Even on a holiday weekend, an encounter with over a dozen vehicles on a twenty mile ride within the forest would be unusual except on the main road leading to developed recreation sites. Forest roads are generally less steep than forest trails. For beginner and intermediate bikers, forest roads are easier to ride than trails. Road or trail surfaces can change instantly from rocks to dirt, rutted to smooth, wet to dry, firm to soft. Drought or rain can turn a beginner trail into an expert trail.
Some trails receive considerable horseback and foot travel.
Please be considerate when overtaking or meeting these users. Trails are generally for more advanced mountain cyclists. Trails are indicated by the single dashed line on the Rio Grande National Forest Recreation Map and Travel Map. A route noted as intermediate may appear to be expert to a beginning cyclist or easy to an expert cyclist. In addition, the route may contain variable surface and terrain conditions.