ISO Colorado Info

[Subscription Guy]

A friend and I are heading to CO the second and third weeks in September, and I'm looking for MTB riding/hiking/camping suggestions from folks with first-hand experience. Sure, we could figure it our ourselves, but local knowledge rules. We prefer "non-epic" excursions, moving at a recreational pace that allows us to enjoy nature.

[Oceansize]

try cpt jacks in co springs

[jhl99]

This is probably too late to be of any use...
Last summer I was not working... took a 3 week trip to CO... drove out, took road bike, ATB and windsurfer... (I'm from Western PA)... before I left, I found a book at the Carnegie Library... something like, 'Mountain biking CO mining ghost towns". So anyways,

Most importantly, The elevation does matter. It wasn't until my 3rd week that I felt like my lungs could really keep up with my legs.

I started off about 1 hour West of Denver near Dillion. There are paved bike trails that connect Breckenridge with Copper Mnt. (or is it Keystone, I can' remember, there are 5 or ski ski areas within 20 or so miles) The book recommend a ride up over Breck Ski area, down the mountain to near Copper (had to cross some snow pack in July)... another thing, I was there in July, T-storms every day, try to be below treeline by noon... otherwise you feel like, and might be a lightening rod (it might not be as bad in Sept).

Also did a ride around Breck that the book suggested, past a lot of old mining ruins, it was kind of neat. Although, after a while, if you've seen one ghost town, the next one isn't all that different.

Headed west on 70 (in the car... I car camped every where I go). Didn't quite make it to Grand Junction... spend some time in a canyon W of Vail... did a climb up a dirt Forest road... the climb was 15 miles long! Neat how it is so arrid a low elevation and as you gain it gets grassy and the types of trees changed. By the way, the spare tire on my truck fell off somewhere out there, if you see it, bring it back to PA!

Went to Grand Junction then to the Grand Mesa... another different climate, was much cooler. Cruised a bunch of forest roads.

Down to Telluride. Didn't much care for the town. I'm not the trendy type (heck, I had a rigid bike at the time of this trip)... Nice single track that is a multi-use trail right on the mountain above town. Road the ATB to the top of 2 passes Imgone (sp) (ele 13,000) and the one to the south of town (can't recall the name). That ride/walk to 13,000 was something for a flatlander. I gained a slight appreciation of appeal of true mountaineering.

Headed E to Gunnison and Crested Butte. Gunnison was my type of town. Not a trendy ski town, but a normal, average joe type of place. There was a book store that carried all kinds of maps... if you need maps stop there. Camped in the National Forest... a lot of ATB activity. Started off on a solo ride and by luck, hooked up with 3 guys from a Crested Butte Shop... I rode with them... about 40 miles of single track. There single track is not like our Western PA single track. The stuff we road wasn't as technical as our stuff, a lot of the riding was in the 'wide open', not tucked into the trees... that 'loamy' soil, didn't care for that. This area would great for backcountry skiing....

Stayed out Crestted Butte proper... That thing about ski towns.

Somewhere in there I was also in Leadville, this is another good 'normal' town. They have a interpetive, paved bike trail around town and nearby Nat. Forest campgrounds. I didn't do anything off road in Leadville. Visited some mining musuems and the local musuems. Enjoyed displays about the 10 Mountain Division.

I would definitely go again, and I would definitely go for 3 weeks, I would spend more time in Crestted Butte, and try to go to some of the mroe noted ATB areas.

Let us know how it goes.

Jeff