For all the hype and history surrounding mountain biking in Colorado, it might come as a surprise that the sport’s international stewarding body never has considered any place in the state a “pinnacle” destination.
Until now.
The Roaring Fork Valley is enjoying its first month as a Gold Level Ride Center under the exclusive rankings by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). The community joins six others with the designation: Boise, Idaho, Duluth, Minn., Oakridge, Ore., Park City, Utah, and Nelson and Rotorua in New Zealand.
Aspen and Snowmass always have been able to brag about skiing. Now “they also have world-class mountain biking to match,” IMBA executive director Dave Wiens said in a press release.
The announcement came at the end of January in a celebration shared by advocates, land managers, chambers of commerce and tourism boards across the valley that also includes Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs.
It’s prime time for those players to boast about 300 miles of singletrack. Trail mileage is one consideration for IMBA’s Ride Centers, along with quality and variety and local services, from bike shops to lodges to brewpubs.
In the release, Wiens mentioned the Government Trail near Aspen and Basalt’s Hay Park and Arbaney Kittle trails as “backcountry Colorado classics that have defined mountain biking for so many riders.”
New trails at Aspen’s Sky Mountain Park form connections and loops for all-day adventures, the press release noted. Also new is the system at Glenwood’s Red Mountain, where along the Grandstaff Trail “grand views of Mount Sopris meet fun flow, big vertical drops and optional airtime.” Bigger drops are had from the lift-accessed alpine of Snowmass Bike Park.
IMBA gave a nod to trails closer to the middle of the valley, where one can swap desert terrain for higher, aspen-covered ground with sweeping views of the Elk Mountains. And appreciation also was given to the Rio Grande Trail, the recreation path connecting towns for 42 miles.
Wiens told The Gazette that no other Colorado hub is up for Gold Level consideration. Eagle Valley and Steamboat Springs are on the Silver roster with 13 other members.
What We Believe
We are driven by our deep respect for our environment, and our passionate commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation. We believe in the right for everyone – from all backgrounds and cultures – to enjoy our natural world, and we believe that we must all do so responsibly. Learn More
7 of the Best Mountain Biking Trails in Crested Butte, Colorado
Sponsored by: Crested Butte, Colorado is the place where mountain biking was born. Known as one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the United States, there’s truly no parallel for high alpine, mountain bike terrain. From a world-class downhill bike park to stunning singletrack, from high-alpine cross-country routes to trails with breathtaking scenery, there’s truly […]
August 16, 2018
The Perfect Colorado Ice Cream Road Trip
Winter, spring, summer, fall…ice cream is a good idea any time of year. So pack your family in the car and get started! 1. Little Man Ice Cream, Denver Start off in Colorado’s capital, Denver. You can get your first ice-cream fix at Little Man. And their twenty-eight-foot-tall ice cream can (totally Instagram-worthy) is worth […]
March 28, 2018
