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Pearl Pass
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
38.17 mi
4,765 ft
The iconic 4x4 road ride the helped launch the sport of mountain biking.
The Pearl Pass road traverses through the high Rockies of Colorado between the iconic mountain towns of Crested Butte and Aspen, crossing the top of 12,705-foot Pearl Pass along the way. While this rocky road is a gorgeous ride no matter the context, this route is significant as an iconic ride that helped launch the sport of mountain biking in Colorado—and by extension, the world.
In September 1976, a hardy group of cyclists from Crested Butte decided to ride bicycles over the top of Pearl Pass, and into Aspen. Now known as klunkers, these were some of the first so-called mountain bikes.
According to an article from the Crested Butte Pilot, here's what the final descent into Aspen was like all of those years ago:
"The descent was nothing but horrifying, rough and rocky," said Starr. "The original drop-outs jumped out of support vehicles at the tip and all 15 rode their klunkers down the pass until just before the pavement at Ashcroft where the brakes were smoking and rear ends were seizing up.”
The ensuing annual event helped motivate local cyclists to work tirelessly to improve their bikes. These technological advancements helped the creation of dedicated mountain bikes move from pipedream to reality.
Mountain bikers are still pedaling across Pearl Pass, and it's now known as the oldest mountain bike event in the world. Over the years, the road has continued to erode, and it's now known as one of the rockiest, gnarliest 4x4 roads in the state. As such, mountain bikes are still the preferred mode of human-powered transport through this wild and secluded area.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
The Pearl Pass road traverses through the high Rockies of Colorado between the iconic mountain towns of Crested Butte and Aspen, crossing the top of 12,705-foot Pearl Pass along the way. While this rocky road is a gorgeous ride no matter the context, this route is significant as an iconic ride that helped launch the sport of mountain biking in Colorado—and by extension, the world.
In September 1976, a hardy group of cyclists from Crested Butte decided to ride bicycles over the top of Pearl Pass, and into Aspen. Now known as klunkers, these were some of the first so-called mountain bikes.
According to an article from the Crested Butte Pilot, here's what the final descent into Aspen was like all of those years ago:
"The descent was nothing but horrifying, rough and rocky," said Starr. "The original drop-outs jumped out of support vehicles at the tip and all 15 rode their klunkers down the pass until just before the pavement at Ashcroft where the brakes were smoking and rear ends were seizing up.”
The ensuing annual event helped motivate local cyclists to work tirelessly to improve their bikes. These technological advancements helped the creation of dedicated mountain bikes move from pipedream to reality.
Mountain bikers are still pedaling across Pearl Pass, and it's now known as the oldest mountain bike event in the world. Over the years, the road has continued to erode, and it's now known as one of the rockiest, gnarliest 4x4 roads in the state. As such, mountain bikes are still the preferred mode of human-powered transport through this wild and secluded area.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deli Tr- School to Riverbend | 1.01 mi | -39 ft | -0.5% |
| Skyland Dr to Strand Rd | 2.95 mi | 138 ft | 0.2% |
| Par Ln Climb | 0.24 mi | 361 ft | 27.5% |
| almost to pearl pass, from the start of the dirt on 738 | 14.48 mi | 3,556 ft | 4.6% |
| Bush Creek Rd Climb to the fork | 0.91 mi | 213 ft | 4.4% |
| Pearl Pass Rd Climb | 0.80 mi | 436 ft | 10.3% |
| Pearl Pass Rd Climb | 0.63 mi | 262 ft | 7.9% |
| Pearl Pass Complete | 7.12 mi | 3,156 ft | 8.4% |
| Pearl Pass Rd Climb | 1.04 mi | 341 ft | 6.2% |
| Pearl Pass Road Climb | 1.91 mi | 1,421 ft | 14.0% |
| Pearl Pass DH to Ashcroft | 6.06 mi | -2,864 ft | -8.9% |
| Pine Creek to Cathedral Pop | 0.32 mi | 23 ft | 1.1% |
| Springboard | 0.39 mi | 39 ft | 2.0% |
| I am Spartacus | 2.52 mi | -344 ft | -2.5% |