more stats
1.0 mile
Distance
-839 ft
Descent
00:06:32
Avg time
-841 ft
Altitude change
7,489 ft
Altitude min
8,330 ft
Altitude max
8,330 ft
Altitude start
7,490 ft
Altitude end
-15.2%
Grade
-42.7%
Grade max
0.8%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance down
39 ft
Distance flat
00:06:32
Avg time

Skull Bucket Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Prince Creek & Crown Trail System
    Carbondale, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    45 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #115560 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #137886 in Trail Running
    • #132163 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Season
    Winter closure for bikes on this BLM route is Dec. 1 through April 15.
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office

Skull Bucket Trail is a ripping fast descent down a major gully in the upper Prince Creek area. The trail is considered a one-way downhill-only trail, not recommended for uphill bike use or by uphill hikers. Access the trail by climbing up Creek Side and Next Jen.

The short entry drop into the gully is very steep, you'll need brakes in good condition and strong technical skill to make it down without dabbing. Once in the gully you might see the namesake bucket hanging from a tree, as well as the occasional skull and other large mammal vertebrae. The gully is fast and straightforward compared to Ginormous, but it does feature the occasional feature to jump and numerous naturally banked turns.

The trail finishes at Prince Creek Road. Cross the road, ride through the jug handle parking area / camping area to find Skill Saw (Lower Creek Side) and Creek Side where you can continue either up or down with your ride.

Trail Supporters
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 18 miles average
6 Months
  • 8 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 65 rides
  • Last: Jun 16, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Skull Bucket Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 3, 2025 @ 11:10am
Jul 3, 2025
 Large tree down across trail, blocking trail Cattle used trail creating small branches and sticks to cover top part of trail. Trail is hard to...
Jul 2, 2025 @ 1:33pm
Jul 2, 2025
 Fallen tree on path (long ways), cattle used the upper part and created a lot of branch /stick hazards along trail, then you lose the trail where...
May 4, 2025 @ 10:41am
May 4, 2025
Jun 26, 2023 @ 2:01pm
Jun 26, 2023
 Extremely dry and loose, which is kind of fun but be ready. Tons of cattle on the trail so slow down around blind corners and rollers. Make sure...
Jun 18, 2023 @ 5:05am
Jun 18, 2023
 Portions of the trail are covered in cow and there are sections that are completely chundered up. Cows were on the trail making it difficult to...
more »
Status:
on Jul 3, 2025
Dry
Avg: 3.55 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
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  • Snow Groomed
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  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
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  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
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        Directions to skull-bucket trailhead (39.335150, -107.134410)

        Photos

        3 more »
        154 |
        Jun 10, 2020 @ 8:30pm
        Jun 10, 2020
        135 |
        Oct 20, 2017 @ 5:34pm
        Oct 20, 2017
        150 |
        Oct 20, 2017 @ 5:34pm
        Oct 20, 2017

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        Prince Creek & Crown Trail System

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Skull Bucket

        ▼ Where is Skull Bucket located?
        Skull Bucket is located in Prince Creek & Crown Trail System, Carbondale, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Prince Creek & Crown Trail System trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.33515, -107.13441.
        ▼ How hard is Skull Bucket?
        Skull Bucket is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 15.2%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Skull Bucket?
        The trail has 839 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,489 ft to 8,330 ft.
        ▼ How long is Skull Bucket?
        Skull Bucket is 1.0 mile long. The trail type is singletrack.

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