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A lot of recent trail-building activity has vastly improved
the accessibility and variety of this network of trails along
the base of Mt. Crested Butte. There are many ways to ride
these trails, either as connectors to Brush Creek rides,
or as high quality rides in themselves.
We’ll describe the "traditional" Upper Loop ride, which consists of a pleasantly
paved climb up to Mt. Crested Butte, and the Upper Loop ridden in the downhill
direction, with the Upper Upper Loop and Whetstone Vista as options to extend
the ride.
Before 2001, this ride started out on Gothic Road, forcing you to breathe car
exhaust. But no more! A peaceful ride out of town on the Mt. Crested Butte Rec
Path - a nicely paved track away from all the cars - gets you most of the way
to the singletrack.
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Ride west out of town on Gothic Avenue
to connect to the Rec Path. This paved path crosses Brush
Creek and heads up to the town of Mt. Crested Butte, meeting
Gothic Road at the entrance to town. Cross Gothic Road on
the crosswalk, and keep following the Rec Path until you
see Hunter Hill Road on your right. (You could ride this
bit on the road ... but why?) Turn right on Hunter Hill Road,
and right again at the next intersection, where Hunter Hill
meets Snowmass Road. Go down, then up past The Overlook turnoff.
The singletrack starts at the first hard left switchback,
where there’s a parking area and a trail sign.
This is the beginning of Upper Loop. You’ll climb a
little more on rocky singletrack before you reach the top.
The trail is distinct and easy to follow as it traverses
private land and weaves and bobs along the side of Crested
Butte Mountain. Recent trail rerouting by the CBMBA have
turned a pair of erosion-prone steep downhills into interesting,
technical switchbacks. After you get out of the trees, you’ll
be zooming gentle downhill though the sagebrush. Try bunny-hopping
all the rocky bumps!
After a half mile or so of riding in the open, you’ll
meet up with Tony’s Trail, which winds up from town
to join the Upper Loop. If you’re just out for a short
spin, you can take a right and be back in Crested Butte after
a few minutes of fun downhill.
Continue riding another half mile or so and you’ll
come to the intersection of Upper Upper Loop. You can bail
out here as well, and turn right on a short downhill to finish
Upper Loop near the Country Club.
Your other option is to ride the Upper Upper Loop. This trail
is a technical challenge, with lots of rocky whoop-de-dos,
and two short, but steep and technical climbs.
After a couple of miles of increasingly challenging terrain,
Whetstone Vista trail branches off on your right. This trail
is a bumpy downhill that joins up with Brush Creek Road.
This cut-off was built so that bikers wouldn’t be stuck
carrying their bikes over the very rocky and steep portions
at the end of Upper Upper Loop. Most riders choose this trail
to continue on. This is also a good point to turn around
if you’re feeling about done.
If you want to see what this ride was like "in the old days",
keep going straight on Upper Upper Loop for a killer uphill
(cleaning this one qualifies you as an excellent rider),
and some very, very rocky terrain before a steep descent
to Brush Creek Road.
When you get to Brush Creek Road via the Upper Upper Loop
or Whetstone Vista Trail, you have a couple of choices. Left
takes you out Brush Creek Road and lots more riding. You
can also turn around and go back the way you came, perhaps
taking Tony’s Trail back to town.
Or, go back to town an easier way by turning right, then
right again at the Skyland gate. Follow the road into Skyland
and turn Left on Country Club Drive. Ride past the Country
Club and downhill to the end of the road. Here, you rejoin
the end of Upper Loop. Climb a little bit to the intersection
of Upper Upper Loop. From here, you can ride the whole Upper
Loop in the uphill direction, or turn left after a half mile
and take Tony’s Trail back to town. |
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