Crested Butte’s 401 Trail: Worth the Hype?

Mountain biker on scenic Colorado mountain tail

Beautiful mountain landscape with meadow filled with wildflowers

If you ask anyone— local or visitor— which trails are a ‘must ride’ in Crested Butte, chances are 401 Trail will be at least in the top 3, if not #1. With its sweeping views, wildflower-strewn meadows, a flowy descent, golden aspen groves, and relatively mellow terrain, it’s a CB classic for sure. When I was gearing up for my ride, a trail runner coming off the loop told me it was a “spiritual experience.” No pressure, right?

So… does the 401 Trail live up to the hype? In my opinion, yes, absolutely. But what people don’t always talk about is what it takes to earn that dreamy descent, especially if you’re pedaling the whole thing without a shuttle.

In this post, I share everything you need to know about riding the 401 Trail in Crested Butte, Colorado, from what to expect on the climb to why it’s still worth every pedal stroke.

The Full 401 Trail Loop at a Glance

Note: These stats are for the full loop including the road climb and the second half of 401 Trail. I got a shuttle to the start of 401 Trail and didn’t do the second half, which a lot of people skip.

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Distance (full loop): 13.6 miles
Elevation gain: 2,280 feet
Elevation loss: 2,280 feet
High point: 11,350 feet

A steep gravel road climb, an even steeper trail climb, but then pure Rocky Mountain beauty and downhill bliss!

What I like about 401 Trail

It is SO beautiful!
Spring wildflowers and fall golden aspens
Fast, flowy descent

What I don’t

The climbing… both the road and the first 1.3 miles of 401 Trail are tough
A ton of vehicle traffic on the road, especially on weekends and during after work hours when locals shuttle
It’s over too fast!
The second half of 401 Trail is supposedly not as great

Quick Tips

For mountain biking the 401 Trail

e-bikes are not allowed on 401 Trail.
Don’t underestimate the full loop. It’s a tough climb — both the road and first 1.3 miles. I thought it was harder than the full Dr. Park loop.
A lot of people opt not to do the second half of 401 Trail. There’s more climbing and it’s supposedly not as fun or as scenic. But, I can’t say for sure because I didn’t ride it.
Take your time on the downhill – it’s over too fast!

TWW Take

Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwaaaaise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂

Fun-ness Factor

Trail Variety

Trail Difficulty

Full Loop Difficulty

Preparing for your 401 Trail Ride: Full Loop & Shuttle Options

The Full 401 Trail Loop

The full 401 Trail Loop (see map) starts with a long and pretty steep road climb. After reaching the top of the Schofield Pass, there’s another 1.3 miles of steep singletrack climbing before you get to the descent. Halfway through the full 401 Trail, there’s another climb before the final descent.

Half Loop

When I rode the 401 Trail, we only did the first half. We parked at the middle parking area and started pedaling up the road then scored a ride with a passing truck! After four days of big Crested Butte rides, we decided to only do the ‘best’ part of 401 Trail, not the second half.

Shuttle Options

There are no commercial mountain bike shuttles in Crested Butte, so you’ll need to either set up your own or try to thumb a ride to the top of Schofield Pass.

Where to park: For a half loop, park here. For a full loop park here.

401 Trail Map

403 + 401 Epic Shuttle Day. Next time I’m in Crested Butte, I’d love to check off this ride. It combines both 403 and the full 401 Trail, starting with a shuttle to the start of 403 Trail. I’d probably make it shorter and park at the end of 401 Trail. This will be a big day!

View the 401 Trail Loop on TrailForks

What to expect

As I mentioned above, I only did half of the 401 Trail, so I can’t speak to how the rest of the route is. But here’s what to expect for the first part.

Schofield Pass Road

Elevation: The top of the pass is at 10,707 feet
Terrain: It’s a fairly well-maintained road, but can be pretty dusty in the summer. There’s also one stretch that has some scary exposure (in a car, not on a bike). The road starts to steepen and get rougher and narrower just after the mid-way parking for 401 Trail (the Rustler Gulch Road intersection on TrailForks). If you decide to shuttle up Schofield Pass Road, I highly recommend you have a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle or you’re a very confident driver.
Vibe: Schofield Pass road is a grind to pedal up. We ended up getting offered a ride by a passing truck shortly after we set out, which we gladly accepted. Stretches of this road are pretty steep and if you’re not acclimated to the altitude, it will feel much harder.
Effort: Hard. No sugar-coating it.
Notes: After doing the full Dr. Park loop, I was expecting a similar ‘mellow’ road climb to the start of 401 Trail. But nope, it’s not the same at all. Schofield pass Road is much steeper and less well-maintained.

Mountain bikes and people in back of pickup truck on dirt road

Mountain biker and bikes in back of pickup truck with lake in background

Bike leaning against trail sign for Schofield Pass

401 Trail (first half)

Elevation: Starts at 10,707 feet and tops out at 11,350 feet
Terrain: The 401 Trail is not technical. It’s mostly smooth, fast singletrack with maybe a section or two that is a bit chunky. Overall, though, it’s a solid beginner/intermediate trail.
Vibe: The start of 401 Trail is a bit of a shock— at least it was for me. It’s a tough climb for 1.3 miles. If you pedaled up the road, you’ll definitely be feeling it and if you didn’t, you’ll still be feeling it. But the good news, is that once you make it to the top of the climb, it’s pure downhill bliss for 4 miles! The views and vibe are truly incredible. I didn’t ride the second half of 401 Trail, so I can’t speak to how that unfolds.
Effort: Hard to easy! Then hard again if you decide to do the full 401 Trail.
Notes: I was so happy to have gotten a ride to the top of Schofield Pass. Maybe that was because we were on day 5 of big rides around Crested Butte, but after seeing the road climb (and vehicles kicking up dust), I’m not sure I’ll ever way to climb up Schofield Road. If you have the opportunity to shuttle, take it. As far as my 401 Trail experience, it’s as beautiful as everyone says. The mountain views, fields of wildflowers, and flowy descent all live up to the hype.

POV out over mountain bike handlebars onto singletrack trail through forest

Mountain bikers riding bikes on trail through alpine meadow

Mountain biker on trail through aspen grove

Mountain biker taking selfie of beautiful mountainscape

Mountain biker riding bike on trail through wildflowers

FAQs for riding 401 Trail

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips for planning your ride:

No, e-bikes are not allowed on most trails in Crested Butte. Please respect this.

Yes, but plan accordingly. Bring lots of water, more food than you think you’ll need, and get an early start to beat the vehicle traffic. You can also try to hitch a ride with a passing truck— when we rode it, we weren’t even trying to get a ride, but a friendly local stopped and asked if we wanted a shuttle to the top of Schofield Pass and we gladly accepted.

With a shuttle, it took us just under 2 hours of moving time (so about 2.5-3 hours total). If you’re pedaling up the road, I’d say give yourself at least 5 hours, not exaggerating.

The trail itself isn’t very technical. What makes it challenging is the 1.3 mile climb at the start and the climb in the middle if you decide to do the full thing.

You can filter water from Emerald Lake along Schofield Pass Road, but there’s no water on 401 Trail.

I rode 401 Trail in early August and while we were a little late for peak wildflower season, the meadows were still in bloom. If you want to full-on wildflowers I’d say the last 2 weeks of July are probably ideal. If you want to see the golden aspens, October is your best bet.

Yes, but this is a backcountry ride with no cell service. Bring your phone with a trail app downloaded – I use TrailForks, but MTB Project is another option.

No. Once you get a few miles onto Schofield Pass Road, you’ll lose cell service. There’s no cell service at the halfway parking area for 401 Trail.

Yes, the Gothic campsites are along Schofield Pass Road.aThey used to be free, but now they are $18/night and there’s a campground host that monitors all the sites. The sites are first-come first-serve and extremely popular. Your best bet at snagging one is to head up early and wait until you see someone vacate a spot.

The sites are spread out along Schofield Pass Road and I recommend having a 4×4 vehicle if you want to go past the main Gothic Campground.

Here’s a map of where the campsites are. Also, note that these sites are very primitive. There is no cell service, no water, no electricity, and only one pit toilet that might be more than a mile from your site.

Need gear recs?

Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.aa

See my gear favorites

The 401 Trail really does live up to the hype. The views, the wildflowers, the descent.. it all makes for a ride that feels pretty special. Yeah, the climb is a grind if you’re not shuttling, but honestly, I think that’s part of what makes the whole experience so rewarding (coming from someone who hitched a ride 😆). If you’re heading to Crested Butte, definitely make time for this one. It’s a classic for a reason.

Stop for coffee in Gothic! The road up to 401 Trail goes through the tiny old ghost town of Gothic (which has since been adopted as a research station by the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab). There’s a great little coffee shop there called the Coffee Lab— stop in for a pre- or post- ride treat.

After reading this post, is 401 Trail still on your ride-it list? How would you tackle it: full loop, half loop, or shuttle? Leave a comment below!