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Snodgrass, Lupine, Lower Loop Combo

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.3 (99)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. …Crested Butte and Gunnison
  5. Green Lake
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“A classic intermediate loop close to town. ”

Adam Kagy
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Map Key

22.9

Miles

36.8

KM

60%

Singletrack

9,977' 3,041 m

High

8,858' 2,700 m

Low

1,742' 531 m

Up

1,712' 522 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Snodgrass closes sometime in August for cattle grazing.

Overview

One of the classic loops close to town with some of the best scenery and great trails to boot. If you feel like you don't have the legs and want to cut out some of the climbing from town, hop on the free shuttle bus which has bike racks. The bus will drop you off up at Mt. Crested butte and from there it's an easy ride to the beginning of the Snodgrass trailhead.

Need to Know

This ride is great for the simple reason that it's easy to bail after Snodgrass or Lupine if weather is chasing you or if your legs just aren't feeling good.

Description

If starting from the 4way parking area in town, ride east out Elk ave. until you hit the rec path. Follow the gravel/paved Rec path uphill for several miles. The path eventually ends up near the ski area entrance. From here ride Gothic road another couple miles. When you get to the end of the paved road you'll see the sign for the Snodgrass Trail #590. Just after the holding pond, take a right on Teddy's Trail and soon regain Snodgrass Trail #590 after an easy climb.

Along the way you'll come to a few intersections. Follow the Snodgrass trail out to Washington Gulch road. Admire the scenery, revel in the flowy downhill and the wildflowers.

When you get to Washington Gulch Road, take a left and ride this all the way back down to Gothic Road. Once on Gothic you'll ride maybe a 1/10th of a mile and take a right into the Saddle Ridge subdivision. Ride uphill and enter the Lupine trail at the end of the road.

Follow the signs on Lupine and eventually you'll end up on Slate River Road. Take a right on Slater river Road and ride another 1/10 of a mile and take a right on the unsigned singletrack (this is a shortcut). If you miss it, no big deal as the road will take you to the same place. If you took the singletrack you'll have a quick downhill then re-join the road again. The singletrack is maybe another 1/10 of a mile long.

After about a mile on Slate River Road, the road will fork to the left and you'll see a sign for Gunsite Pass. Take a left here and follow the singletrack or road down to the river where there will be a pedestrian bridge. Go across the bridge and follow the doubletrack until that forks. Now you'll have a choice. You can either go left on Lower Loop or you can take a right for a short climb on Gunsite Pass road. At the second switchback look for a trail and a sign that will be heading east back toward town, this is Upper Lower Loop.

Follow Upper Lower Loop until it connects with Lower Loop, then follow that back into town. For a bonus/alternate route, mid-way through Upper Lower Loop look for a trail junction/sign for Budd Trail going up to the right. Ride Budd Trail until it connects back up with Lower Loop and back into town.

Take a left on 1st street, and a right on Elk Ave. to get back to the 4 way parking area. Now revel in a Crested Butte classic and congratulate yourself with some beers on the Brick Oven patio.

Contacts

Local Club: Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association

Nov 20, 2023: 2023 CBCC Trail Care and Stewardship Crew End of Season Update

Shared By:

Adam Kagy with improvements by Ryan Tidemann
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 99 votes

#1

in Green Lake

#133

Overall
  4.3 from 99 votes
5 Star
46%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
1%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Green Lake

#41

in Colorado

#133

Overall
38 Views Last Month
32,614 Since May 15, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

The aspens on Lupine and Gunsight can't be beat.
Oct 2, 2017 near Crested…, CO
Beautiful views of Mount Crested Butte from the Lower Loop
Sep 25, 2017 near Crested…, CO
The short climb up Lupine is beautiful... and it leads to the awesome Gunsight Trail!
Sep 25, 2017 near Crested…, CO
Yeah, the scenery doesn't suck in Crested Butte!
Apr 8, 2013 near Crested…, CO
Riding through fields of Lupine.
Jun 30, 2014 near Crested…, CO
Love riding singletrack through aspen sections!
Oct 12, 2016 near Crested…, CO

7 Comments

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jun 29, 2024
Andrew Julian
Jul 30, 2023
Mike Blankenship
Note the 1,742' Ascent number is wayyy off. Both my Garmin and phone clocked over 2,800' and I could feel this was much more accurate. 22.1mi — 3h 10m
Jul 28, 2023
mike reade
Jul 5, 2023
Sam Groves
Jul 2, 2023
Cailee PS
Oct 15, 2022
Daniel Raetzman
Aug 9, 2022
Priyam Parikh
Aug 9, 2022
Sam Brown
25mi — 3h 05m

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Stewarded by Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
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