Shortcut #1
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 76 ft
- climb
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–Apr
- best months
Shortcut #1 is a short, low-elevation mountain biking route in Franklin Mountains State Park in Texas, managed by State Park and Recreation. The nearest town is Westway Number 6 Colonia, about 3 miles away. The route is an out-and-back that covers roughly 0.4 miles, with a total climb and descent of 76 feet. It starts at a low point of about 4,554 feet and peaks at about 4,638 feet, and the steepest stretch comes within the first 0.11 miles at about a 10% grade. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at La Tuna, which sits lower than the route, show October highs around 78°F with lows near 54°F, and April highs around 79°F. Summer highs typically reach the mid-90s. Shortcut #2 lies about half a mile away, and the Schaeffer Shuffle and Tom Mays Trail are within a mile. The Aztec Caves Trail is about 1.3 miles off.
Best time to go · Oct–Apr
Best time to visit Shortcut #1
Best months: October–April. 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.
Jan
57° / 34°
2 wet
Feb
63° / 39°
2 wet
Mar
70° / 45°
1 wet
Apr
79° / 51°
1 wet
May
88° / 60°
1 wet
Jun
95° / 70°
2 wet
Jul
94° / 73°
5 wet
Aug
92° / 72°
5 wet
Sep
87° / 66°
4 wet
Oct
78° / 54°
3 wet
Nov
66° / 41°
2 wet
Dec
56° / 34°
2 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at La Tuna 1 S, TX, 4.9 mi away at 3,870 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more rides worth the drive
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Shortcut #2
Next door
0.44-mile out-and-back singletrack with 157 ft gain in Texas.
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Gasline Road
~45 min drive
6.31-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 527 ft elevation gain.
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Schaeffer Shuffle
~1 min drive
1.56-mile out-and-back singletrack with 473 ft gain in Texas.
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Aztec Caves Trail
~2 min drive
0.61-mile out-and-back singletrack with 659 ft gain in Texas.
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Lower Sunset
~3 min drive
7.10-mile out-and-back singletrack with 910 ft gain in Texas.
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Upper Foothills
~3 min drive
2.23-mile out-and-back singletrack with 347 ft gain in Texas foothills.
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Aztec to Mundy's Gap
~3 min drive
0.53-mile out-and-back singletrack with 625 ft gain in Texas.
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Scenic Road
~5 min drive
2.09-mile out-and-back singletrack with 969 ft gain in Texas.
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Polecat Alley
~5 min drive
1.03-mile out-and-back singletrack with 148 ft gain in Texas.
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Blue Moon Road
~5 min drive
1.23-mile singletrack out-and-back with 184 ft elevation gain in Texas.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
