3-Day Itinerary for the Mountain Bike Enthusiast

 

Recommended Hotel: The Limelight is the perfect blend of Aspen cool, bike-friendly and affordable*.

Recommended Shop: Ute City Cycles offers high-end full suspension rentals and demos from their downtown location. Rent it, ride it, return it. Save the $10,000 unless you can’t live without it.

Recommended App to Map Trip: Strava

*Affordable in Aspen is a relative term.

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Day 1

Start acclimatizing to the altitude with a few hours on the new Sky Mountain Park trails accessed from Owl Creek Rd. 90% buffed out single-track with generally mellow climbs and exhilarating descents. The riding is easily accessed from either Aspen or Snowmass Village and has enough options to keep you pedaling for hours. Do not miss the downhill only Deadline Trail.

Try a post ride recovery beverage at Hops Culture on the Hyman Ave mall.

 

Day 2

Ramp up the effort today with the long time Aspen go to trails in the Hunter Creek Valley. Start your ride with a grind up Smuggler Mountain road, a mile long climb up a jeep road. Local legends can make the climb in under 15 minutes but anything under 30 minutes is something to be proud of. Catch your breath at the viewing platform at the top and admire one of the best overlooks of Aspen. Continue to climb up BTS (behind the sign) Trail, which offers a nice, ridable single-track through an Aspen grove. Once at the top, there are multiple options for more single-track via Lollypop, Tootsie Roll or the new Balcony Trail. With the exception of Balcony, most of the climbing is done. Only the hearty will want to continue the rigorous climb up the Balcony Trail.

 

Day 3

More climbing may not seem exciting but starting with the Tom Blake Trail in Snowmass will change your mind. A mellow grade of single-track winds through a beautiful Aspen grove on what is one of the best trails in the area. The end of the trail connects to Powerline which turns uphill for a bit more elevation. Now that you have warmed up, the climb is challenging but ridable. Powerline connects to the infamous Government Trail, a technical single-track from Snowmass to Aspen. From here it is mostly downhill but definitely has enough character to keep you paying attention. If technical is not your thing, bail out at the Anaerobic Nightmare cutoff and return to Tom Blake to finish your day. (The Nightmare is only when you are riding up.) Pedal back to Aspen on the Owl Creek bike path and you have earned your recovery meal. Pizza, beer and hot tub at the Limelight end the perfect three-day bike adventure.