Pro mountain biker Micayla Gatto has ridden in some pretty cool places. She has hucked huge jumps in Virgin, Utah, explored Vancouver, British Columbia’s famous North Shore trails, and raced in the Sea Otter Classic Slalom, just to name a few. But her most unusual mountain biking adventure was a trip down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, which looks a lot like Colorado’s Gunnison Valley.

Mountain biking in Gunnison is characterized by rolling hills, rocky ridges and huge views. It’s a cross between riding in Fruita and Moab. MTB trails around Gunnison are mostly cross-country, as opposed to Crested Butte, where many trails are directional. Most of the mountain bike trails around Gunnison are close to town, meaning you can ride to the trailhead instead of driving. Sagebrush and juniper thrive in Gunnison’s high desert ecosystem. Paintbrush, mule’s ears, lupine and mariposa lilies bloom in spring.

Hartman Rocks is Gunnison’s crown jewel. Trails here are usually the first ones to open in the Gunnison Valley in spring. With nearly 50 miles of singletrack trail, this tract of BLM land is bursting with trails of all levels to explore. Link multiple trails together to create loops of any length and to suit any ability level. The rocky, technical trails at Hartmans are full of tricky lines, optional rock drops and fun, slickrock-esque features. You’ll ride through towering rock formations and wide-open fields of sagebrush. Some of the best expert trails at Hartman’s are Rattlesnake, Josho’s, Technical Beck’s, Freefall and The Notch.

Signal Peak, located just east of town by Western Colorado University, is a smaller trail system that features less technical trails. Climbs and descents have a more gradual gradient than most of the other trails in the Gunnison Valley.

Ten miles north of Gunnison is Almont, home of the famously rowdy Doctor Park trail. If you’re looking for lesser-known trails on the south end of the valley, here are a few more far-flung options.

Some trails around Gunnison are closed seasonally in spring to protect wildlife. Check the spring trail restrictions before you hit the trail.

• Go on an all-out wild tour of the Gunnison Valley’s toughest trails with YouTuber Jeff Kendall-Weed, who busts out his signature manuals down some of the techiest trails in Hartman Rocks and Crested Butte.
• Watch the two Born From Junk films, which chonicle the outlaw origins of mountain biking in the Gunnison Valley, from riding klunkers down Pearl Pass in the ‘70s to racing in the first Rage in the Sage event at Hartman Rocks in the ‘80s. Films by Buttery.
• Follow pro rider Carson Storch and newcomer Jesse East on a romp through the Gunnison Valley starting from Jesse’s classroom at Western Colorado University. Film by Matchstick Productions.