three gravel bikers ride on a gravel trail with rolling hills in the background

Experience epic Colorado gravel biking in Gunnison and Crested Butte

1,100+ miles of roads, from high desert to high alpine

Surrounded by National Forest and BLM land, the Gunnison Valley is an ideal base camp for a gravel biking trip. Ride through rock spires and sage oceans in Gunnison, explore wild and scenic forests from Pitkin, and journey over steep alpine passes in Crested Butte.

Take a convenient flight to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, and book lodging just steps away from the trails. Start planning your adventure below!

Book your trip

Lodging

Cozy cabins, historic bed-and-breakfasts, trailside hotels…take your pick! With more affordable lodging than similar mountain destinations, you won’t over-pay, but you might choose to over-stay!

Plug the desired dates of your trip into the tool below to find the perfect accommodations.

Flights

Spend less time traveling and more time on your bike when you fly to Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport (GUC). With expanded flight service to GUC, it’s now easier than ever to fly to the Gunnison Valley!

Visiting from Texas? Catch nonstop flights from Dallas or Houston.

fly from Houston on United
fly from Dallas on JSX

Coming from anywhere else? Take the easy one-hour flight from Denver on United Airlines.

Fly Denver to GUC

Gravel biking info

Gunnison Valley gravel biking guide

Use our guide to learn more about riding in Gunnison, Pitkin and Crested Butte. Browse a trail map, get route recommendations and connect to local bike shops.

Pick your routes

Other things to do

Choose your outdoor adventure! Hike through waist-high wildflowers in summer and golden aspens in fall. Explore more than 800 miles of singletrack trail via mountain bike. Or try your hand at angling in crystal-clear Gold Medal rivers. Whatever your adventure, it’ll leave you whooping, grinning and gasping in awe.

A person riding a mountain bike on a path in front of a mountain peak. This trail is Strand Hill Crested Butte

Mountain biking

Four people and a dog stand atop rocks with a blue skybackdrop.

Hiking

An angler casts into a small lake while fall fishing in Gunnison and Almont.

Fishing

Colorado’s coolest mountain towns

Kick back in one of the Gunnison Valley’s towns after your ride. Mosey through unique restaurants, cozy bars and one-of-a-kind shops in historic buildings. 

Groups and events

Looking for an event venue, conference room or lodging package for a large group? Click the button below to learn more about group travel to the Gunnison Valley.

Get group travel info

Regional travel alerts

Our travel alerts page contains everything you need to know before you arrive:

  • road construction info
  • camping options
  • current campfire restrictions
  • seasonal trail closures
  • weather

Click the button below to get started.

Plan your trip

Keep the Gunnison Valley wild

MUDDY OR WET ROAD CONDITIONS

If possible, plan your route to avoid riding on wet or muddy roads. If you encounter snow or mud on the road, ride through it, not around it. 

BATHROOMS

Pit toilets are available at Hartman Rocks and a few trailheads around Crested Butte, but many dirt roads in Gunnison County are miles from bathroom facilities. “Go before you go,” and learn how to properly dispose of waste if you have to answer nature’s call outdoors.

BASIC ROAD BIKING ETIQUETTE

  • Only ride on open roads
  • Use hand signals when turning
  • Yield to riders traveling uphill
  • Ride in control at all times
  • Respect other road users

LEAVE NO TRACE

The seven principles of Leave No Trace guide us on how to behave in the outdoors. Abiding by these principles helps minimize human impacts on the land. To learn more about Leave No Trace principles specific to mountain biking, visit LNT.org.

CRESTED BUTTE CAMPING CHANGES

Several popular camping areas near Crested Butte have changed from dispersed to designated. If you plan on camping during your trip to the Gunnison Valley, it is highly recommended to have several backup options in case your first campsite choice doesn’t work out. If possible, make reservations. Check out our camping guide for more information.

Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO

Western Colorado University

Small classes. Big opportunities.

Western Colorado University in Gunnison offers over 100 areas of study, including a first-of-its-kind degree program in outdoor industry engineering. With world-class skiing and mountain biking right in Western’s backyard, students can shred the trails or the slopes after homework is done.

Learn more about Western

Gunnison Valley economic development

Root your business in the mountains

The Gunnison Valley is a fast-growing hub of outdoor industry small businesses. ICELab staff works one-on-one with local companies and entrepreneurs to raise funds and grow revenues. Click the button below to learn more about what the ICELab does and the benefits of moving your business to Gunnison or Crested Butte.

Explore opportunities
A man talks to another man with their laptops in front of them at the bright, sunny ICELab coworking space.

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