Colorado · Mountain biking · West Magnolia · Near Idaho Springs

Handshake

0.2 mi
distance
Intermediate
difficulty
Sep
best months

Is Handshake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Handshake is a mountain biking spot in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits at about 8,700 feet, and the route is a short 0.16-mile stretch with no elevation gain, so it's a quick stop rather than a climb. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Coal Creek Canyon weather station show July highs around 73°F with lows near 48°F, while winter highs sit in the low 30s. Several other spots are close by. North Observatory and Observatory Trail are both about 0.1 mile away, West Magnolia campground is about 0.1 mile away, and Eldora Summer Slab is about 1.4 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    West Magnolia

    Campground

    Campground · 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Sundance Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep

    Best time to visit Handshake

    Best months: September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 16°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 15°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 20°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 24°

      13 wet

    5. May

      55° / 33°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 41°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 48°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 46°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 39°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 30°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 21°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 15°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Coal Creek Canyon, CO, 7.9 mi away at 8,950 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors