Basics
- Location:
- Minturn, Vail
- Length:
- 13 miles
- Aerobic Difficulty:
- Moderate, Advanced
- Time To Allow:
- 2 - 3 hours
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 7750 feet
- Elevation Range:
- 7750 feet to 9700 feet
- Elevation Change:
- 1950 feet
- Season:
- July-September
Description
The Meadow Mountain Loop has become a classic, must-do, mid-summer ride in the Vail area. This ride offers a lung expanding experience amongst the beauty of a Colorado mountain summer.
A steep but non-technical roadway leads through open pine, aspen forest and mountain meadow from the valley up to the Line Shack Forest Service Cabin. From here riders head down the backside of the mountain for a gorgeous downhill. Be sure to take a right at the start of the descent by the wooden fence to access the smooth singletrack portion of the ride. The smooth singletrack downhill gives welcome relief and amazing views of the surrounding country.
Once back at the valley, be sure to hit the frontage roadway back to the trailhead or the Minturn bike path to avoid being lured into riding on I-70.
Details
Location:
Length:
Difficulty:
Aerobic Difficulty:
Time To Allow:
Trailhead Elevation:
Elevation Range:
Elevation Change:
Steep climb ending at 9700
Season:
Additional Details:
The Meadow Mountain Loop is multi-use so riders may encounter hikers, trail runners and other users and should follow right of way protocol when meeting other groups. Bug spray will be a welcome tool on the Meadow Mountain Loop due to the hungry mosquitoes that live here during the summer months. The Meadow Mountain Loop is high 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 first aid kit.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
From Vail take I-70 to Exit 171 at Minturn. Take Highway 24 to the Mountain Meadow Parking area. The trailhead is at the southern end of the parking area through the green gate by the houses.
