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Mountain Biking in Crested Butte
The best singletrack in the rockies. |
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 Tuesday May 15, 2012
| Rides in the Brush Creek area, 2-3 miles South and East of the Town of Crested Butte. |
Deer Creek # 568
Conditions: 5/13/2k12 - Deer Creek #568 is Open!! What a difference a week makes. The angry uphill is dry and ride-able, as is all of Deer Cr as a complete loop. The Aspens are opening up like a Dr. Phil patient and displaying that surreal "look at me" green. Many pictures of the trail can be seen on our Interactive Trail Report. Check them out so you have an idea of what it looks like back there. Thanx go out to Bathje for cutting most of the downed lumber out. http://youtu.be/h7Z8Ui8wadw |
Good to Go |
Farris Creek Tr #736/ 402
Conditions: 5/4/2012 - PLEASE READ!
Trail 402 is NOT Recommended.....ok.
Farris Creek is early season wet but usable. #402 as an out and back is good - just don't head down past the hunters camp - it is very wet in the trees and crossing Middle Brush could be tricky, to even dangerous. |
Good to Go |
Strand Hill Tr #556
Conditions: 5/7/12 - From the top on down Strand is riding good. There are a few minor wet spots, nothing that will keep you from having a great time. If your thinking about doing the cork screw by double looping with Farris Creek be aware that the shady side of the downhill into Farris is still wet and slippery in a couple areas. |
Good to Go |
Teocalli Ridge Tr #557
Conditions: Attention: Teocalli Ridge Trail #557 is a U.S. Forest Service "Closed" Trail. The agency will be re-aligning and repairing this trail in the near future. Riding the West Brush Creek side to the top and then back out the same way is allowed. This trail does not usually open for use until early June and when it does it is only as an Out and Back. |
Not Recommended |
| | 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: 5/12/2012 - The Boyscout Trail or GB Loop as some call it has finally sucked up most of the wetness that was out there and it is riding quite nice. The usual wet spots are there in the dark timber, close to Oh Be Joyful but it can stay that way for along time and the rest of it is ready for travel.
The same can be said for the Miners Trail that goes out to the steep overlook above the water falls. Every thing in this area is doing good and is ready for all travelers. |
Good to Go |
Lupine Trail
Conditions: 4/22/2012 - The Lupine Trail is OPEN. Lots of different user groups will be on the trail, be kind as you cross paths with others. Remember there is absolutely NO parking in the Saddle Ridge Sub-division or on Gothic Road and/or Smith Hill County Road. Yes, parking on Slate River Road is fine. |
Good to Go |
Snodgrass Trail - #590
Conditions: 5/6/2k12 - Snodgrass Trail #590 is "OPEN". It has been cleared of all downfall and is in terrific shape. Have yourself a great ride/hike. |
Good to Go |
Upper Loop / Tony’s Trail / Whetstone Vista
Conditions: 5/7/2k12 - Open and in nice shape. All spurs and extensions are riding good. The Upper Upper all the way to Middle Brush is also clear and in nice shape. |
Good to Go |
CBMR Mountain Trails
Conditions: 5/7/12 - The majority of the trails on the mountain are still spotty for snow patches. It will require a week or two more before everything can be explored properly. With that said, the Columbine Trail could be ride-able this week. We'll check it out for you and post what we find. |
Not Recommended |
| | Rides in the Cement Creek drainage East of Crested Butte South. |
Trail #409
Conditions: 5/5/2k12 - Minor snow patches in the shadiest areas are still present. It isn't enough to stop travel and should be melted out completely in a few days. A great challenging ride with old klunker history abound. |
Good to Go |
Walrod Cutoff Trail 418: The Caves Loop
Conditions: Open for the 2012 Season. |
Good to Go |
Reno / Flag/ Bear / Deadman’s Gulch
Conditions: 5/15/2K12 - The uphill on Reno Road still has snow in several spots. On the sunny side of Reno Ridge things look much better. Flag is almost ready and then up in the dark forest of #426 it is patchy snow and boggy. As one can imagine, the switchbacks down the name sake Deadmans side are still not ready but you should see the bridge the beavers have built at the bottom. Those are some busy beavers! |
Not Recommended |
Reno Ridge & Deadman’s Gulch
Conditions: 5/15/2k12 - The exposed area at the top is certainly drying out but once one heads into the dark timber where it turns to trak it is snow patched and wet. Going down the Deadman swithbacks isn't quite ready either. (Snow) |
Not Recommended |
Trail #412, #405.2a, #405 and #409 1/2
Conditions: 4/19/2012 - Not even close to opening yet. It will most likely be one of the earliest openings in recent time. Check back in to read up on conditions before heading that way. |
Not Recommended |
| | Rides near Kebler Pass, West of the Town of Crested Butte. |
Kebler Pass Wagon Road
Conditions: 5/7/12 - This Trail is "Not" ready for any use, wheeled or by foot. Melt off of winters snow is in process and this leaves most of the trail in a very wet state. Please don't use it. |
Not Recommended |
The Dyke Trail
Conditions: 4/19/2012-This winters thin snow pack should lend itself to an early riding/hiking season. Postings for each Trail will continually be updated. |
Not Recommended |
| | This area lies 10-20 miles South and East of Crested Butte. |
Doctor Park Trail #424
Conditions: ATTENTION ALL USERS - DOCTOR PARK TR #424 IS STILL CLOSED AND WILL BE UNTIL MAY 25TH! It is a Closure by the US FOREST SERVICE for Big Horn Sheep Habitat Protection. This is part of the current Travel Management Plan and will be an annual USFS Trail Closure.
We will post trail conditions just before it opens. |
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: 5/15/2K12 - Rock Creek TR. 403 is still snow covered on most of the down hill side to Gothic Road. Unlike Trail Rider, Rock Creek doesn't really have a good section of out and back that is usable before the entire trail is open. |
Not Recommended |
Trail Rider Trail #401
Conditions: 5/7/2012 - Trail Rider Tr #401 as a complete loop is still snowed in. Schofield Pass is buried.
Gothic Road up to Rustlers Gulch is dry and hard packed. Ride up Rustlers to 401 and then to the top of the multiple switchback area - walk your bike thru the mud and snow section and you can continue all the way across the contoured section almost to the steep switchback area... then turn around and enjoy the downhill back out to Gothic Road. The crossing of Rustlers Creek is around 17 inches deep.
The area from Rustlers heading south to Judd Falls is also in dry enough shape to do as a minor loop if your looking for more. As you can imagine there are small sections of snow/water to deal with but mostly the trail is dry and usable. The trees have been cut out on both sides of Rustlers, north or south. |
Not Recommended |
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Hartman Rocks
Conditions: Sage grouse closures are lifted as of May 15th. The best detailed reports for all the area known as Hartman Rocks, as well as all mtn bike riding in the Gunnison Area is Gunnison Trails: http://gunnisontrails.com/?page_id=474
Cows are coming to Hartman Rocks.
May 14, 2012 - The gates at Hartman Rocks that we're used to just flying through are all going to be closed for about the next month as the local rancher will be grazing cows in the area. These guys are great to work with and have been very supportive of recreation at Hartman Rocks. New, dated signs will be at each gate and until they are replaced with signs stating that they can be left open, all gates need to be securely closed at all times. Please do your best to be certain that the gates latch securely; sometimes they swing clear "through" the latch and are not secure. They are spring loaded but they are not foolproof. If you find the gates open, please close them. Here's a list of the gates and locations:
Small green gate on Fenceline Trail at the top of Water Treatment Trail.
2 small green gates on Joshos Trail.
1 wire gate near the Powerline Road on the trail that leads to Sawtooth and Bambis Trails. (The rancher was kind enough to install, it his expense, a narrow cattle guard crossing at the top of Bambis Trail that you can use to avoid this gate. It's a little bit farther depending on where you are and where you're going but you won't have to get off your bike and mess with this wire gate.)
The really big green gate on Enchanted Forest climbing up toward the Powerline Road.
The small gate at the top of Jack's Trail will likely be locked closed.
Thanks for respecting the multiple uses that take place on these lands. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please let us know.
Gunnison Trails |
Good to Go |
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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 ©2000-2012 Thin Air Web. All rights reserved.
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