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One of the best out and back rides in Crested Butte.


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Map Key

8.4

Miles

13.5

KM

90%

Singletrack

10,615' 3,236 m

High

8,932' 2,722 m

Low

1,684' 513 m

Up

1,683' 513 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (4°)

44%

Max Grade (24°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Stay on the trail since much of it traverses through private property.

Overview

Green Lake Trail is probably one of the best downhills close to town. It's ridden as an out and back ending near green lake at the base of Mt. Axtel. While popular among hikers, it isn't that popular among bikers, but should be!

Need to Know

This trail is definitely not for beginners it can be a grunt of a climb, with no shortage of technical challenges presenting itself, but the reward is one of the best technical downhills in the valley.

Description

Start by riding to the Crested Butte Nordic Center near 2nd Avenue in Town. Ride behind the building on a doubletrack heading Southeast. This eventually leads to a road and the first trail sign directing you to take a right on this road. Just under a half mile later, another sign will direct you to the left and the start of the Green Lake trail singletrack.

The climb starts here and doesn't relent much. Switchback your way up the mountain through the dark timber steeply at times until getting dumped out to another road. A sign directs you to take a right on this road. About 1/2 mile on the road, another sign directs you to get back onto singletrack to your left.

Wind your way up through the dark timber and enjoy the technical uphill on the way. The trail eventually starts opening up, stay straight at the intersection for trail 436. Once at the lake, marvel in its beauty and get ready for a ripping technical descent all the way back into town.

Note: It's usually a good idea to bring some bug spray just in case the mosquitoes are bad in the dark timber.

Contacts

Shared By:

Adam Kagy with improvements by Ryan Tidemann

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 39 votes

#2

in Green Lake

#555

Overall
  4.1 from 39 votes
5 Star
36%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
23%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Green Lake

#136

in Colorado

#555

Overall
9 Views Last Month
12,265 Since Jun 18, 2013
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
17%
80%
3%

Photos

Video of riding out and back to Green Lake from the 4-way stop in Crested Butte.
Oct 5, 2015 near Crested…, CO
green lake
Jul 15, 2013 near Crested…, CO
Green Lake Trail
Nov 20, 2023 near Crested…, CO
Green Lake at the turnaround point
Oct 3, 2020 near Crested…, CO
Green Lake
Oct 4, 2015 near Crested…, CO
Awesome trail, just watching all the trout in the lake made the ride worth the climb.   Downhill to town is fun and fast!
Jul 20, 2017 near Crested…, CO
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