About 30 miles west of Laramie stands the Snowy Range, a gorgeous stretch of mountains thick with trees, streams and lakes… and mountain bike rides. A popular downhill ride is the North Fork Trail, which crosses the North Fork of the Little Laramie River. The trail’s upper end, which is the best place to start, lies along Brooklyn Lake Road. The 4.4-mile-long trail cruises through an open park-like setting before dropping into a steep ravine that cradles the river. Switchbacks take you down to the river, where bridges help you cross it.

The trail ends in the North Fork Campground about five miles west of Centennial on Highway 130. Due to the trail’s downhill nature, it’s best to use a shuttle system for this ride. Or, drop the kids off at the top and drive down to meet them in the campground.

Closer to Centennial are the Little Laramie and Corner Mountain loop trails. Both wind about seven miles through forests of aspen, spruce, Douglas fir and lodgepole pine. Bobbing up and down across the landscape, the trails never prove too intimidating for novice and intermediate riders.

Ambitious bikers can start the day at the top of the North Fork Trail, then follow the Sand Lake Road down to the Little Laramie Trail and, if you still have energy, cruise back down Highway 130 to the Corner Mountain Trail.