Matco Trail (Vail Lake - Trail #1)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Views

The campground charges a fee for entrance. Races are commonly scheduled here during the season -- recommend calling ahead to avoid conflict with a scheduled race. Beware of rattlesnakes.

Starting from the top of the mountain, the singletrack crosses the Vail Lake Fire Road and continues down along the ridge. It swiftly runs the length of the ridge while alternating from one side of the spine to the other. Most of this is fairly straightforward with only a few rocks and minor kickers that might give a rider any trouble.

The trail winds down to a steep, rocky section where repeated rides and erosion have made the rocks more and more exposed while deepening the gaps in between them. This section is worth walking and finding the best line the first time around. Fortunately, it has a nice long run out, so any speed can be bled off before the first turn.

The trail mellows and then switchbacks around to another even trickier section where the rocks present themselves as a more formidable, wheel-bending barrier right before a very sharp left with harsh exposure beyond - not much room for error.

After all this, the trail glides down a very steep and smooth transition to the final rocky run and lip up to the road at the bottom. Lots of fun.