+ 194
Lupine Loop (Gunsight Pass Connector Lupine Upper Lower Loop Lower Loop)
Mountain Biking Trail
Extreme
12.27 mi
1,526 ft
A rewarding loop from downtown Crested Butte with flowy singletrack and beautiful views.
A quick pedal up the pavement from downtown Crested Butte brings you to the beginning of the Lupine Trail: a flowy, scenic singletrack benched high into a hillside overlooking the Slate River Valley and the town of Crested Butte.
As the trail winds its way along the hillside, you'll be faced with a choice: slow down and enjoy the incredible views of the region, or focus on the singletrack and get into a flowy groove? It's a win-win—which will you choose?
The Lupine Trail can be looped in a variety of ways, and the original (and shorter) option drops down to the Slate River Road, following the dirt road back to Crested Butte. The route mapped here is longer and requires a bit more pedaling and climbing, but the additional singletrack is well-worth it!
The main reason to complete this longer loop option is the relatively new descent down the Gunsight Pass Connector Trail at the far end of the loop. This sweet, sweet stretch of singletrack swoops and flows through a thick aspen grove on the loamiest black dirt you may every ride! Swooping turns and undulating singletrack drops the rider all too quickly down to Slate River Road.
From there, you can choose to climb to the Upper Lower Loop or take the Lower Lower Loop back to downtown Crested Butte. Both are great options, but one requires a bit more climbing, and the other is flatter and mellower.
While not a true beginner route, the Lupine Loop from downtown Crested Butte is a very approachable ride that forgoes the gnar and extended climbing of most long-time Crested Butte classics, yet still feels very rewarding once you sit down at the bar afterward. Written by Greg Heil
A quick pedal up the pavement from downtown Crested Butte brings you to the beginning of the Lupine Trail: a flowy, scenic singletrack benched high into a hillside overlooking the Slate River Valley and the town of Crested Butte.
As the trail winds its way along the hillside, you'll be faced with a choice: slow down and enjoy the incredible views of the region, or focus on the singletrack and get into a flowy groove? It's a win-win—which will you choose?
The Lupine Trail can be looped in a variety of ways, and the original (and shorter) option drops down to the Slate River Road, following the dirt road back to Crested Butte. The route mapped here is longer and requires a bit more pedaling and climbing, but the additional singletrack is well-worth it!
The main reason to complete this longer loop option is the relatively new descent down the Gunsight Pass Connector Trail at the far end of the loop. This sweet, sweet stretch of singletrack swoops and flows through a thick aspen grove on the loamiest black dirt you may every ride! Swooping turns and undulating singletrack drops the rider all too quickly down to Slate River Road.
From there, you can choose to climb to the Upper Lower Loop or take the Lower Lower Loop back to downtown Crested Butte. Both are great options, but one requires a bit more climbing, and the other is flatter and mellower.
While not a true beginner route, the Lupine Loop from downtown Crested Butte is a very approachable ride that forgoes the gnar and extended climbing of most long-time Crested Butte classics, yet still feels very rewarding once you sit down at the bar afterward. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saddle Ridge Climb to Lupine | 0.48 mi | 102 ft | 4.0% |
| Glacier Lily Way Climb | 0.75 mi | 213 ft | 5.4% |
| County Rd Climb | 0.90 mi | 262 ft | 5.5% |
| Lupine | 1.66 mi | -279 ft | -1.8% |
| The Whole Lupinada | 5.62 mi | -614 ft | -0.8% |
| Lupine DH (original) | 0.80 mi | -289 ft | -6.6% |
| Lupine 1 DH | 0.63 mi | -226 ft | -6.7% |
| End of Lupine 1 to start of Lupine 3 | 1.75 mi | 528 ft | 5.7% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 0.84 mi | 272 ft | 6.1% |
| Smith Rd Shortcut | 0.04 mi | 39 ft | 16.8% |
| Gunsight DH before the big uphill | 1.23 mi | -453 ft | -7.0% |
| Lando Calrissian | 1.93 mi | -607 ft | -5.9% |
| warm-up | 0.54 mi | 171 ft | 5.5% |
| Gunsight climb | 0.37 mi | 135 ft | 6.8% |
| Upper Lower Lower Lower | 1.90 mi | -118 ft | -0.9% |
| Upper Lower | 1.46 mi | -72 ft | -0.7% |
| Lower- Gunsight Rd to Peanut Lake Rd | 2.00 mi | -135 ft | -1.0% |
| Woods walk strait back town | 0.79 mi | -39 ft | -0.9% |
| run run as fast as you can | 0.66 mi | -43 ft | -1.2% |