Great Rides & Great Peeps - CB Mountain Biking

Post Trail #401 Filth

Generally known as the birthplace of mountain biking......

Crested Butte, Colorado, does not disappoint!  Well until its time to load up the bikes and pull out of town.  CB has it all: techy, cruisers, steep, amazing high alpine scenery,......I could go on forever or just go get a taste of it yourself.  If the biking isn't enough of an allure, maybe downtown CB will be.  What a rad place to end your ride.  A few of our favorites include: The Brick Oven Pizzeria (great tap selection), Pitas in Paradise, and Dogwood Cocktail Cabin (an absolute must).

Day 1 — Upper Upper to Strand Hill to The Brick Oven Pizzeria

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Date: June 22, 2012

Riders: Anne, Tom, Kristin, and Me

Mileage: 17 miles

Elevation Gain: 2200' (click for elevation profile)  
Average Pace: 14 min/mile
Total time includes breaks: 4 hours

Trail description: Upper is a mix of rocky and flowy, providing good views of the town of CB as it traverses underneath Mt Crested Butte.  A short spin on CO road 738 gets you to Strand Hill then an enjoyable fast flowy downhill among endless aspens. 

Day 2 — Bear Creek to Doctor's Park to hot tub and pizza to go

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Date: June 23, 2012

Riders: Penny, Aaron, Anne, Tom, Kristin and Me

Mileage: 21 miles

Elevation Gain: 3200' (click for elevation profile)
Average Pace: 14 min/mile
Total time includes breaks: 5 hours

Trail description: A vast network of trails defines the Taylor Park arena, expect slightly lower elevation, and dryer conditions then the CB area proper.  We shuttled from North Bank Campground to Spring Creek Reservoir - allowing for two great descents down Bear Creek and then Doctor's Park. Due to the extremely dry winter, the Taylor Park area was uncharacteristically dry...moon-dust like conditions.  Aside from the dry conditions the two down hills were awesome, I cant wait to return under better more packed conditions.    

Day 3 — Trail #401 to Dogwood Cocktail Cabin to Pitas in Paradise

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Date: June 24, 2012

Riders: Anne, Tom, Kristin, and Me

Mileage: 10 miles

Elevation Gain: 1900'(click for elevation profile)
Average Pace: 15 min/mile
Total time includes breaks: 2.5 hours

Trail description: The CB mega classic, cant say enough about this trail.  High alpine meadows with unbeatable views! We choose to leave a vehicle at Copper Creek trailhead near Gothic and shuttle up to the "Plug" just before Emerald Lake.  

The Pics:

Alpine Splendor - Trail #401 - day 3

Creek Skimming - Aaron - day 2

Famed Downhill - Doctor's Park - day 2

Anyone seen my Snorkel? - Anne - day 2

The Hand-off - Kristin, Anne - day 3

Girls Peaked Out - Penny, Anne, Kristin - day 2

AT&T full signal - start of Trail #401 - day 3

Skunk Cabbage Cruiser - Tom -day 3

High Alpine Meadow Beauty - Trail #401 - day 3

Skunk Cabbage Speedster - Anne - day3

Splashdown - Kristin - day 2

The Beetnik's  - Aaron, Tom, Anne

The Poco Loco's - Anne, Kristin, Chuck, Penny

Trail Map:  CB riders don't leave home without this one.  Once in CB stop by Big Al's Bicycle Heaven to pick up a copy, 13.00.