CRESTED BUTTE, CO
| Pros | Cons |
| Mountain biking birthplace (arguably) | High elevation riding, sits at 8900 ft |
| Over 700+ miles of trail | Hard to get to, 4 hours from Denver. Lack of affordable nearby airports |
| Options to ride straight out of town | You’ll hate your hometown trails afterward |
| It’s a mountain bike party, all the time | |
| Downhill options at Mt. Crested Butte |
crested butte mountain biking
Crested Butte is a top adventure destination in Colorado, earning one of our top spots for mountain destinations. When the snow melts and summer comes, Crested Butte transforms into a biking getaway where trails spanning hundreds of miles and intertwine with scenic wilderness. The town is also surrounded by alpine lakes and rivers for SUP and kayaking after the snow melts. Hiking trails are plentiful right out of town, and hikers will be rewarded with scenic vistas, potential for wildilfe spotting, and wildflowers of every color.
Crested Butte has impressive mountain biking stats – with more than 700 miles of singletrack to choose from, bikers of all skill levels can find adventure in these mountains. Crested Butte is home to natural and man-made downhill and cross-country trails ranging from easy green singletrack, to double diamond rollers.
MUST RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS IN CRESTED BUTTE
- Close to town riding options:
- Snodgrass (Intermediate)
- Great trail to ride out of town and an intro to the area, it’s 7.3 miles out and back and provides a great idea of what riding in CB is like and has some beautiful overlooks of Mt. Crested Butte
- 401 Trail (Intermediate to Advanced riders only)
- High alpine riding, shuttle recommended if you’re not into climbing
- One of the highest trails in the country that will take you to 11,335’ and a must do rides. It’s a 14-mile loop that is 60% singletrack after taking the dirt road up
- Features alpine-style riding, leading into luscious green fields and aspens. You get it all with this ride!
- Snodgrass (Intermediate)
- Intermediate / Advanced local’s favorite rides
- Doctors Park
- If you’re up for a 14.5-mile climb for a gnarly 6-mile shred, this is your trail my enduro friend.
- You can shuttle this ride if you still want all the shred but none of the grind
- Teocalli Ridge
- About 15 minutes outside of town
- You climb 2,184 feet over 6.8 miles, some of it may be hike-a-bike. But when you’re on the top, get ready for one heck of a downhill!
- Downhill park riding (Intermediate/Advanced)
- Evolution Park at Mt. Crested Butte (downhill park)
- Although it isn’t the biggest of the bike parks, it offers 30 miles of singletrack that can please most intermediate and even some beginner downhill riders. There are enough trails for the advanced downhill riders as well that you won’t be disappointed
- Doctors Park
Teocalli Ridge Trail
WHERE TO RENT BIKES IN CRESTED BUTTE
- Check out Handlebars bike shop, give Jeff or Hanuman a high five from us!
- Or rent on the mountain from Elevation hotel from Elevate / Butte & Co bike shop
WHERE TO CAMP FOR FREE IN CRESTED BUTTE
- Washington Gulch Rd
- Oh be Joyful Recreation area
Washington Gulch Rd
CRESTED BUTTE IS KNOWN FOR
- High altitude riding in a great attitude town. Surrounded by gorgeous peaks in all directions
- Crested Butte has been known for great skiing and snowboarding for quite some time, and is now on the map for one of the best mountain bike towns as well.
OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN CRESTED BUTTE
- Paddling rivers and alpine lakes
- Maroon Bells hiking
- Summer festivals
- Crested butte bike week
BEST TIME TO VISIT
- May through September
- July is the best month for wildflowers if you to see the rocky-mountains in technicolor
crested butte mountain bike rentals
TripOutside features the best local shops in Crested Butte, Colorado for all of your outdoor adventures – from biking to skiing to paddling. Compare prices and book your next adventure online!
