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+ 194

The 804 Loop (The 804 Trail 401 403 Snodgrass)

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
29.27 mi
5,157 ft
A beautiful high-alpine trail connected into a mega loop.

There's no way around it: 403 is a difficult trail to access. Whether you can talk a friend into shuttling you up to the trailhead or you turn it into an epic loop like the one mapped here, 403 requires intention and dedication to access.

If you put forth the effort, 403 will reward you with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and a high-speed descent down to Schofield Pass. The descent is steep and rowdy, following the fall line most of the time. The singletrack is alternately loose, rocky, and root-filled. Demanding total attention, this descent is for advanced riders only.

The loop shown here also incorporates the iconic 401 trail and the beginner-friendly Snodgrass trail. Combining 401 and 403 is known as the 804 ride, "a local’s right of passage" according to

By itself, 401 is arguably the most beautiful trail in North America. Not only does it offer epic views of the Elk Range, but Trail 401 is also one of the oldest and best-known mountain bike trails in the world.

Snodgrass is similarly famous, but for different reasons. The Snodgrass trail provides flowy black dirt winding its way through an aspen grove at the base of Snodgrass Mountain. The singletrack on Snodgrass is very beginner-friendly, making for a great ending to a tiring ride.

Note that Snodgrass crosses some private ranch land and as a result, a seasonal closure begins every year on August 14, according to Travel Crested Butte.

Sources:


Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
S. end Snodgrass to 403 turn off on Washington Gulch road4.81 mi1,516 ft6.0%
Washington Gultch Climb (Forest rd to 403)3.62 mi1,332 ft7.0%
Washington Gulch Rd Climb1.09 mi331 ft5.7%
Washington Gulch Rd Climb1.43 mi502 ft6.6%
Last Steep Section of Washington Gulch0.71 mi466 ft12.3%
403 Climb (2108 Reroute)0.97 mi384 ft7.4%
New 403 (2019)3.92 mi-1,601 ft-5.8%
403 descent to actual trail end2.55 mi-1,703 ft-12.6%
403 DH from the Tree2.45 mi-1,677 ft-13.0%
County Road 317 Climb0.32 mi367 ft21.7%
401 Short Loop8.73 mi-1,657 ft-0.1%
401 Climb from Rustlers4.43 mi1,614 ft6.9%
kick to kamp0.61 mi217 ft6.7%
Climb to Schofield Pass2.12 mi745 ft6.6%
Single-track Climb Through the Woods0.70 mi394 ft10.5%
401 Kick Start0.40 mi266 ft12.6%
401 all8.19 mi-1,663 ft-2.0%
Schofield to Top 4011.33 mi505 ft8.4%
401 Descent7.31 mi-1,762 ft-4.5%
401 DH above photo-op0.53 mi-315 ft-11.2%
Upper 401 descent3.77 mi-1,522 ft-7.6%
401 Upper and lower descent6.48 mi-1,483 ft-4.1%
401 - Photo Op to Rustler's Lot2.21 mi-909 ft-7.7%
401 : 18 Turns to Rustler's1.66 mi-774 ft-8.8%
All of lower 401 2.62 mi518 ft0.9%
County Road 317 Climb0.90 mi331 ft6.8%
Lower 401 Road Climb0.20 mi115 ft10.8%
401 - Avery picnic area to Judd Falls parking1.29 mi-328 ft-4.8%
lower 401 dh1.17 mi-374 ft-6.0%
Judy Love0.07 mi-62 ft-15.5%
Judd Falls parking, bonus s/t dh0.05 mi-39 ft-13.2%
School Zone!0.27 mi-89 ft-6.2%
Gothic bridge to snodgrass parking (winter gate)3.10 mi259 ft1.2%
Up and Out 3171.82 mi207 ft2.2%
Initial Snod Climb0.60 mi289 ft9.1%
E-W Snodgrass Climb to Open Sign1.14 mi394 ft6.5%
Snodgrass Full E to W3.40 mi-486 ft-0.6%
Snodgrass DH to Washington Gulch2.66 mi-502 ft-3.5%
Shoulder Hopper DH2.46 mi-492 ft-3.8%
Snodgrass Downhill Big Finish0.40 mi-164 ft-7.6%