For as long as I can remember, Crested Butte has been one of my favorite places to ride. I’ve had the opportunity to ride my bike in places all over the U.S. but more than anywhere else, the rides that have burned themselves deepest into my memory are the ones I’ve done at Crested Butte. The number and quality of trails, combined with the natural beauty of the place makes riding there something special.
What’s strange is, although I could tell you all the details of the 401 trail like it was yesterday, I can’t remember exactly the last time I’d ridden there. Over the past few years, Ms. Seeking and I have been to CB several times in the winter to ski but as best as I can remember, the last time I’d been there in the summer was probably before I was married, so something like 20 years ago! God, how time flies. Now that we’re living in Salida it’s just a two-hour drive over the pass, so it’s an easy day trip.
I set out to do a ride I’d done many times before, my favorite of favorites, a loop going up Washington Gulch to the 403 Trail, over to Gothic Road, up Schofield pass and back down the 401 trail. The one variation this time around was a start on the Snodgrass trail. In the past I’d ridden from town or from the ski area but by starting on Snodgrass you avoid having to ride pavement to start the ride, a very good thing considering all the tourists in town, plus you get an extra three miles of single track to boot. The Snodgrass trail starts from Gothic Road just up the road from the base of the ski resort and contours around Snodgrass Mountain over to Washington Gulch. It’s a popular day hike area as evidenced by the nearly full parking lot when I arrived at 9:00 a.m.
The only confusing part of the ride was at the very start where several trails, all going approximately the same direction, branch off from the trailhead. Having never started from here before, I wasted several minutes riding and then backtracking until I found the actual Snodgrass trail I was looking for.
Crested Butte is famous for its wildflowers and they were out in force.
View of Mt. Crested Butte from Snodgrass.
Into the aspens.
After a fast descent, the Snodgrass Trail drops you onto the road going up Washington Gulch. From there it’s a steady climb up to the ghost town of Elkton, where the road steepens for the last mile of the climb.
Just past the top of Washington Gulch at around 10,960 feet is the trailhead for the 403 trail. The 403 climbs through forest and meadows up to 11,400 feet and the views just get better and better as you go.
The descent starts gradually and then steepens as you drop through forest and six-foot high skunk cabbage, in full bloom.
The 403 drops you back on Gothic Road about halfway up Schofield pass. Time to start climbing again but after the descent off of the 403, your brake fingers will appreciate the rest. The views don’t hurt either.
Just before the top of Schofield pass sits one of the prettiest alpine lakes you can get to in a car, Emerald Lake.
The top of Schofield pass. Clearly the forest service gave up trying to peel off the stickers years ago.
Congratulations! You made it to the top. Now exit to the 401 trail on your right and get ready to climb some more.
View of Maroon Peak over Aspen way from the top of the 401. You may have noticed the sky getting successively darker in this and the previous photos. A few seconds after I took this picture thunder clapped overhead and it became clear the descent was going to be a race between my blog-driven need to take pictures and my deep-seated desire to not die by lighting on top of this mountain.
Heading down.
I was unable to outrun the rain but fortunately there was no lightning nearby, the rain was light, and I had a rain jacket. I remembered there’s a reason Crested Butte has so many flowers: in the summer it rains almost every afternoon. Flying downhill through meadows of wildflowers in the light rain was magical.
There’s a bailout point about halfway down the the 401 trail that takes you directly back to Gothic Road. It doesn’t shorten the ride in terms of mileage but you can descend faster on the road than on the trail. I figured if the rain continued or got worse I would use this as my alternate route home. But by the time I got to the bailout the rain had stopped so I continued on the 401.
I got back to my car five hours after I started. Counting my wrong turns and backtracking at the beginning on Snodgrass, it ended up being a 30 mile ride with 5,000 feet of climbing so yeah, a full day. But it felt so good to be back in Crested Butte in the summer again. And I spent more time riding than driving, so that’s always a good day!
