Biking
Breaking Away!
Like much of Colorado, opportunities for 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 bottomlands 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 stretch 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.
Take a Hike
- by The Post Independent, October 23, 2008
Fall is a great, maybe perfect, time of year for a hike. The cool temperatures and rusted-autumn scenery make for a great adventure. Just keep an eye out for bears, which can be more active this time of year. And just think, in a month or so, you will have to break out the snowshoes.
Area mountain bikers finally find a voice
- by Scott Condon . . . The
