Mountain Biking in Crested Butte
Activities > Mountain Biking in Crested Butte
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It is a Colorado cliché touted in many Rocky Mountain resorts that you come for the winter, but stay for the summer. No where could that be truer than in Crested Butte!
Crested butte is surrounded by 1.6 million acres of National Park, and as winter’s white blanket rolls back up to the peaks in April and May the full splendour of the Rockies in spring takes its place.
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There are over 500 miles of off road bike trails, plus many more miles of gravel roads to cater to every level of rider. Some great trails, like upper loop, start only a few hundred yards from your front door at the San Moritz Condos. For a family excursion, ride the dedicated bike route from Mount Crested Butte out to “Peanut Lake” near Crested Butte. Flatiron Sports offer kids “tag alongs” that attach to their parents’ seat posts for a sociable family ride.
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For the more adventurous, Crested Butte offers some very challenging and technical rides on narrow single track through alpine tundra with devilish switchbacks and stunning views. Downhill mountain bikers have the luxury of the Red Lady Express lift which will carry you and your bike to the top of the aptly named Rollercoaster run. A blue by winter, it’s a black by summer, and cutting through the trees onto lower Avery leads you to some jumps before dropping you back to the chairlift. The Red Lady also caters to families more interested in spotting marmots on their leisurely descent, rather than how much vertical they can cover in the day.
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The ride up from Crested Butte to Gothic and beyond to the aptly named Emerald Lake and the entrance to the 401 trail, is truly majestic. A good gravel road means you can take this as easy or hard as you wish, with a rewarding climb which is mostly gradual for the best part of 1600ft. Fabulous views down the East River valley gives way to glimpses of Crested Butte mountain at 12,162ft, now ten miles distant. 401 trail, in parts over 11,000 feet, starts just past the Emerald Lake, by Schofield Pass, and descends through thick Alpine forest, across ridges, and through meadows. 401 epitomizes everything that is great about riding in Crested Butte.
You can pick up the excellent, and free, Crested Butte Summer map, and this gives you the inside scoop on signature rides such as Teocali Ridge, Deer Creek, and the Strand. The Crested Butte Bike Trails Map available from the Alpineer, costs $5, and its weatherproof finish makes it a must for the keen rider, with over 40 trails listed with mileage, vertical and difficulty ratings.
Road biking from Crested Butte
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For the roadies, do not be put off by all those knobbly tyres on muddy dual suspension bikes atop the 4WD roof racks. Gunnison County has hundreds of miles of roads with wide bike lanes at each side. The thirty mile ride from Crested Butte down to Gunnison is a gentle downhill all the way, perfect for the recreational rider looking to take in the views, and a high octane anaerobic speed fest for those doing some altitude training. Ride on through Gunnison, along the Blue Mesa Reservoir, and along The Black Canyon - deeper in parts than the Grand Canyon. Cycle in any direction and you can easily find quiet roads, courteous drivers, and the reward of magnificent scenic rides.
Equipment and Rentals
Oz and GJ have owned Flatiron Sports for 26 years. I met Oz on the Westwall chair and having chatted about sailing in the BVI, which Oz knows well, I thought I better check out his shop. It’s the business! All the staff are not only knowledgeable about the kit they sell and rent, but they also clearly love what they do, and love living in Crested Butte. They know the mountain by winter and summer, and they tune their bikes (and their skis in winter), so you can get the most out of their backyard as well. These guys make sure you not only look the part, but stock a range of gear for each season that really enables you to enjoy the mountains to the fullest extent. To say there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor clothing, would be belittling the Rockies, but Flatiron can equip you for the hottest summer’s day and the chilliest winter morning.
Flatiron Sports has a good range of quality Kona mountain bikes, with both dual suspension and front suspension-only models. The same guys maintain the bikes, as prepare your skis and boards in the winter. They know their equipment, and the terrain they are used on. They are only too happy to advise on the kind of ride YOU are looking for.
Book your bike online, 14 days before you arrive, and receive 15% off. www.flatironsports.com
For another full range of biking, hiking and camping equipment to buy look no further than The Alpineer who, as they say themselves “ have been supplying gear to a town and its visitors who are obsessed with being in the backcountry since 1969” . North face, Marmot, Pearl Izumi, Patagonia- microfleeces, tents, lights, camelbaks, baselayers, activewear, bikewear …… visit www.alpineer.com
Altitude Biking Tips
There is less oxygen this close to heaven so ease into the riding - give yourself time to acclimatize.
Carry plenty of water - it is much easier to become dehydrated at altitude so make a conscious effort to drink plenty throughout the day, especially when riding.
Ride early, afternoon showers can be expected.
Carry a shell jacket, food, gloves, arm and leg warmers and a hat in case of changing conditions.
A pump, spare inner tube, patch kit, and bike multi-tool should cover most eventualities, to get you home.
A helmet is mandatory.