Sophia May
Gunnison Colorado Mountain Biking – From the famous Crested Butte alpine trails to Gunnison’s high desert trails, the opportunities for cycling at Gunnison Valley Airport are endless. You dream of famous roads like the 401, Doctor Park and Hartman Rocks. Cross some classics off your bucket list and find new ones.
Come to explore the amazing trails; stay to soak up the quiet small-town vibes of Gunnison and Crested Butte. Gunnison is a thriving university town with a growing downtown business district. Crested Butte is an alpine town with a rich mining history. It’s full of original shops and unique restaurants. Both cities are within walking distance of some of the best cycling routes in the world.
Gunnison Colorado Mountain Biking
Find a great cabin, apartment or hotel as a base camp for your Gunnison Valley trip. Use the tools below to search by date, price range and device. You might be surprised how affordable Crested Butte and Gunnison are compared to other Rocky Mountain areas!
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Hop in the car and fly here! Fly direct from Houston (IAH) or Denver (DEN) to Gunnison Crested Butte (GUC) with United.
Also check out the new JSX flights from Dallas (DAL) and Austin (AUS) to Gunnison-Crested Butte! Learn more about JSX’s seamless hop-on hop-off jet service.
Explore the wilderness of the Gunnison Valley by bike, on foot or with a fishing rod. There are more than 2 million acres of public lands, including Hartman’s Rock, Gunnison National Forest, Black Canyon National Park, and Curecanti National Recreation Area.
To protect wildlife, several trails at Signal Peak and Hartman Rocks are closed on certain days in the spring. Learn more about seasonal road closures.
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By the end of the year, most or all roads in Crested Butte will be open and clear of snow. For the latest Crested Butte trail conditions, visit the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association trail conditions page.
You have walked five kilometers, you have to go. What are you doing? Before you head into an area without toilets, learn how to unclog without breaking the bank. You can also pick up a free PACT Patio Kit at one of our partner facilities in Colorado!
If you enjoy hiking the beautiful trails around Crested Butte and Gunnison, consider supporting local organizations that maintain and protect these trails.
If possible, plan your route to avoid riding on wet or muddy roads. If you encounter snow or mud on the road, ride into it, not around it.
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Other trails near Hartman Rocks and Crested Butte have pit toilets, but most trails do not. “Go before you go,” and if you must be outdoors to answer the call of nature, learn how to properly dispose of trash.
The seven principles of leaving no trace guide how we conduct ourselves on the outside. Following these principles helps reduce the impact of humanity on the world. To learn more about the Leave No Trace bicycle policy, visit LNT.org.
Several popular campgrounds near Crested Butte have changed from scattered to curated. If you are planning on camping during your Gunnison Valley trip, it is highly recommended that you have multiple backup options in case your preferred campground is not suitable. Make a reservation if possible. See our campsite guide for more information.
Follow your passion for adventure while pursuing your academic studies at Western Colorado University Gunnison. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Western is home to a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The Western Mountain Sports program offers students the opportunity to travel and participate in mountain biking, trail running, climbing or many other sports while earning a professional degree.
Hartman Rocks Beginner Mountain Bike Trails
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With strong commercial facilities and easy access to all your favorite outdoor sports, Gunnison Valley is where you and your business can thrive. ICELab @ Western is the business center for Gunnison and Crested Butte. ICELab supports entrepreneurs and startups through its incubator and accelerator programs, mentoring services, and co-working spaces located on Western Colorado University’s beautiful campus. Bring your bikes – ICELab is just across the street from the Signal Peak trail system! There is a good chance that affiliate links are interspersed throughout this article. If you click on one of these, I may earn you a small commission for free and use it to buy bike accessories.
Well, two-wheelers fans, I have a present for you. Hartman rocks! This mountain bike playground just outside of Gunnison, Colorado, is, let me tell you, ramshackle. The area is full of amazing hiking spots, beautiful views, free (yes, free!) camping, and a cute little town nearby for shopping and exploring.
I’m actually a little surprised that this BLM managed area is still a hidden gem because it’s so awesome and there are so many other things to do in the area besides biking. So if you’re looking for an exciting new mountain biking destination, put Hartmann’s Rock on your list.
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Hartman Rock is located on a mesa outside the small town of Gunnison in southwestern Colorado. It stands at 7,700 feet above sea level and is surrounded by towering peaks and hills. Crested Butte is just a half hour away and Denver is just 3.5 hours east (without traffic).
To get there, head south on Route 50 from Gunnison. Turn left on Route 38/Airport Rd and keep going until you see the large Hartman Rocks car park on your right. The trail to the mesa is in the parking lot.
The best time to visit Hartmann’s Rock and go mountain biking is the mid-season, from late May to early October. Gunnison gets a lot of snow in the winter, and because Hartmann’s Rock sits on the mesas above the city, it’s able to stay on the snow for longer. Always check the weather and conditions before planning your trip.
If you want to ride in winter, Hartman Rocks is actually covered in snow, so if fat bikes are your thing, you can ride them in snow moons too.
Origins: Fat Biking In Colorado’s Gunnison Valley « Mountain Flyer Magazine
Hartman’s Rock is full of free, first-come, first-served campsites. All campgrounds have fire rings, and some even have picnic tables. However, camping is only permitted in designated areas. I saw a ranger walking by while I was there, so I suspect he has set up the camp well.
There is no water or facilities at the campsite, but Hartmans Rocks is dotted with several pits.
I couldn’t find a map of the camp, but it was easy to find. If you can’t find a spot in the “main” area with all the rocks, there are plenty of bare spots in the park.
Hartman Rocks is on BLM land so all trails are heavily used. Look forward to sharing the road with hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and even dirt bikes. It’s also a popular spot for families – we saw a lot of children’s shredders. This is a great place for passengers. Please be polite, give traffic, say hello!
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When we visited Hartman Rocks in Gunnison in late May the road conditions were good but not great. If possible, it is best to have a 4×4 with high headroom. If you like sport, you “probably” feel fine in a regular car.
Getting to Mesa from the main parking lot is a steep hill and most of the campgrounds are cut off from rough sandy roads. I do not recommend going to Hartman’s Rock in a large RV.
There are four campsites in the main parking lot at Hartman Rocks. However, I highly recommend downloading the TrailForks app before heading out.
The BLM manages Hartman Rocks as a multi-use park, and biking is great. The trail is full of boulders, stunning vistas, rolling terrain, and fire paths that make climbing (mostly) a breeze.
Best Crested Butte Mtb Ride: Record Setting Local Describes Her Favorite
Hartman Rocks has 75 miles of trails, so there’s plenty to keep you busy for a while. I love all the trails I’ve ridden, but some are better than others, and some I don’t recommend riding.
The lower road near the main car park seems to be a local favourite. They are easy to place and easy to access. The farther you go on the Aberdeen Loop, the more roads open up.
Another thing I really appreciate about Hartman Rocks is the fire track. I’m usually not a fan of trails, but here they connect all trails easily and efficiently.
Here it is (I’ll be back!) but below are my favorites I’ve ridden. All roads are clearly marked so it’s easy to find your way.
Hartman Rocks Recreation Area
Gunnison, have you ever ridden Hartman Rocks? what do you think your favorite way is
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