Colorado’s Best Mountain Biking Trails
by: Admin
Posted on: Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm by: Admin
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Colorado is definitely one of the most athletic states in the USA—after all, it’s got mountains, sun, snow and plenty of totally stunning, untouched mountain territory. This means that some Colorado mountain bike trails are the best in the country. Cycling enthusiasts travel from around the world to bike Colorado’s thousands of miles of trails, and there are definitely some classics out there. Don’t let all of the hype discourage you either, because hitting Colorado’s best mountain bike trails can be some of the most rewarding mountain biking you’ll ever do. Plus, if you’re athletic interests extend beyond mountain biking, you’ll be able to go skiing, hiking, snow boarding, climbing or enjoy any of the other outdoor activities that Colorado is justifiably famous for. Just don’t forget the altitude—if you’re planning a dedicated Colorado mountain biking trip count on spending at least one day acclimating yourself before you hit any serious trails.So what are Colorado’s best mountain bike trails? There are plenty of on-line resources that will put you on the right track, as well as several published Colorado trail guides that deal exclusively with bike trails. Four big ones are:
Buffalo Creek
: Pine, CO. 14 miles, loop.
Palmer Park:
Colorado Springs, CO: 12 miles, network.
Trail 401
: Crested Butte, CO: 14 miles, loop.
Green Mountain
: Deckers, CO: 16 miles, “lollipop.”
A good place to start is the website trailcentral.com , which allows cycling enthusiasts to rate local trails themselves. This website has a whole section devoted to Colorado mountain bike trails. Singletracks.com also has a great list of trails that includes links to the individual trail. Similarly, any hotel will be able to give you a rundown of local day long “loop” trails that are suitable for the moderately proficient mountain biker. These loop trails will definitely give you a taste of the scenery and most of them are designed to get you back to the car in time for dinner.
However, some mountain bikers with a bit more experience prefer to go on two or three day Colorado mountain bike adventures. We can’t stress enough here, don’t over-do it. Be realistic about your mountain biking experience level. And again, if planning a dedicated Colorado mountain bike vacation, be sure to allow time for yourself to acclimate to the altitude. That said, trails like the San Juan Hut System or the Tabeguache Trail will take you through some of the most beautiful landscape in the country, from mountains to valleys to woodlands. When contemplating some of these longer expeditions, consider employing, or at least consulting, a local Colorado bike guide or someone else who has already biked the trail. A little bit of research before you go can lead to the Colorado bike trip of your life.
