FAT BIKING

Hartman Rocks is hands-down the best place to ride near Gunnison, and might even be the best spot in the whole county for winter riding.

Gunnison Trails grooms over 14 miles of singletrack trails specifically for fat bikes, while Gunnison Nordic grooms the road systems primarily for Nordic skiing. Groomed singletrack trails can be accessed from either the Gold Basin Road (County Road 38) trailhead or the McCabe’s Lane trailhead.

Explore routes for your next fat bike ride

Crested Butte Nordic Center’s trail system and Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) are the best places for a consistent fat biking snow surface. The Nordic Center requires you to have a trail pass (either a season pass or day pass), and fat bikes are limited to the trails on the east side of their grooming area. Although its a little pricier, this is the best option for beginners since it’s mostly flat and the trails are groomed almost every day. 

Fat biking at Crested Butte Mountain Resort requires an uphill pass and is only allowed before and after hours. Although the climbs are steep in places, the snow is fantastic and well-packed, making for a consistent riding surface. Consult the uphill guide on CBMR’s website for maps and other information.

The Crested Butte Mountain Association (CBMBA) also grooms trails around Crested Butte for fat biking. View their grooming report to see which trails are currently groomed. 

Find your next fat bike ride in Crested Butte

Every drainage around Crested Butte has a road that does not have winter maintenance or plowing. These roads have long been popular with cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, and other backcountry users, so please be courteous and share these places with other users. Avalanche danger increases significantly on some of these roads, so it is important to read the avalanche report the day you plan to go out. Check out these roads for the best fat biking experiences around Crested Butte:

• Slate River Road
• Brush Creek Road
• Washington Gulch Road
• Gothic/Schofield Pass Road
• Kebler Pass Road
• Splains Gulch Road
• Cement Creek Road

Help maintain the image of fat biking by following these guidelines:

• Respect trail closures and paid trail systems. Buy a pass and only ride where you are allowed.
• If a trail is groomed for Nordic skiing, don’t ride in the classic tracks. These are the two parallel lines on the side of the trail. Try to ride on the outside of the groomed track opposite of the classic track. 
• Always ride a minimum tire width of 3.5 inches and maximum PSI of 10.
• Clean your tires if you are transitioning from mud or dirt to snow.
• Ride single file, especially on groomed trails.
• If you leave a rut more than one inch deep, turn around. Try to ride in the mornings while the track is still firm. Avoid riding on warm, sunny afternoons and powder days.
• Yield to snowshoers and Nordic skiers. Be courteous and communicate when passing snowmobiles.

While you’re here, check out Crested Butte and Gunnison’s other winter activities: skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, and other winter activities!

Whether you’re looking for a cabin or a condo, a hostel or a traditional hotel, we’ve got you covered for a vacation rental.