Vail Mountain Biking

Once the snow melts in Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado all the summer toys come out from all the closets, basements and garages of a majority of residents living in the area in pursuit of warm weather activities. One of the most popular and exciting activity to do while in the area is mountain biking. With dozens of wilderness trails that involve downhill cruising and cross country trekking, mountain biking in the area during the summer is second-to-none. From wildflower meadows to ridgeline vistas, mountain biking does not only allow you to enjoy the splendors of nature at your own speed, but challenges all your athletic skills. No matter how gnarly or gentle your mountain biking is, a trip to the area isn't complete without saddling up and putting some rubber on dirt.

Mountain bikers have most of the White River National Forest at their disposal. For the latest on trail networks and conditions on the trails in the national forest, check any of the local bike shops in the area and stop by the forest service information center. Most trails are best between June and October with fall being a perfect time to mountain bike with the aspens changing color and the air crisp and cool. The mountain biking season depends a lot on how snowy the previous winter was – obviously, the more snow means a later start to the biking season, but it also most likely means it was a good winter too. Most local bike shops rent the latest gear by the hour, half-day and full day.

For the truly ambitious, the 10th Mountain Hut and Trail System has recently expanded its winter operations to include backcountry mountain biking tours. The trails network is 300 miles long linking Aspen, Leadville, Vail and several other mountain towns. For more information contact the 10th Mountain Trail Association in Aspen.