The Best Trail & All-Mountain Bike Rides Near Aspen: A Local's Guide
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There's no shortage of trail maps and listicles about biking near Aspen. Most of them are written by people who've never actually ridden here. This one isn't.
These are four loops I ride regularly in the Roaring Fork Valley. They're all trail / all-mountain riding — the style that rewards you in both directions. You earn the climb, you enjoy the descent. Not XC racing, not pure downhill. The kind of riding where you finish with a big smile regardless of which way you're pointing.
There are dozens of other great trails in the area — this is my personal shortlist. In a future post we'll cover the downhill options. Today is for the riders who love the full experience.
Airline Trail — Sky Mountain Park | ~1 to 1:20 hours | Intermediate
If you want to understand why people move to Aspen, ride Airline Trail on a clear morning.
Airline Trail is part of Sky Mountain Park, the 2,500-acre open space that connects Aspen and Snowmass Village. The climb is demanding — steady, exposed, no shortcuts — but the payoff is unlike anything else in the valley. From the ridge you watch planes landing and taking off at Aspen Airport directly below, with the Elk Mountains as the backdrop. It's one of those views that makes you stop pedaling just to take it in.
The descent is fast and flowing, not overly technical. It rewards the effort without punishing you. Perfect balance for intermediate riders.
Extension for the ambitious: From the top of Airline, connect to Skyline Ridge, then follow Highline down to Tom Blake Trail. From there, climb Anaerobic Nightmare — aptly named, steep and rooty — which connects directly to the legendary Government Trail. Government traverses the entire Snowmass ski area through aspen groves, meadows and stream crossings, eventually dropping down to Buttermilk and finishing near the Aspen Recreation Center. Point-to-point, so plan a shuttle or hop the free RFTA bus back.
Logistics: Park at Buttermilk ski area parking lot. Access Airline via the Butterline trail on the west side of the lot, connecting to Owl Creek Trail.
Glassier Open Space → Buckhorn Traverse → Rio Grande Trail Loop — Basalt/Willits | ~1:15 hours | Intermediate
This is the go-to after-work ride in the valley. Part of the Prince Creek & Crown Trail System, this loop starts at Glassier Open Space in Willits, climbs through Buckhorn Traverse on Crown Mountain, and returns via Rio Grande Trail along the Roaring Fork River.
Real numbers: 13.2 miles, 1,328 feet of elevation gain, effort rated Hard.
Varied terrain — singletrack climbing with cliff-edge views over the valley, ridge riding, and a flowing descent back to the river. One of the most satisfying loops in the area for the time it takes.
Extension: The Glassier/Buckhorn network connects directly into the broader Crown trail system, which links all the way to the Prince Creek trails in Carbondale. If you have the legs, it becomes a much bigger day.
Logistics: Park at Glassier Trailhead off Hooks Spur Road in Willits, right near Rio Grande Trail.
Hunter Creek → 4 Corners → Sunnyside → Cemetery Lane Loop — Aspen | 3+ hours | Intermediate to Advanced
This is the big one. The longest of the four and the most rewarding.
Climb Hunter Creek from the lower trailhead near downtown Aspen, grind up to 4 Corners, then drop onto Sunnyside Trail — a beautiful descent that cuts across Red Mountain with views over Aspen that stop you in your tracks. Return to Aspen via Cemetery Lane.
The section from Sunnyside down to Cemetery Lane is where it gets serious. Technical moments, roots, exposure, tight lines. Confident intermediates can manage it — some sections you may walk — but it's built for riders comfortable on technical terrain. Advanced riders will love every meter of it.
Important logistics note: Don't park at the upper Hunter Creek trailhead on Red Mountain Road. This loop finishes down Cemetery Lane directly into Aspen — which is exactly where you want to be. If your car is parked up on Red Mountain Road, you're facing a climb back up after 3+ hours of riding. Start from town, take the free Hunter Creek bus, or arrange a drop.
Real numbers: 3+ hours. Full commitment.
Non-negotiable gear: No cell signal on much of this route. Bring a tube, tire levers, and CO2 or a pump. A Garmin with offline maps is ideal. Don't skip the repair kit.
Prince Creek — Carbondale | ~2 hours | Intermediate
Prince Creek is pure fun. Part of the Prince Creek & Crown Trail System, this loop rewards you with playful flow trail and well-built jumps that intermediate riders will genuinely love.
Real numbers: 14 miles, 1,630 feet of elevation gain, effort rated Hard.
The jumps are optional lines — carry as much speed as you're comfortable with. Most technically approachable of the four, but the elevation and distance will still work you.
Logistics: Park at Prince Creek Trailhead in Carbondale. Arrive early on weekends.
What to Bring — All Four Trails
Full suspension mountain bike strongly recommended, especially for Hunter Creek/Sunnyside and Prince Creek. Hardtails work on Airline and Glassier, but you'll be more comfortable on a full squish when it gets technical.
- Minimum 2 liters of water for the longer loops
- Tube, levers, and CO2 or pump — non-negotiable on Hunter Creek
- Offline maps or Garmin — especially away from town
- Start early in summer — afternoon thunderstorms build fast
Getting Here
All four trailheads are reachable from Aspen or Snowmass. If you're flying in and want to add a trail day to your trip, Aspen Moments can pick you up from the airport — bikes included.
