Mountain Biking in Crested Butte
The best singletrack in the rockies.
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The Crested Butte area has some of the best mountain biking in the country. This isn’t happenstance. Many believe that true mountain biking really began in Crested Butte. The more you ride here, the more you realize why mountain biking endures here.
Many of the rides are long and epic. Even the shorter rides access incredible mountain scenery. There is so much beauty in these hills, that one of the best ways to see as much as you can in one summer is on a bike. To the well conditioned, thirty to fifty miles in a day is possible. For the novice, half of that will be a challenge. Even so, you will cover more ground on a bike in one day than just about any form of outdoor transportation.
Most of the trails around here have been slowly transformed into bike trails by the sheer number of people who ride them and maintain them. Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA) is a very active local organization that is affiliated with the national organization IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association). CBMBA has been passionately involved in trail maintenance, trail protection, access, and land holder trust. Most of the small trail signs you’ll see along the way are compliments of CBMBA.
The high alpine areas of Crested Butte are fragile. Please ride carefully and don’t abuse the trails. Carry over wet areas. Stay on the main trail and don’t braid boggy areas. Show the rest of the world that mountain bikers do care.
Crested Butte Detailed Descriptions, Maps, and Current Status
Updated Saturday May 25, 2013
| Rides that are easily accessible from the Towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. These are generally shorter and technically less difficult than more outlying rides. |
Lower Loop
Conditions: May 24th, tw13 - The Lower Loop, the Upper Lower Loop, the Budd Trail, the Ruby Bend and the Woods Walk are all OPEN! After two complete days of having the big hot yellow ball in the sky, all these trails have had a huge turn around. The 12 pictures just above here tell the best story.
PLEASE NOTE: The Boyscout Tr. and the Miner Tr. out to Oh Be Joyful falls are still full of snow piles.....and its wet, really wet, don't bother going past the Gunsight Pass Road. Even the road itself has running water on it but it is contained in ruts and this is the best way on to or off of the Upper Lower. Boyscout & Miner - not good through the weekend at least. Also, the KB Connector (TTN) is really snowy in the trees - NOT Recommended. Everything else out in this area is ready for recreation, Go Get It. |
Good to Go |
Lupine Trail
Conditions: May 21st, tw13 The entire Lupine Trail is Open and ready for travel. There are two small size patches of snow to negotiate on the county road or double track section. Water is present in a couple areas on the northern section, especially above the parking lot on the Slate but everyday it dries out a fair bit more.
http://mtnbikehalloffame.com/page.cfm?pageid=20841 |
Good to Go |
Snodgrass Trail - #590
Conditions: Thursday May 23rd, twenty13 SNODGRASS TRAIL #590 IS OPEN!!!!!
Same ol' snow pile at the first stream crossing. Then the usual snow pile at opening time is sitting there in the middle of the ride also. It's going to melt fast but we suggest you wear wool socks when you go for the next week or so because you'll be walking thru a fair amount of cold snow. On a positive note, a huge trail crew (Kay and don) went and shoveled the 8 other spots off that had snow and that should get things drying quickly. The fallen timber was cut out Friday morning - "Thank You" RB & Real Balance Sports for the hatchet job. The Washington Gulch side has dried out quickly from the drains that were put in last Saturday. What a difference! Yes, there are still a couple damp spots along the way - but hey, it's Open....no drama.
The trail is on Ralph Allen & Sons property and they need everyone's cooperation. No walking, running, hiking or bicycling what so ever when it is 'closed'.
Thank you for respecting the Allen's needs! |
Good to Go |
Upper Loop / Tony’s Trail / Whetstone Vista
Conditions: May 20th, tw13 - Please READ... The Upper Loop is mostly dry. Tony's Trail (#603) is a good out or going further out to the golf course via the Divine Trail is dry and/or heading left on the Upper Upper Trail (#435 1a) to get to the Whetstone Vista Trail (#602) is also ready for travelers. The #602/Whetstone Vista Tr has the usual piles of snow in the trees but for the most part it is just fine. Going past Whetstone Vista to complete the #435 1a/Upper Upper is dramatically different from last week and it too, is OPEN all the way to Brush Creek. There are a couple patches of snow in the black forest leading up to the Upper Upper Pass but once over the Pass and heading down on the southern exposed side it is completely dry. |
Good to Go |
CBMR Mountain Trails
Conditions: May 22nd, tw13 - The only area that looks to be drying out is on the Columbine Trail. The snow line is creeping higher everyday but anything not in the sun or southern exposed is still pretty messy. Doing Columbine as an out and back is good, just a little short. As for any of the downhill trails, they are not considered open yet by the ski station management. Actually you could still ski most of the runs. Even warming house hill has a large patch of snow still on it.(Wed night, 22nd) |
Not Recommended |
| | Rides in the Brush Creek area, 2-3 miles South and East of the Town of Crested Butte. |
Strand Hill Tr #556
Conditions: 5.21.tw13 - Strand Hill Tr#556 is OPEN! The usual wetness is at the top where the single trail begins, but the snow is gone the rest of the way down and the trail is drying out nicely. Walk the top wet section, its short, but please don't jump out of the trail and ride next to it......its just as wet, ok. There are several wet spots to cross from side streams crossing the trail but all in all its pretty good. We will post pictures later when time permits. Also note that Bonus Tr #407 is 3 times dryer than it was just a couple days ago. Heading down Bonus Tr is clear of tree's and is a rippin downhill to the Canal Tr. |
Good to Go |
Deer Creek # 568
Conditions: FRIDAY May 24th, tw13 - An early morning scouting voyage out to Deer Cr. Tr. #568 resulted in a turn around (close to the top gate) on the double trail Deer Cr. road climb that precedes the single trail. Too much snow!!! Hopefully this accurate testimony saves you from trying it yourself. Please propagate this info amongst your riding pals to save them the trouble, also. So, spread the trail word....... the #568 is still NOT RECOMMENDED
It won't be long and it will be ready and we will be posting regular updates on conditions for this trail in order to make it easier in making a decision.
http://youtu.beh7Z8Ui8wadw |
Not Recommended |
Farris Creek Tr #736/ 402
Conditions: 5.22.tw13 -PLEASE PLEASE READ! Farris Creek and 402 are not recommended yet. Down in the trees on #402 is almost all snow still. Farris is certainly going to open soon, but its muddy and crappy down low right now. |
Not Recommended |
Teocalli Ridge Tr #557
Conditions: April 5th,2013 - We can all hope that the USFS gets this trail back open to bicycles this summer.
It is still posted as Closed to cyclestrians, suspiciously. |
Not Recommended |
| | Rides in the Cement Creek drainage East of CB South. |
Trail #409
Conditions: May 22nd, tw13 - #409 is ready for travel.
Bring your sense of humor. There are some minor patchs of snow and it will take pulling your shoes off and using your toes to count how many trees are across the trail. yikes |
Good to Go |
Walrod Cutoff Trail 418: The Caves Loop
Conditions: May 18th, tw13 - Travel on the Caves Trail is really good, climbing past the Caves Tr onto #409 is also good. Traveling around the sunny side of the hill on the Walrod Cutoff is dry now and is beginning to show signs of aspens opening.
It is multi use so be prepared to encounter other travelers. |
Good to Go |
Reno / Flag/ Bear / Deadman’s Gulch
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
Reno Ridge & Deadman’s Gulch
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
Trail #412, #405.2a, #405 and #409 1/2
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
| | More single trail in a 7 square mile area than anywhere else in the West. Central Colorado's treasured riding stash. |
Hartman Rocks
Conditions: May 22, 2013 - Hartman Rocks is now 'OPEN' The best detailed reports for all this area, as well as all mtn bike riding in the Gunnison Area is Gunnison Trails: http://gunnisontrails.com/?page_id=474
Check out the new Upper Collarbone sometime......real fast it is. |
Good to Go |
| | Rides near Kebler Pass, West of the Town of Crested Butte. |
Kebler Pass Wagon Road #606
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
The Dyke Trail
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
| | This area lies 10-20 miles South and East of Crested Butte. |
Doctor Park Trail #424
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride.
This trail is closed from March 1 until the Friday before Memorial Day for Big Horn Sheep habitat.
http://youtu.be/XFr1-I8X6oc |
Not Recommended |
| | Rides in the area of Gothic, 5 miles North of Mt. Crested Butte. Some rides like 403 start from the next drainage to the West. |
Rock Creek Trail #403
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
Trail Rider Trail #401
Conditions: April 5th, twenty13 - Snow still covers most of the ground and as trails melt out, we will post the current info per trail and date it so a quick decision can be made where to ride. |
Not Recommended |
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Trail descriptions and updates courtesy of The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Holly's Ride Guides, and The Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association. Trail Reporting Software and maps ©2000-2013 Thin Air Web. All rights reserved.
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