Crested Butte MTB Guide: Colorado’s High Alpine Playground

Crested Butte Mountain Biking Map

The trails around Crested Butte are pretty spread out. There are the ‘town trails’ that you can access from the village or resort, but otherwise you’ll need to drive to the trailheads.

Plan your Crested Butte mountain biking rides!

401 Trail

401 Trail is probably the most ‘famous’ trail in Crested Butte. It’s absolutely beautiful with 360° mountain views, fields of wildflowers (spring), golden aspens (fall), and just a magical high-alpine vibe.

But…

Getting there will take some work. We ended up scoring a shuttle from a passing truck (hoorah!) and if you can do the same — or set up your own shuttle — I highly recommend it. The road up to Schofield Pass where 401 Trail starts is steep and loose and there is a lot of vehicle traffic, so it’s likely you’ll get dusted out. Also, from the top of the pass, 401 Trail climbs very steeply for about 1.5 miles, so make sure you have juice in your legs (and lungs) to tackle that as well. But once you start the downhill, you’re in for a blissful ride!

Teocalli Ridge Loop

Another iconic — and equally challenging — ride in Crested Butte is the Teocalli Ridge Trail. Like 401, it’s a pretty long and grueling climb to the start (with no option to shuttle), but also like 401 Trail, the views are spectacular.

What sets Teocalli apart from 401 (other than the fact that you can’t shuttle it) is that Teocalli is a bit of a step up, technically. The descent— and parts of the climb— are rocky, rooty, loose, and steep. It’s also one of the few singletrack trails that is e-bike friendly.

I’ve ridden Teocalli twice now and I expected it to be easier the second time around. I knew what was coming, I was a better rider, in better shape, and had been at elevation for over a week. But nope… I still struggled to the top. Make sure you give yourself plenty of daylight and bring more snacks and water than you think you’ll need.

Strand Hill

Strand Hill is a short-and-sweet ride that delivers one of the best descents in Crested Butte when it comes to bang for your buck. You can knock it out as a quick 6-mile loop, or, if you’ve still got juice in your legs, tack it onto the end of Teocalli. The downhill is fast, flowy, and weaves its way through a beautiful aspen forest. This is also a great acclimatization ride if you’ve just rolled into Crested Butte.

Baxter Gulch to Green Lake

This loop wasn’t on my radar as I was planning my rides around Crested Butte, but I’m so glad I discovered it! It was one of my favorite days. My ‘ideal’ mountain bike ride is a big backcountry adventure with a good mix of terrain, scenery, and of course, a great downhill. The Baxter Gulch to Green Lake loop checked all the boxes. I loved it.

It is a big day, so plan accordingly for water, food, and daylight.

Dr. Park

Yet another CB classic ride, Dr. Park is a bit of a drive from town, but it’s a must-ride for anyone visiting. Like all Crested Butte mountain biking adventures, this one has a long climb followed by a fast and furious descent. Compared to Teocalli and 401, though, I think pedaling the whole Dr. Park loop is easier— the climb up Spring Creek Road is mellow and while Doctor Gulch Road is steep, it’s manageable in granny gear.

Once you get to the top of the climb, Dr. Park rewards you with a nearly 5-mile descent. Sections of it are fast and flowy, but there are also some rocky tech that come up fast, so stay on your toes. As far as difficulty, Dr. Park is the most technical out of 401, Teocalli, and Green Lake, but compared to other black-rated trails, I’d call it a ‘soft’ black.

Crested Butte Bike Park

The first time I rode Crested Butte Bike Park, I wasn’t overly impressed, but when I returned a few years later to ride it again, it was apparent that they had done a lot of development and improvements. While it’s not the ‘best’ or most ‘dialed’ bike park you can visit, it’s still fun and worth a day or two of riding (especially if you’re climbing legs need a break!).

Crested Butte Town Trails

I’ll be transparent and say that I didn’t have time to ride the Town Trails around Crested Butte— namely Snodgrass and Lupine. They were on my list, but I ran out of time (and leg power). From what I’ve read and seen, I think these trails are great for quick spins or after-work rides for locals, but if you’re visiting and want to hit the highlights of Crested Butte mountain biking, they should probably land low on your ride-it list.

If you do want to check them out, these routes look promising:

• Lupine / Gunsight / Lower Loop
• 17-18 Course Map