lower loop mountain bike trail

If you're ready for the altitude, this is a great way to enjoy the views and vistas of Crested Butte. The older I get, the longer it takes me to climatize. This was my first day at mountain altitudes so, I was not yet quite ready for a rigorous trail. My daughter, on the other hand, left me in her dust. So, don't be discouraged. Give it a try. You'll climb to the trailhead from town on a paved trail that loops around some large ranches and brings you back to the main road. Finding the trailhead from ther is a little confulsing because the town trail continues on the other side of the road and goes up to the resort. The trailhead, though, is down from there on the road. It looks a little intimidating as you reach the trailhead and go up the single track. It's not techncal, though, and a steady pace brings you to the "summit". From there, it's up and down, mostly single track, for several miles, including some switchbacks as you head back down into the valley. The views to the top and along the way are stunning, but not as dramatic as some of the other nearby trails. There are some nice valley-views, so you can marvel at your altitude gain. The aspen trees are on fire this time of year and are a beautiful golden contrast to the rest of the green and brown tones. Every turn is photo worthy. From the bottom, you can hit the upper lower loop, a short ride, and then head back into town along the river. Plan a couple of hours. About twice that if you want to walk the trail. Or, bring a lunch and make a day of it.

July 2014 - This is an easy trail that allowed us to adjust to the altitude on our first day. And just because it's easy doesn't mean that it's boring. We enjoyed the sights of apsen trees, wild flowers, a stream, and ... oh yeah ... the mountains! If you want more of a challenge, this trail links up with more challenging trails along the way. Another benefit of this trail is that it can be accessed from the town of Crested Butte. We parked at the visitor center and rode to the trailhead. Singletrack starts at the Northwest corner of town, just after Butte Ave turns to dirt road. For a trail guide, we purchased "Mountain Bike Crested Butte, Gunnison, & Salida Singletrack", by Holly Anala and a Latitude 40 map of the area. Armed with these tools, we had no problems finding any of the trails we wanted to ride. Anala's book provides step-by-step trail directions, mileage and altitude change.Other trails we rode were 401 and Hartman Rocks.