Crested Butte – Deer Creek Trail

• Quality:  5 Stars
• Technical Difficulty:  Black
• Physical Difficulty:  Strenuous
• Crowds:  Some
• Trailhead Location:  Start in Crested Butte
• Distance:  26.7 mi
• Time:  4 to 6 hours
• Summary:  This odyssey circumnavigates Mount Crested Butte on scenic roads and spectacular singletrack.
• My photos of Flickr.

Crested Butte – Lower Loop

• Quality: 3.5 stars
• Technical Difficulty: Green/Blue
• Physical Difficulty:  Easy
• Crowds: Crowded
• Trailhead Location: Start from downtown Crested Butte.
• Distance: 7.8 miles
• Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Hook:  A delightful cruise, perfect for the novice rider.
• Photos on Flickr.

Start the trail from downtown Crested Butte.

Crested Butte – Upper Loop

• Quality: 4 Stars
• Technical Difficulty: Black Diamond
• Physical Difficulty: Moderate
• Crowds (hikers, bikers): Some
• Trailhead Location: Start from downtown Crested Butte
• Distance: 11.3 miles
• Time:  1.5 to 3 hours
• Hook:  A glorious quick ride along the flank of Mount Crested Butte.

Crested Butte – Reno–Flag–Bear–Deadman

Again, Crested Butte pelted us with rain, but we persevered and found some wonderful riding.  It was completely worth the wear-and-tear on the drivetrain.

• Quality:  4 stars
• Technical Difficulty:  Black Diamond
• Physical Difficulty:  Strenuous
• Crowds:  Some
• Trailhead Location:  14 miles from Crested Butte
• Distance: 19.4 miles
• Time: 4 to 6 hours
• Hook:  Silly name, seriously good singletrack.
• Photos on Flickr.

Crested Butte – The 401

• Quality: 4.5 stars
• Technical Difficulty: Blue/Black
• Physical Difficulty: Strenuous
• Crowds:  Some
• Trailhead Location: 8 miles from Crested Butte
• Distance: 13.5 miles
• Time: 2 to 4 hours
• Hook: An enduring classic that epitomizes all things Crested Butte: incredible views and great singletrack.
• Photos on Flickr.

Directions to Trailhead:

Crested Butte – Doctors Park

• Quality:  5 stars
• Technical Difficulty: Black Diamond
• Physical Difficulty: Very Strenuous
• Crowds: Few
• Trailhead Location: 25 miles from Crested Butte
• Distance: 21.1 miles
• Time:3.5 to 6 hours
• Hook:  A few hours of grunting up dirt roads earns you the best 5 miles of downhill of your life.
• Photos on Flickr.

Doctor’s Park was a surprise classic; we heard it was good, but I think most of us found it to be our favorite ride is Crested Butte.  As we were riding up to the high point of the ride, a storm moved in and pelted us with hail and rain.  Luckily, by the time we got to the great downhill at the end of the ride, the trail had dried and the riding was wonderful.