Summit County was organized as one of the seventeen original Colorado counties by the First Territorial Legislature on November 1, 1861. It was named for the many mountain summits in the county. Until February 2, 1874, its boundaries included the area now comprising Summit County, Grand County, Routt County, Moffat County, Garfield County, Eagle County, and Rio Blanco County. In 1883, Summitt County arrived at its present boundaries. Summit County covers 600 square miles with around three-quarters of it in national forest. That leaves around 150 square miles of private land. That means great riding!
Animal Farm Loop
Beta: Buttery singletrack describes this ride! Your ride starts in the quaint neighborhood of Summit Cove. There is a small parking area at the trail head and after warming up on the bike path for about an eighth of a mile you hit the Rossetter Trail and the first climb of the day begins! At 1,672 ft of climbing in 13 miles this ride is made up of great singletrack climbing and descending. This is a serious locals loop!
Lenawee Trail
Type: SingleTrack
Beta: Lenawee Trail A true gem! Topping out at 12,500 ft and descending to 9,400 ft, not many trails that can equal the challenging riding and spectacular beauty of Lenawee.
This ride is best as a shuttle. I recomment leaving a car in Keystones free parking lot (Montezuma). Shuttling up to Last Chance parking at Arapahoe Basin ski area. This is high alpine riding do not forget proper equipment, namely a Jacket!
Peaks Trail
Beta: This is a Summit County Classic. One of my favorite rides, although it is not as narrow a trail as it once was. Climbing over 1900ft and 15.5 miles this ride will challenge you arobically and technically. Peaks trail climbes and rolls from Frisco, along the Ten Mile Range, to Breckenridge. Turn around and charge back to Frisco. A steady climb out of Frisco will reward you with fast fun downhill on the way back.
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Type: Single Track
Beta: This ride is muy dúro! It is a constant climb 4.2 miles up. If you can ride this constant uphill climb without putting a foot down, you are muy duro. With that said, this ride is amazing! Considered one of the most challenging climbs in Summit County. As you ascend out of the valley, remember that you get to descend what is crushing on the way up = so much fun coming down!
Two Elks
Type: Single Track
Beta: This is considered a shuttle ride. I recommend leaving a car at the I-70/Minturn exit, in one of two national forest parking lots. It is worth the wait to set up the shuttle but leave yourself at least an hour for it.
Two Elks by way of Bowman's Shortcut is an epic ride. Warm up on the dirt road approaching the trail head. At the trail head for Bowman's Shortcut, get ready for 4.5 miles of serious climbing. This ride is a marquee single-track trail. Descending over 3500 feet, disc brakes are really nice to have. The ride is tight single-track mixed with technical hazards. How fast you can do this ride mostly depends on how well your group descends. Do not count out the 1900ft climb!
