Most Crested Butte and Silverton rides, yes. Fruita almost never. Check local shops.

Depends on land manager. Class 1 on most CBMBA and COPMOBA trails; check signage.

When is aspen season?

Roughly the last week of September through the first week of October. Worth planning around.

Best Mountain Bike Trails in Colorado

Fruita, Crested Butte, Salida, Breckenridge. Our team's picks for Colorado's mountain biking, by region and season.

Colorado is the state most of our team would point at if forced to pick one place to ride for the rest of their lives. Owen rode the 401 five weekends in a row one August and was still raving; Jake calls Fruita's Zippity Do Dah "the best 9 miles in North America"; Mia's local-ish Salida has quietly become a better hub than Crested Butte for mixed-ability crews.

The short version: Colorado's MTB season follows the snow. Desert network (Fruita, Grand Junction) opens March–April. High country (Crested Butte, Breck, Silverton) really doesn't go until mid-July. Plan the trip around altitude.

By region

Western Slope (desert)

Fruita + Grand Junction — some of the best purpose-built MTB in the country. March–May and September–November.

Crested Butte / Gunnison

401, Doctor's Park, the Dyke. Quintessential Colorado singletrack. July–September.

I-70 Corridor

Salida, Buena Vista, Breck, Keystone — big variety in close range.

When to go

jan

feb

mar

apr

may

jun

jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

best good ok poor

Common questions

Do I need a shuttle?: Most Crested Butte and Silverton rides, yes. Fruita almost never. Check local shops.
E-bikes allowed?: Depends on land manager. Class 1 on most CBMBA and COPMOBA trails; check signage.
When is aspen season?: Roughly the last week of September through the first week of October. Worth planning around.