From new trails to old favorites, two-wheeled adventures abound in Aspen and beyond.
The Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley trail network continues to grow, pleasing the large community of local and visiting mountain bikers. Last fall, a new trail in Sky Mountain Park, the 2,500-acre parcel of land between Aspen and Snowmass, called Incline Trail, increased the safety of the highly popular Airline Trail by diverting uphill traffic. Airline Trail is now a one-way downhill route, while Incline is open to climbing. An efficient lunch loop from Aspen or Buttermilk is now possible.
Mid-valley, close to 11 miles of new trails will grow the network within the 9,100-acre Crown Mountain Special Recreation Management Area near Willits. This spring saw the addition of a rowdy, expert-only trail called Crown Royale that connects the top of the network with the Rio Grande Trail via five miles of downhill delight—a delight for advanced riders. Mortals can ride Glassier Trail from Emma, connect to Vasten and ride a shorter, intermediate-friendly section of Crown Royale to Buckhorn Traverse to the valley floor.
The Snowmass Bike Park (aspensnowmass.com) is a major contributor to the Roaring Fork’s Valley coveted Gold-Level Ride Center designation from the International Mountain Bike Association several years ago. The chairlift -accessed trails span 25 miles of courses ranging from new beginner-friendly and flowing single track to intermediate trails like French Press—the park’s longest freeride trail running 4.4 miles with a descent of 2,100 vertical feet over smooth dirt, steep banks, and dynamic roller—to challenging technical descents like Valhalla, the bike park’s original freeride trail that includes jumps, step-ups and wooden features. Families, first-timers, and seasoned riders alike can experience gravity riding. Base out of Elk Camp, the mid-mountain lodge on Snowmass, for farm-to-table-inspired fare, outdoor games and activities, and live music on the deck. The bike park stays open late for Bonus Bike Nights on Tuesdays, July 11-Aug. 8, when riders can purchase a latearrival ticket for $44, valid from 3 p.m. until dusk.
For even seasoned local riders, there’s always a new route linking different trails in Aspen’s Hunter Creek Valley. Climbing Buttermilk and descending Government Trail never gets old. And high-desert networks like Red Hill and Prince Creek in Carbondale test and progress rider’s skills, respectively.
A great way to explore all the mountain bike trails in the valley is to participate in weekly Aspen Cycling Club (aspencyclingclub.org) races, which alternate between mountain bike and road racing each Wednesday, and sample trails from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. The summer series includes Sunday social rides, mini mountain bike races for kids and skills clinics.
If you like road riding but want to explore off -road, gravel riding might suit you. The buzzy genre of cycling combines the excitement and exploration of mountain biking with the miles and distances of road biking. Whether you’re a road cyclist who wants to explore new routes in the Roaring Fork Valley and escape roads crowded with distracted drivers, or a mountain biker who wants to link trails with roads right from the house and cover more ground, gravel riding opens a lifetime of ride possibilities.
Whether on or off the road, on skinny or fat tires, coaches and guides abound in the area, including Aspen Pro Cycling, Santé Cycling, Aspen Cycling Tours and the bike pros at Aspen Snowmass.
Photography by: ALL PHOTOS BY MATT POWER COURTESY OF ASPEN SNOWMASS
