Basalt Mountain

A mountain bike ride on Basalt Mountain offers premium singletrack and a great workout. On Basalt Mountain, singletrack trails wind through open pine forest and if riders choose to take the Big Loop, the views of the surrounding landscape are quite expansive.

There are two variations when riding Basalt Mountain. The first is to ride three miles up the gravel roadway to Singletrack #2, known as the Middle Loop. This downhill features four miles of smooth and fast singletrack riding back to the bottom. The second option is to ride six miles on the gravel road, climbing almost 3000 vertical, to the top of Basalt Mountain. The four mile Big Loop section of Singletrack #2 between the summit of Basalt Mountain and the Middle loop is technical, with several rock jumbles that riders must navigate before the trail joins the smooth Middle Loop singletrack below.

Basalt Mountain is multi-use so riders may encounter hikers, trail runners and other users and should follow right of way protocol when meeting other groups. Basalt Mountain is higher elevation and can experience sudden weather shifts, so riders should bring appropriate warm layers in anticipation of this. In addition, riders should be prepared with a stocked repair kit and a first aid kit.

From Glenwood Springs go east on Highway 82 past Carbondale and from Aspen go west on Highway 82 past Basalt. Arrive in El Jebel. Go north on El Jebel Road. Follow road until it turns to dirt and look for a fork in the road. Bear straight-right and find the parking lot shortly after. Continue riding up this gravel roadway by bike.