Son of Middle Creek

The Son of Middle Creek Trail features excellent climbing and technical descending through the mountains by Vail.

The majority of the climbing on the Son of Middle Creek Trail takes place on dirt roadway through open pine forest. The roadway eventually leads to the singletrack of the Son of Middle Creek, featuring a good combination of boulder chokes, logs, shale and creek crossings to keep riders focused.

The singletrack downhill on Son of Middle Creek Trail is high quality and traverses through pine and aspen stands with excellent views of the surrounding mountains. In addition, there is an option to car shuttle the majority of the climbing on Son of Middle Creek and just enjoy the downhill.

While riding any trail system it is a great idea to include a repair kit and first aid kit. Son of Middle Creek Trail 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. Son of Middle Creek Trail is located in high elevation mountains and can experience sudden weather shifts, so riders should bring appropriate warm layers in anticipation of this.

From I-70 take the Main Vail Exit/Exit 176 and go around the roundabout heading north of 1-70.

For the full loop, park by the elementary school. Ride west on the paved town bike-path and take a right at Red Sandstone Road. At the third switchback get on FS Road 700 to Piney Lake. Lost Lake Road/FS Road 786 will appear after 6 miles of climbing. Turn onto Lost Lake Road and follow for ½ mile to Trail 2136/Son of Middle Creek. At end of trail, riders end up back on Red Sandstone and can backtrack to the elementary school.

Riders can shuttle to Lost Lake Road by car to cut out the climbing on Piney Lake Road.