Sure, Aspen, Colo. is one of the country’s best known destinations for snow sports during the winter months, but once the snow melts, Aspen’s mountainsides become a playground for an entirely different type of sport: mountain biking. Trails can be found throughout the mountains and hills, offering an exciting way to experience Aspen’s summer landscape.
Two popular mountain bike trails in Aspen are Smuggler Mountain Road and Hunter Creek Trail. Beloved for the fun terrain (switchbacks, drops and steep climbs), these trails will also give you some of the best views of Aspen from above.
More than 50 miles of mountain bike trails cater to every type of cyclist over at Aspen-Snowmass Resort, whether you’re a first-timer looking for gentle terrain where you can get your bearings or a long-time biker who lives for adrenaline-pumping drops and wall rides.
One of the resort’s best bets for a seriously fun challenge is Valhalla. While this trail clocks in at less than three miles, it manages to pack in some of the mountain’s best obstacles, including bridges, berms, jumps, table tops, rainbows and a fruit bowl. Vapor Trail, with its 1,400 feet of vertical drop and 2.6 miles of downhill terrain, is another route that appeals to adventurous bikers. You can even have twice as much fun by starting with Vapor Trail and, at the end, conveniently hopping onto the start of Valhalla.
If you need a more forgiving trail, Aspen-Snowmass offers the aptly named Easy Rider, which gives a scenic look at the area’s forests and meadows along a wide path without steep grades. Espresso Trail is another option for beginners looking to enjoy a bit of cross-country mountain biking through Aspen.
If you’re new to mountain biking, keep in mind that the resort offers mountain biking clinics throughout the summer so you can learn to free ride with the best of them.
Would you try biking your way down the trails of Aspen?
(Main image: Aspen/Snowmass used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
