Oil Well Flats, A Winter Wounderland
Oil Well Flats is one of southern Colorado’s hidden gems for mountain biking. It offers a mix of slickrock, flowy singletrack, and rugged desert terrain just north of Cañon City. The trail system is situated at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 feet, offering wide-open views of the Wet Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo range, and Pikes Peak in the distance.
Trail Overview
🚵♂️ Trail Network: About 15 to 20 miles of connected singletrack
Skill Level: Beginner to advanced intermediate with a variety of technical rock features, punchy climbs, and fast descents
Popular Routes:
- Fracture – fast and flowy, a great warm-up
- Anticline – more technical with rocky ledges and great views
- Tectonic Shift – a longer loop with challenging climbs and fun drops
- Fire Canyon – smoother and scenic, perfect for a cool-down
Trail Surface: Hard-packed dirt, slickrock, and sandstone ledges with some loose gravel
Elevation Gain: Moderate, usually between 600 and 800 feet, depending on your loop
Water: Bring your own, as there is none on site.
Best Time to Ride
Spring and fall offer the best conditions with mild weather and tacky dirt. Summer can be hot and dry. The area drains well, so it is often rideable even after rain when higher-elevation trails are still muddy or snow-covered.
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed throughout this area. Please camp only in designated sites and refrain from creating new sites or fire rings. Contact the BLM office for information on current fire bans, and please follow all fire restrictions.
Access and Directions
From downtown Cañon City, take Red Canyon Road (County Road 9) north about nine miles. The main trailhead and parking lot are clearly marked on the right. Primitive camping is allowed in designated BLM spots nearby which makes it easy to plan a weekend of riding and camping.
