Breck’s best mountain biking
The fun isn’t over in the Colorado high country when the last snow melts and the ski lifts grind to a halt. It’s at this time of year that folks around here start dusting off their bike seats, pumping up their tires, and lubing their chains for the upcoming mountain bike season.
The Breckenridge area boasts some of the best singletrack in the U.S., from mellow fire roads through gorgeous forests of aspen and pine to lift-accessed downhill and epic, all-day wilderness shuttle rides. There’s a lifetime’s worth of trails to explore in and around Breck, but here are three excellent options to get you started, whether you’re a first timer or hardened vet.
1. Boreas Pass
Boreas Pass is one of the best bets for those new to mountain biking, or even experienced riders looking for a good way to acclimate to the altitude and warm up the legs for a tougher ride.
It is a gentle, winding loop just south of town that climbs up a dirt road to 11,481 feet for an easy ascent and descent totalling 7.8 miles. The ride offers spectacular views of the Tenmile mountain range at the top and excellent wildflower viewing on the way up and down. It is extremely popular in the summer months, and all cyclists should make sure to be aware of cars sharing the road.
2. Breckenridge Resort
For variety of terrain and accessibility the trails at Breckenridge Resort are unbeatable. The eleven trails open for mountain biking on Peaks 8 and 9 range from accessible yet challenging intermediate singletrack to exciting and technical downhill rippers.
Riders can choose to either power their way up the mountain on their own or skip the schlep and ride the lifts ($15 for one bike haul, $30 for an all-day pass). Heading out with a guide ($85 for 2.5 hours, 100 with a bike rental) is a great option for beginners and intermediate bikers looking to take their riding to the next level.
3. The Colorado Trail Kenosha Pass to Breckenridge
Widely considered to be one of Colorado’s best rides east of Steamboat and north of Durango, this monster represents the best of Colorado high country riding. Following thirty-three miles of the legendary Colorado Trail, much of the ride is above tree level and offers unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains.
With several stout climbs and technical sections peppered in with the flowy, fast, and seemingly endless singletrack, this trail is not for the faint-of-heart or out-of-shape. Expect this adventure to take all day, including a one-hour shuttle from Breck to the top of Kenosha pass. This section can also be easily broken up into smaller sections by starting or stopping on Georgia pass.
— Jonathan Gang
2 Responses
-
-
Enjoy the trip! Send us some mountain biking pics when you get them!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.