555 ft
Distance climb
2,031 ft
Distance down
663 ft
Distance flat
00:07:36
Avg time
Observatory Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaMagnolia
Nederland, Colorado -
Difficulty Rating
-
Local Popularity100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 80 in Trail Running
- 95 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionBoth Directions
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Climb DifficultyGreen
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Physical RatingModerate
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land OwnerUSFS - Boulder Ranger District
A loose and fast trail with a couple of quick turns through the woods. The sections between the lot and access road are wide, mostly loose-over-hard with a small amount of baseball sized rocks strewn about and some roots here and there. This eastern section of trail could really be considered "Green" or "Easy". The section of trail west of the access road the trail climbs over a small rise and connects with Lookout Trail. This section is significantly more chunky with some larger boulders and step downs. If you're only interested in riding the easier parts, veer off when the woods open up to the access road.
Trail Supporters
USFSLand Manager
Nederland Area Trails OrganizationBuilder- Maintainer
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 9 rides
- 8 miles average
6 Months
- 37 rides
- 8 miles avg distance
All
- 658 rides
- Last: Jun 24, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Observatory Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
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- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
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- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
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- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Directions to observatory trailhead
(39.946890, -105.517530)
Photos
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Routes with this trail
★ 4.5 • 6 miles • 617 ft • 6 • Loop •
This short ride will hit the flowy parts of West Magnolia. Loop it multiple times or incorporate it into...
West Magnolia Tour Featured
★ 2.0 • 8 miles • 739 ft • 2 • Loop •
Unlike many classic Front Range rides, this one doesn't start with a big climb and end with a downhill....
West Mag to Eldora and Back Featured
★ 2.5 • 17 miles • 2,260 ft • 10 • Out & Back •
Ride from West Mag to Eldora and back! Getting to Kinglet is a ride in and of itself with the closest...
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Nearby Trails
- Connector 1,447 ft
- Clear Cut 1,624 ft
- Observatory Spur Road 1,857 ft
- Aspen Alley Alt Line 1,903 ft
- West Magnolia Winter Use Packed Loop 1,975 ft
- By todd
Trailforks & contributors - #13746 - 2,925 views
Frequently Asked Questions About Observatory
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Where is Observatory located?
Observatory is located in Magnolia, Nederland, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Magnolia trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.94689, -105.51753.
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How hard is Observatory?
Observatory is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
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What is the elevation gain for Observatory?
Observatory has 35 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 74 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 8,681 ft to 8,737 ft.
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Is Observatory a point to point trail?
Observatory is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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