Son of Middle Creek Loop

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Downhill

Climb up a dirt road, climb a little more on singletrack, then descend through the forest back down to town.

The Son of Middle Trail has a seasonal wildlife closure from 4/15 thru 6/20 each spring to protect deer/elk during calving season.

Son of Middle Creek is a classic ride in Vail, and this is the most common way to ride it. Starting off with a small bit of pavement, you make your way to the bottom of Red Sandstone rd. This is a very popular road that accesses Piney River Ranch so you'll be sharing the road with quite a few cars depending on the time of season.

It's an unfortunate reality, but the small time spent with the cars is worth the descent. At a junction a little ways up Red Sandstone, you'll turn off onto Lost Lake Road for just a few hundred yards, and then another right onto the singletrack. From here its all singletrack to the bottom. You'll continue to climb through a nice forested area for a bit, then after one final steep grind you'll reach an unassuming top.

You might not even know you're about to descend, but the remainder of the ride is all downhill back to Vail. It can be a little tight, and hard to see in spots when the grasses/flowers are at there peak, but it's a fun ride down.