Buena Vista, CO Mountain Bike Guide (Home To My All-Time Favorite Trail!)
Buena Vista is a small town in central Colorado with big plans for mountain biking. Over the past few years, the mountain biking has gone from little-to-no singletrack to over 30 miles of purpose-built trails.
And it’s good!
In fact, one of my favorite trails of all time is located in Buena Vista— Vitamin B. It’s 6-miles of flowy (mostly) downhill (mostly) fun with double black features that were built by a genius trail builder. (At least in my opinion. I’ve asked others what they thought of Vitamin B and they downright hated it, so… 🤷♀️).
Anyway, in addition to Vitamin B’s pro-line tech, there are also miles of trail for all levels of riders from rolling singletrack to easier versions of Vitamin B to get you comfortable on rock rolls and steep chutes. I’ve ridden Buena Vista twice now and both times have left me pretty impressed.
So if you’re looking for slightly off the beaten path mountain biking destination with great views and even better riding, put Buena Vista, Colorado on your bike-it list. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit and rides there.
Highlights of mountain biking in Buena Vista
Buena Vista Mountain Biking Map
The mountain bike trail network around Buena Vista isn’t huge— it’s really made up of three riding areas, which I’ll dive into below. (For some reason I couldn’t get the map to center correctly— you’ll have to zoom in on Buena Vista).
Want to sound like a local? Buena Vista, Colorado is pronounced as “BEW-na VIS-ta”.
Plan your Buena Vista mountain bike rides!
Whipple Trail System
The Whipple Trail System is the northern part of the Buena Vista mountain biking trail network. The trails here are a mix of flowy singletrack and punchy rock features.
One of the most popular trails in this system is Broken Boyfriend. Personally, I thought it was ok, but not amazing. It’s probably better the second or third time you ride it when you know which features are coming up and can ride accordingly. Riding it blindly felt a little jarring to me. TrailForks says you can ride Broken Boyfriend in either direction, but I strongly recommend riding it south to north.
*Make the above route longer by adding on Camp Elevation South to Crank n’ Hammer
Midland Trail System
Midland Trail System is located to the east of Whipple and has pretty similar trails and terrain, although I’d say it’s slightly easier on both the tech and climbing. Unchained is the favorite here with its rocky features (I liked it better than Broken Boyfriend) including rollers, chutes, and drops. While Unchained is a black-rated trail on TrailForks, the builders did a great job incorporating B-lines, so most of the obstacles have go-arounds. I highly recommend riding it east to west for the best flow.
Sausage Link and Bacon Bits are also both fun, pedaly trails that access Unchained. They have minimal tech unless you opt for the alt-lines.
There are two parking areas to access Midland. If you don’t want to climb a whole lot, park in the upper parking area off of Midland Trail. If you want to get your heart rate up a bit, park at the base of Fistfull Of Dollars, although there is a day-use fee to park there.
Vitamin B Trail
This is one of my favorite trails of all time. It’s not for every rider because it is rated double-black for a reason, but if you’re into big natural features that actually flow well, you will love it. I do!
The first mile or so is a bit of a hike-a-bike with one section that I will never ride (but I would love to see someone clear it!) and from there it’s 6 miles of flowy singletrack mixed with steep descents, punchy ups, huge rock rollers, narrow chutes, and so much more.
I recommend going into this trail with an open mind. There will be features you walk and you may get frustrated. But to me, Vitamin B is genius trail building at its best.
Vitamin B is a one-way trail, so to access it you’ll either need to shuttle to the top or climb the access road (County Road #375).
Also, the last time I rode Vitamin B, we noticed that there was a lower entrance that skips the initial climbing and hike-a-bike section. I haven’t tried dropping in here, but it might be worth checking out.
*If you don’t have a shuttle, you can ride up the road. Just that know you’re in for a big day. The downhill requires focus, energy, and stamina.
FAQs & Planning Tips
Ready to plan your mountain bike trip to Buena Vista, Colorado? Here are some FAQs and tips to consider before heading out:
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.
Buena Vista might not be on the radar for a lot of mountain bikers, but if you’re in Colorado and looking for a place to ride that is a bit off the beaten path and has a few days worth of good mountain biking, I highly recommend checking it out. I’ve loved both of my visits there.
Both the Whipple and Midlands Trail Systems are full of flow and unique rock tech (for all levels!) or if you’re really looking for a challenge, give Vitamin B a go. It’s one of my favorite trails I’ve ever ridden, but it’s not for everyone. You’ll have to ride yourself and form your own opinion (and let me know what that is in the comments!)
Have you explored the Buena Vista mountain biking scene? What did you think? Did you ride Vitamin B? Let me know in the comments!
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