Please click here to jump to the Overview section with all tour details including pricing.

PLEASE NOTE: This tour is not regularly scheduled, but it can be configured as a Custom Tour for your group with a minimum of nine (9) riders. Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891 for more information.

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Highlights

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is excited to offer the Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour in conjunction with our partners at Irwin Guides. The tour offers immensely beautiful, challenging and remote terrain in the Elk Mountains of south-central Colorado. This tour is available in 3 to 6-day options that roll along the singletrack CB’s locals love and the expert guides know best. This tour does not fool around; it delivers prime singletrack, stellar campsites and the best swimming holes the Elk Mountains can serve up. Check out this VIMEO video from a recent Crested Butte tour!

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Testimonials

Read what previous guests on our Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour have been saying…

I just wanted to say a big thank you for organizing such an AMAZING trip for us! We LOVED it. Everything was awesome – the riding, the views, the campsites, the food!!! Liam and Eli were absolutely fantastic guides! I really liked how well they connected with our teen boys – they really made the trip exciting for them (and for Curtis and I too). Thanks so much! We are looking forward to our next trip! – Jane

Of course the trip was wonderful! My motto has always been “work hard, play hard,” and these types of adventures are the perfect examples of both. Great riding, great food and lodging, and great companionship. Thank you so much for taking such good care of us. Looking forward to planning next year. – Bruce

5 Friends and I just spent 7 days on a custom MTB tour in the high country of Crested Butte which eventually ended at Purgatory Mountain resort. Chuck and Dave (Super Dave as we called him) were exceptional guides, they were attentive to all of our needs. They were experts on the trail systems and were a wealth of knowledge on the local area. (We even received astronomy lessons from Chuck most evenings ). Of particular note, the food for the entire trip was second to none. The ingredients were fresh, high quality and were outstanding always. you will not go hungry on a Lizard Head tour. The custom tour that was arranged for us was unbelievable and the best single track riding we have ever ridden. You can’t get views like we experienced without going out into the high country. This trip was definitely worth it and was “bucket list” worthy. Thanks to Lizard Head and again to Chuck and “Super” Dave for the best 7 days of mountain biking we have ever had. – Scott N.

Thank you for putting together the CB custom tour. Emily and Michael did a great job. I haven’t seen Jeff in over 12 years and enjoyed riding with him again. It is a wonderful group. – Lynn

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Dates

PLEASE NOTE: This tour is not regularly scheduled, but it can be configured as a Custom Tour for your group with a minimum of nine (9) riders. Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891 for more information.

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Overview

3-Day, 4-Day, 5-Day, and 6-Day tour options as well as a camping or lodging based, or a mix of both, are available for all tour dates. The first one to open a tour date determines the tour length and camping/lodging options.

Arrival/Departure Airport: Aspen, Gunnison, Montrose or Grand Junction, Colorado.

Meeting/Ending Location: Crested Butte

Tour Length: 3, 4, 5 or 6-Days of Cycling

Average Miles: 15 to 35 miles per day, additional mileage options available. (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Ability Level: Upper Intermediate (3) , Advanced (3/4)  to Expert (4) 

Tour Cost: *** Please Call for Custom Tour Pricing – 970.728.5891 ***

PLEASE NOTE: This tour is not regularly scheduled, but it can be configured as a Custom Tour for your group with a minimum of nine (9) riders. Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891 for more information.

Tour Discounts: Please see our Reptile Rewards & Tour Discounts page to learn more about Reptile Rewards, Tour Discounts, and Group Discounts. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions – only the highest valued discount is provided. Please note that for discounts to apply the tour minimum must be met.

Early Bird 2025 Thanksgiving Discount - For 6-Day or longer tours take $150 off the tour cost. Discount applies to new registrations only made before December 5, 2024. Please make sure to mention this offer when you register.
Excludes Self-Guided tours. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

Mountain Bike Rentals

NOTE: The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs for a rental bike or have any questions about rental bikes.

Mountain Bike Rentals

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent the Scott Spark 930, a truly fantastic way to go up or down a mountain. We have been riding mountain bikes for a very long time here at Lizard Head, but we can easily say our rentals are the most fun mountain bikes we have ever ridden. The Spark 930 blends the featherweight lineage of its race focused cousin with the single track chops of a 120mm travel ripper - this bike is up for anything.

The Spark 930 features: Spark Carbon HMF-Alloy Frame, FOX 34 Float Performance 130mm Fork, FOX Nude EVOL/120mm/TwinLoc rear shock, Shimano XT-SLX 12 Speed Drivetrain, Shimano Deore Disc Brakes, Syncros X-25 TR Rims, Maxxis Rekon Folding Tires, plus Syncros Dropper Post. Approx. Weight: 28.88 lbs / 13.10 kg (without pedals)

Mountain E-Bike Rentals

The Strike eRIDE 920 offers SCOTT’s latest technologies together with the newest Bosch motor. Versatile, reliable, and accessible, the Strike puts the accent on the comfort with 150mm of travel, slicker tires, thicker grips and saddle to give you a solid choice for any outing.

☛ Learn more about our Mountain Bike & E-Bike Rentals and Equipment

If you have any further questions, please read more on our Rental Bikes FAQ page. You can also email us at info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com or call us at 970.728.5891

Rental Tent, Ground Pad and Sleeping Bag $85: Lizard Head Cycling offers late model camping gear rentals. The rental tent is a 3-person Sierra Design tent (sleeps 2 comfortably). The ground pads are 1.5 inches thick and our synthetic sleeping bags are rated for 20 degrees (so you’ll feel warm & comfy in the Colorado Wilderness). **Al la Carte tent rental is $55.

The Daily Schedule

On your Crested Butte tour we either camp or lodge in the beauty of Crested Butte, the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. For meals we source our favorite local restaurants for dinner and our favorite coffee/breakfast shops for breakfasts where the people watching is entertaining. Each morning before riding out of town we put out a lunch table with assortment of nuts, cheeses, breads, deli meats, fruit and local snacks for you to pack for enjoyment later along the trail.

 

☛ MUST READ: Training for Your First MTB Tour: 5 Best Tips to Improve Your Pedaling Technique

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Itinerary*

*PLEASE NOTE: Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Also, the distances and elevation profiles shown below may not reflect the actual distances and elevations while on tour as these are provided here to give an idea as to the anticipated mileage and terrain. Please view this itinerary, the distances, and elevation profiles as a general outline as to what to expect while on this tour.

Day 0: Arrival in Colorado

Arrive in Crested Butte, Colorado and meet Lizard Head Cycling Guides to fit bikes, enjoy a summer cocktail and get psyched for the riding to come!

Day 1: Crested Butte to Brush Creek Camp
15 to 25-Miles

From Crested Butte we join the Upper-Loop Trail which will be followed to the Upper-Upper Loop Trail and then the Whetstone Vista Trail before a descent to the Brush Creek Valley. At the Veltri family spring we will fill our water bottles with sweet spring water before riding through the flowers and fast flowing singletrack of Strand Hill and Ferris Creek. This evening settle into a camp under the aspen trees with a campfire and dinner under the stars. The fun has begun…

Day 2: The 409 Trail to Double Top
22-Miles out & back from Brush Creek Camp

Today is an out and back ride from Crested Butte on the 409 Trail up to Double Top.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Teocalli Mountain Loop
25-Miles Roundtrip from Brush Creek Camp

13,209-foot Teocalli Mountain rises up at the north end of the Brush Creek Valley and is an impressive sight to behold. The Teocalli Ridge Singletrack wraps up the side of this peak and it is guaranteed to take your breath away. The riding starts on double-track up, alongside, and through the picturesque West Brush Creek. The route passes near beaver dams and alongside fields of verdant wildflowers. This climbing continues until reaching the base of the climb! Here is where the real climbing of Teocalli Mountain begins before culminating at 11,300 feet. If you are up for a summit experience, the option of hiking to Teo’s summit exists. The wild and technical downhill from Teo takes riders back to our camp in the Brush Creek valley.

Day 4: Deer Creek Trail
20-Miles to Gothic Camp

Today you’ll ride the Deer Creek trail up the East River Valley. Deer Creek is a remote, non-motorized singletrack trail that challenges cyclists with steep climbs and twisty switchbacks. This trail is truly a Crested Butte classic with views that showcase Crested Butte ski area and majestic Gothic Mountain. At trail’s end you will ride into the old mining town of Gothic. At its height the town once supported a population of nearly 8,000 and had several hotels, multiple brothels, numerous saloons, a smelter, three sawmills, a public school and a dancehall. Today, Gothic is home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and supports several hundred in the summers, but only a few hardy souls during the long winters. Camp for the next two evenings will be in the upper East River Valley.

Day 5: Paradise Divide & Trail 403
21 to 25-Miles back to Gothic Camp

This is Colorado, the most elevated state in the nation. Today’s ride showcases an above treeline landscape with mountains stretching to the horizon. Climbing from our camp at 9,600 feet in the East River Valley we’ll ride through Elko Park, past waterfalls, and between Cinnamon and Baldy Peaks before lunch at Paradise Divide (11,372 feet). At Paradise Divide there is a sweet swimming pond with the coldest water imaginable. Jump in and emerge truly refreshed! The 403 singletrack is the reward for the climb. 403 dives down among shoulder high corn lilies and through a blur of colorful wildflowers before delivering cyclists back to camp. Once back in camp go for a swim, fly fish the East River or put in some bonus miles in the valley.

Day 6: The 401 Trail
25-Miles of trail and then more trail all the way back to Crested Butte

Crested Butte’s 401 Trail (a.k.a. the 40-“Fun”) is so good you may want to ride it twice. From camp we climb beneath Gothic Mountain and past Emerald Lake to 10,709-foot Schofield Pass. From Schofield we leave the dirt road and climb steeply on singletrack gaining 700-feet before emerging to an alpine meadow filled with abundant wildflowers. The meadow is a good place for a rest and lunch with views of the 14,000 foot Maroon Bells towards Aspen. The 401 descent is a blur of color from shoulder high wildflowers and towering mountains. There are above treeline sections, aspens and stream crossings. Don’t fight this descent… let it take you on a ride. At trail’s end we’ll ride back up to Mt. Crested Butte and descent singletrack back to Crested Butte.

Crested Butte Singletrack MTB Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Bike Shipping

Lizard Head Cycling recommends shipping with BikeFlights.com. Bikes can be shipped either to our partner bike shop in each meeting town for professional assembly or directly to the meeting hotel for self-assembly. Bike boxes can generally be left at the meeting hotel during the tour. Bikes shipped across the continental US should be shipped 8 days prior to your tour.

Meals Guides in camp will prepare all meals. Meals include: Dutch oven lasagna, wild salmon, grilled chicken, salads, quinoa, fruits and lots of seasonal veggies. Any dietary preferences or allergies should be noted on the registration form. Each of Lizard Head Cycling’s lunches contains gluten free options.

Ride Difficulty This custom tour is designed for Intermediate/Advanced cyclists with various levels of fitness. Each day there are additional mileage options for advanced riders.

Tour Support A 15-passenger van and trailer that carries luggage, food and equipment will support this tour. On the remote singletrack trails cyclists ride with their lunch and water in their packs.

General Tour & Cancellation Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and cancellation policies, which can be found by clicking here.

Travel Insurance

If you have not already, now would be a great time to consider adding travel insurance to your tour. You are welcome to use any travel insurance company you would like. We recommend Generali/Trip Mate.

American Guests - use this link: http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/get-a-quote.html?partner=LIZA0855

• The Premium Plan is the only plan which offers Pre-Existing coverage so long as the plan is purchased prior to Final Payment.
• The Premium Plan is the only plan that offers an optional Cancel For Any Reason - the policy must be purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and if they cancel for Any Reason, it must be 48 hours prior to departure, and the reimbursement for an Any Reason claim is 60% of pre-paid, insured, non-refundable trip cost.
• Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-874-2442 for coverage questions and policy modifications or to purchase by phone. Agency Code: LIZA0855

Canadian Guests - use this link: https://tripmate.catravelins.ca/?utm_source=lizardhead