Basics
- Location:
- Crested Butte
- Length:
- 20 miles
- Aerobic Difficulty:
- Advanced
- Time To Allow:
- 3 - 4 hours
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 9100 feet
- Elevation Range:
- 9100 feet to 12100 feet
- Elevation Change:
- 3000 feet
- Season:
- July-September
Basic Directions
From Crested Butte, take the Slate River Road northwest from town. Take Slate River Road to Lower Loop Trail. Go left at the junction with Upper Lower Loop Trail. This trail ends at FS 585. Start riding uphill.
Description
Gunsight Pass Road/FS Road 585, is a fantastic ride for bikers looking to explore the mountains around Crested Butte and enjoy gorgeous mountain scenery. Starting in town, the dirt roadway climbs 3000 vertical feet up Mt. Emmons to Gunsight Pass, located at over 12,000 feet. Views from the Gunsight Pass Road are quite grand, including vistas of the surrounding Elk Mountains and down to Peanut Lake.
Riders on Gunsight Pass Road should be prepared to meet off-road vehicles along the way. Snow can be an issue here, as some seasons the snow never fully melts off the roadway. In addition, the roadway can be quite loose, making the descent back down quite an adventure at times.
Details
Location:
Length:
Distance is to pass and back
Difficulty:
Aerobic Difficulty:
Time To Allow:
Depends on aerobic fitness
Trailhead Elevation:
High elevation riding
Elevation Range:
Elevation Change:
Ends at Gunsight Pass, 12,100’
Season:
Additional Details:
While riding any trail system it is a great idea to include a repair kit and first aid kit. Gunsight Pass Road is a multi-use area and hikers, horseback riders, vehicles and other trail users may be seen along the way. Please be considerate on the trails and understand right of way protocol. Gunsight Pass Road is located in high elevation mountains and can experience sudden weather shifts, so riders should bring appropriate warm layers in anticipation of this.
