Biking Away In Carbondale!
Biking adventures abound around Carbondale
Whether you are just looking for a relaxing ride on paved trails through the sprawling valley or you enjoy a technical, challenging ride on
singletrack, Carbondale offers it all for the casual rider or the expert.
One of the most popular spots in Carbondale is the Red Hill Recreation Area, often referred to as “Mushroom Rock.”
Located just a mile from downtown, this area of BLM land includes some of the best mountain-biking trails in the valley for riders of all
abilities.
A parking lot at the base of County Road 107, at the intersection of Highways 82 and 133, gives easy access.
Prince Creek Road is another great spot near Carbondale, and is the access route to Porcupine Loop, Crown Trails, West Sopris Creek, and Hay
Park Trail.
To get there, head south on Highway 133 for 1.4 miles and turn left on Prince Creek Road.
The road heads east for ½ mile, then turns south to parallel Highway 133 for a mile.
Near a red barn, the road bears left and begins following the creek with mixed easy climbing and level stretches.
For about one mile you’ll be on pavement, then after the pavement ends the climbing becomes steadier as you gain 1300 feet in the final three
miles to the top of the divide.
Cradled in the bottmlands along the Roaring Fork River, the paved Rio Grande Trail starts in the heart of downtown Aspen and winds its way
down the Roaring Fork Valley.
It is the perfect choice for families with small children, or for those who want to strech their legs after work.
There are access points near each town along the trail.
For more details, please visit the U.S. Forest Service, Aspen/Sopris Ranger District web page which lists many area trails by category.
RFTA trail offers scenic ride for cycling commuters
- by Gina Guarascio . . . Valley Journal , June 21 to
27, 2007.
Most Roaring Fork Valley commuters line up in their cars to make the right turn to Aspen between 5 and 8 a.m., and then the
left turn between 4 and 6 p.m. to get back home again in the evening.
High-Country Dream Is Taking Shape
- by Jason Blevins . . . Denver Post, July
25, 2006
What began as open-space acquisition for wildlife habitat has evolved
into the grandest of dreams: a $40 million recreational trail connecting two distant communities and traversing some of Colorado's most
scenic and historic
pathways.
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