route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
route-highlight
+ 58

Green Lake -> Baxter Gulch Loop

Chemin de VTT

Extrême
15,24 mi
2 858 pi
Crested Butte's newest trail is an instant classic!

The newest trail in Crested Butte that's not _just_ a mere reroute is known as "Baxter Gulch." Just finished in late 2018, Baxter Gulch allows riders to create an epic loop with the Green Lake and Carbon trails that's accessible directly from downtown Crested Butte. 

While you can pedal this loop in either direction, it's difficult to argue with the quality of the downhill on the fresh Baxter Gulch trail. This newly-dug singletrack swoops and flows through trees and alpine meadows, railing through perfectly-sculpted corners and several sets of low, flow-inducing berms. 

Lower down, the bench cut singletrack weaves across the mountainside, alternating between deep, dark forest and sunny fields of wildflowers. This hand-built trail took years to complete! "Traversing across the hillside, bench cut trail has been tediously put in through drains and steep embankments over the course of 6 years to get to the USFS boundary and some more tame terrain to work with," said Dave Ochs in an [interview with ](

To get to this epic descent, climb up the Green Lake trail from downtown Crested Butte. This trail can be steep and awkward in places, which makes getting it out of the way first a blessing in disguise. If you want to visit the lake, carry on past the Carbon trail all the way to Green Lake itself, located in a bowl below a massive, rocky alpine ridge.

Once done with your snack at the lake, turn left on the Carbon Trail and head toward Baxter Gulch. Some of the climbs along this section of singletrack are quite rocky and difficult, but the tough climbs lead to stupendous views of Whestone Mountain, Mount Crested Butte, and the entire valley spread out below you!

Once you've passed the epic viewpoint, it's all about that sweet, sweet descent down Baxter Gulch. Enjoy! Written by Greg Heil
Créée par
Strava Routes

Itinéraire et dénivelé

Segments

NomDistanceDéniveléPente moy.
County Road 12 Climb1,07 mi371 pi6,6 %
Green Lake Trail Climb from CB4,37 mi1 837 pi7,9 %
Green Lake Up3,79 mi1 581 pi7,9 %
Green Lake UH to Para Me y Para Te3,24 mi1 470 pi8,6 %
lower green lake climb1,34 mi486 pi6,8 %
Wildcat Trail Climb0,76 mi318 pi7,9 %
County Road 12 Climb1,89 mi958 pi9,6 %
upper green lake climb1,58 mi922 pi11,0 %
Saddle Ridge Rd Climb1,23 mi564 pi8,7 %
Baxter Fluidity 3,87 mi-1 490 pi-6,4 %
Baxter full descent from saddle5,52 mi-1 677 pi-5,7 %
Speedy Von Smiles a Lot 3,59 mi-1 476 pi-7,8 %
Baxter 3/4 to Bridge Down2,56 mi-1 030 pi-7,6 %
Switchback McTurney Turn1,13 mi-459 pi-7,7 %