Biking throughout Summit County

Biking in Breckenridge and Summit county is a sport enjoyed by more and more people every year. Breckenridge and Summit County host a variety of challenging bike races during the summer season.

Biking in the summer months in the mountains is just a terrific experience. There are paved bike paths for beginners and families of all skill levels, and advanced and steep single-track rides with lots of obstacles for the advanced biker. There are 200 miles of paved bike trails and many single-track trails. There are many bike shops in the county with first class and high end equipment or just bring your own bike.

Types of Bikes for Rent:
There are 3 types of bikes. The first type of bike is a fully rigid bike. Most people start out on this type of bike. There is no suspension and some are single-gear and others are multigear road bike models. The next two classes of bikes are a step up and are suspension bikes with gear systems. The first suspension bike is a called a hard tail. This bike is multi geared and has a front shock absorber. The most technical mountain bike is a full- suspension bike. Both the front and rear of the bike have shock absorbers which make difficult mountain biking a bit easier.

The 4 Types of Riding:
Road Bike-Used on paved surfaces and road races. This is a rigid bike with narrow wheels and is typically used in long distance riding and in races.

Cross Country-Used on a mix of terrain and surfaces. Seasoned riders and novices will enjoy this type of bike. If you use it on nonpaved surfaces, a suspension bike is recommended.

Downhill-Fun! You put your bike on a chairlift at a local resort and ride to the top of the mountain. You then have multiple choices to get downhill. I would recommend a full-suspension bike as the terrain can be a road or a single-track trail. Be cautious, as it’s easy to go fast.

Child Trailer-Most bike shops will rent small tented trailers with wheels, so you can take your child on your ride. This trailer is fitted to the rear of your bike and becomes a comfortable shaded oasis for the little ones. This is ideal for paved trails.

Junior Bike-Smaller bikes, for kids with or without training wheels, depending on skill level.

Tandem Bike-Relax and enjoy your ride with a friend on a tandem bike. One person rides behind the other on one bike. Tandem bikes are available to rent at most bike shops.

Trailer Bikes-A small bike that physically attaches to a larger bike and allows older children to pedal along with you.

Biking Trails Breckenridge To:

Bakers Tank Trail

During the summer months, this is a popular biking trail. You can get to this trail by driving your bike to the parking area near the top of Boreas Pass Road or take the Summit Stage bus to the parking area with your bike on the front of the bus. The single-track trail is an easy-to-moderate ride that is perfect for the family. This road a railroad track in the late 1800’s. At the parking area you will see signs and information about the trail. Take the trail to Bakers tank and return on Boreas Pass road. Bakers Tank still remains and can be viewed off Boreas Pass Road. You can take Boreas Pass Road back to your origination point and enjoy the downhill views of Breckenridge and the tarn valley. The ride passes beautiful aspen groves and is my favorite ride in September, as the aspen tree leaves are changing. The road continues from the parking area and trailhead and ends at Main Street in Breckenridge just past the Stephen C. West Ice Arena.

Burro Trail

Due to the proximity to the town, this trail can be busy. This is a fairly technical trail with a variety of conditions. Find a starting spot in town and head up Village Road to the Beaver Run Resort. Start climbing onto the dirt access road and you will see a trail sign, Burro Trail. Follow this trail into the forest and you will cross Crystal Lakes Jeep Road. Farther ahead you will merge with Spruce Creek Road. Here you can either turn around and return to Breckenridge, or take Spruce Creek Road to highway 9 or continue up (right) the Spruce Creek Road loop. The road reaches a 4-way junction. Turn right on the Wheeler trail over a ridge and into McCullough Gulch. Once you have reached the Gulch, take the road to the left through a gate. Continue on this trail and at each fork take a right to finish out the loop.

Hoosier Pass Summit: Breckenridge to Hoosier Pass

This is an 11-mile highway ride from Breckenridge to the top of Hoosier Pass. You will be sharing the road with cars, trucks and other cyclists. Starting at the South end of Breckenridge, go south on highway 9. You will see the Tarn and wetlands on the left side of the road, in Blue River. Continue and you will see the Quandary Trail head on the right. Dead ahead on the highway you will see a Swiss-style chalet, and the road takes a sharp right, and you will start climbing. You’ll see beautiful views, and pass dark pine and spruce forests all the way to the parking lot at the top of the pass. The altitude at the pass is 11,542 feet. Once you’ve reached the top, you will see the mountains of Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross to the west. Look south and you will see the valley that leads to Alma and the South Platte River. This parking area is a popular spot for photos. Your return to Breckenridge is all downhill, and there are sharp curves and cars all moving fast. Use caution and your brakes.

This is a paved 9+ mile trail. The trail begins in downtown Breckenridge at the Riverwalk Center at the Blue River. This is a mostly downhill trail that is fairly level and good for people of all abilities. You will follow the trail and go over a bridge at the recreation center near the Kayak water park. The Blue River and the trail run parallel out of Breckenridge towards Farmers corner. There are a few public roads that cross the trail so be on the lookout for autos and trucks. You will go behind the high school and back near the highway. The trail veers left and you will enter the woods, there is a brief uphill ride. The trail levels out and passes the hospital and goes into the Bill’s Ranch neighborhood. Continue to a T in the road. Go right and you will reach the County commons building or continue and you will end up in downtown Frisco. This trail continues on to Copper Mountain, or you can turn around and return to Breckenridge. If you are too tired to continue, you can catch a bus at the county commons building or on Main Street in Frisco back to Breckenridge. Bikes go on the front of the buses on the racks.

Biking Trails Frisco To:

Vail Pass

This is a paved trail that heads up hill for 14 miles to Vail Pass. You can start at I-70 and exit #201. There is a parking lot to the north of this intersection. Ride downhill towards Frisco and you will see the first commercial center on the right side of the road. There is a restaurant on this spot. Before you reach this building, you will see a paved trail on the right. Take this trail. You will wind through the woods towards Copper mountain. There is a picnic area on the right side of the trail. Continue until you see the gas station across the road from Copper Mountain Resort. Go into the resort, and as the road curves, look for the paved bike trail on the right. This will start your ascent up to the top of Vail Pass. You will go west in between the east and west-bound lanes of I-70. This is an amazing ride to the top of the pass. The trail continues from there into Vail and from there you will be able to continue on to Glenwood Springs. (This will be completed in the near future.) There are also companies that will take you to Vail pass and pick you up at Copper Mountain or Frisco.

Keystone-Park at the Frisco Marina

The bike path begins on the left. The path will take you around the shoreline of Lake Dillon, near the school and over the marshes and wetlands. Where the path parallels the Dam Road, it heads into a pine forest with periodic glimpses of the lake. The path heads east toward the Heaton Bay Campground. The trail merges with Swan Mountain Road on and off towards Dillon, so be cautious of traffic. You will see a parking area on the right that tells you about the location of the Town of Dillon before the dam was built. You will see a condo building ahead. Go left for Silverthorne, or continue and merge on Lodgepole road and look for the path as it continues above the Dillon Marina. The trail heads downhill into Gold Run Circle and go to the right. Continue up the hill toward Highway 6 and the bike path resumes and runs parallel to the Highway along the shores of Dillon Reservoir. The trail continues south and crosses a large pedestrian bridge over the Snake River You will come to an intersection of Swan Mountain Road to the right and Keystone straight ahead. The path continues to follow Highway 6, passing the River at Keystone golf course and then winds around the beautiful Snake River and ski cabins until reaching Keystone Resort.

Biking Trails Keystone To:

Loveland Pass

This is a road trip that takes several hours, as it is straight up hill for 10 miles. Bring a jacket as the temperature is often quite cool even in the middle of summer. Ride away from Keystone on Highway 6. You will pass deep forests and see the A-Basin ski resort on the right side. The steep climb begins here up many switchbacks. You will reach above tree line and enter tundra-covered ground. Views are amazing from all directions. You will reach the summit and there is a large parking lot on the right side of the road. There are usually lots of people in this area.

Montezuma

Montezuma is a historical old mining town tucked away in the mountains. This is a very rural small community. Park your car in the Keystone skier parking lot in front of River Run Village. Get on Montezuma road and go about 6 miles. You will see the Snake River, nice snow-capped mountain peaks, and thick forests during this uphill ride. There is a wooden sign that lets you know you have arrived. Stop and have a picnic lunch and return to Keystone the same way.

Biking Trails Silverthorne To:Heeney

This is a highway ride that will take you past beautiful sections of the Blue River and to the Green Mountain Reservoir. Heeney is a small town on the west side of the reservoir.