Mountain Biking Trails
Enjoy the extensive network of mountain bike trails that cover hundreds of
miles around Crested Butte and the surrounding Gunnison National Forest. These
suggested self-guided tours are described as leaving Mt. Crested Butte Town
Center. Accurately depicted topographical trail maps, which detail these trails
and others available in the area, are available at local mountain bike shops.
Some trail descriptions can be found below the chart. Trail Report >>
Legend
Easy Single Track - Smooth with occasional obstacles. May include some
moderately steep sections.
Adv. Single Track - May include steep, rocky, hairpin switchbacks;
exposure; slope-sided sections. Requires sensible use of brakes, good terrain
reading ability, proper shifting techniques.
Portage - Carrying your bike over unrideable sections.
Private Property - Trails subject to closure at any time due to cattle
grazing or other reasons. Stay on designated trail.
Car Pool - Reduced pavement or dusty gravel road section.
Mileage - Round trip distance.
Elevation Gain - Difference between lowest and highest points.
Ratings
Novice - 5 to 15 miles/about 2 hours. Rider does not have to be in great
physical condition.
Hard Novice - 10 to 20 miles/2 to 3 hours. Includes some single track
riding, some climbing and descending with occasional steep and or short rocky
sections.
Intermediate - 15 to 25 miles/3 to 5 hours. Requires more single track
riding experience and more stamina. Usually involves more climbing and some
technical sections.
Hard Intermediate - Up to 30 miles/4 to 6 hours. No more technical than
intermediate, but climbs are longer and steadier.
Advanced - 25 to 30 miles/4 to 6 hours. More technical single tracks and
occasional portaging. Requires strong stamina.
Expert - 30 miles or more/5 to 7 hours. Highly technical single tracks.
Steeper and longer climbs that may require portaging. Rides along at a quick
pace and require excellent stamina.
Novice
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Gothic |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
800 |
| Pittsburgh |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
300 |
| Snodgrass (lower) |
• |
|
|
• |
|
|
• |
|
5 |
200 |
Hard Novice
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Gunsight Loop |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
13 |
600 |
| Irwin Lodge |
|
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
• |
23 |
1,800 |
| Mt. CB Loop |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
6 |
200 |
| Snodgrass |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
• |
|
9 |
400 |
| Upper Loop |
• |
|
|
• |
|
|
• |
• |
12 |
600 |
Intermediate
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Farris Creek |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
20 |
1,000 |
| Farris to Strand Hill |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
20 |
1,500 |
| Gunsight Loop |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
•• |
|
|
13 |
600 |
| Oh Be Joyful |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
17 |
1,100 |
| Poverty Gulch |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
1,500 |
| Splains Gulch |
|
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
22 |
1,400 |
| Strand Hill |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
18 |
1,500 |
| Washington-Slate |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
• |
|
|
22 |
2,100 |
Hard Intermediate
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Dyke Trail |
|
|
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
16 |
1,000 |
| Middle Brush Creek |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
|
20-30 |
1,500-2,000 |
| Paradise Divide |
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
|
30 |
2,600 |
Advanced
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Green Lake |
|
• |
• |
|
• |
|
|
|
14 |
1,700 |
| Reno/Flag/Bear |
• |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
• |
22 |
3,000 |
| Teocali Ridge |
• |
• |
• |
|
• |
|
|
|
25 |
2,000 |
| #401 |
• |
• |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
24 |
2,000 |
| #403 |
• |
• |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
20 |
2,700 |
| #409 |
• |
• |
• |
|
• |
|
|
|
26 |
1,200 |
Expert
| Paved Road | Graded Road | Rugged Dirt Road | Easy Single Track | Adv. Single Track | Portage | Private Property | Car Pool | Length (miles) | Vert. Rise (feet) |
| Gunsight Loop |
|
• |
• |
• |
|
|
|
|
13 |
600 |
| Gunsight Pass |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
•• |
• |
• |
22 |
3,200 |
| Reno/Flag/Bear |
• |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
• |
22 |
3,000 |
| #410 |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
30 |
3,000 |
Gunnison Area Bike Rides
| Bike Rides |
Rating |
Approx. Miles |
Approx. Altitude Gain |
Comments |
| Maggie Pass |
Easy |
15 |
700' |
Nice loop. Smooth roads. |
| Lower Lost Canyon |
Easy |
15 |
1000' |
Good out and back trip. |
| Alan Lane/ Cranor Hill |
Easy |
10 |
200' |
Easy pavement-dirt roads. |
| Radio Tower Loop |
Easy |
2 |
300' |
Nice short loop. Some technical terrain. |
| Long Gulch |
Easy |
12 from hwy |
700' |
Old mine sites. |
|
| McIntosh/ Steers Loop |
Moderate |
12 |
750' |
Great views of Gunnison |
| Signal Peak |
Moderate |
14 |
1000' |
Return down the Colorado Trail. |
| Rage in the Sage |
Moderate |
20 |
1500' |
Famous race course. |
| Big Mesa |
Moderate |
25 |
1500' |
Nice views of Gunnison. |
| Almont Loop |
Moderate |
25 |
2000' |
Set shuttle to avoid pavement riding. |
| Kazar Basin |
Moderate |
8 from hwy |
400' |
Great lakeshore ride. |
| Becks |
Moderate |
1/2 |
100' |
Fun single track. |
| Luge |
Moderate |
1 |
100' loss |
Part of "Rage" course. |
| Upper Luge |
Moderate |
2 |
150' loss |
Fast, smooth single track. |
| Dry Gulch |
Moderate |
10 from hwy |
1000' |
Good loop. |
|
| Cabin Creek |
Difficult |
25 |
2000' |
Long loop-some pavement. |
| Agate Creek |
Difficult |
20 |
2000' loss |
Great technical downhill singletrack. |
| Sidestep |
Difficult |
3/4 |
100' |
Technical slickrock |
| Freefall |
Difficult |
1/2 |
100' loss |
Steep, technical downhill. |
| Outback |
Difficult |
1 1/2 |
100' |
Fun roller coaster single track |
| Dave-Mos |
Difficult |
1 1/2 |
200' |
Technical single track |
| V-Drop |
Difficult |
1/2 |
200' loss |
Steep downhill |
| Ring Dyke Trail |
Difficult |
3/4 |
100' |
Fun slickrock |
| Fossil Ridge |
Difficult |
30 |
3500' |
Best done with shuttle. Soon to be wilderness. |
| Powerline Hill |
Difficult |
1 1/2 |
350' |
Switchbacks! |
| Wiensy'z |
Difficult |
1 |
75 |
New trail. |
| Lands End |
Difficult |
30 |
3000' |
Long, high altitude loop. |
Distances are from town and back unless noted.
TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS
Expert Bike Rides
Reno/Flag/Bear
22 miles round trip. 2700 feet cumulative elevation gain. A true
challenge. This ride is a combination of the Reno Divide, Flag and
Bear Creek Trails. There will be a carpool to the trailhead on Cement
Creek Road for this ride.
Teocalli Ridge
25 miles round trip. 2200 feet cumulative elevation gain. Plenty
of intermediate and advanced single track make this a challenge.
Trail 401
24 miles round trip. 2800 feet cumulative elevation gain. This one
is a favorite among those who frequent the trails around Crested
Butte. It's difficult, but well worth the effort. It offers a lot
of advanced single track.
Intermediate Rides
Farris Creek
20 miles round trip. 1400 feet cumulative elevation gain. A great
intermediate ride off of Brush Creek Road.
Green Lake
14 miles round trip. 1700 feet cumulative elevation gain. One of
the more convenient rides around. The trailhead is located right
in town.
Snodgrass
10 miles round trip. 900 feet cumulative elevation gain. One of
Crested Butte's most well-known trails. Offers some beautiful scenery
and a chance for some of the best wildflower viewing around. _Open
partial season only._
Strand Hill
17 miles round trip. 1500 feet cumulative elevation gain. A local
favorite with plenty of single track riding.
Washington Gulch to Slate River
22 miles round trip. 2000 feet cumulative elevation gain. Graded
dirt road takes you west of town on Washington Gulch Road and returns
to town via Slate River Road.
Beginner Rides
Pittsburgh
16 miles round trip. 800 feet cumulative elevation gain. This ride
takes you out Slate River Road to the old Pittsburg Townsite. Entire
ride is on dirt road.
The Lower Loop
10 miles round trip. One of Crested Butte's most popular trails,
recently reopened to the public. An excellent choice for those new
to the sport or those of you looking for a more mellow yet very
scenic ride. Great for wildflower viewing.
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