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+ 52

Prospect Trail (Prospect Loop Mountain Village Gentlemens Loop Gentlemen's Loop)

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
9.59 mi
1,064 ft
Lift-served XC riding at its finest!

When most mountain bikers think of using a lift, such as a chairlift or a gondola, in order to ride their mountain bike, they automatically think of dropping into an intense downhill mountain bike park. But what if you could use a lift to access flowing, intermediate-friendly cross country trails that finish with a fast, lengthy descent? That’s exactly what you’ll find at Telluride’s Mountain Village on the Prospect Trail.

The free lift-accessed vert thanks to the gondola that runs from Telluride, over the top of the ridge, and down to Mountain Village, is truly free. The Telluride gondola is possibly the only absolutely free lift in the United States that anyone can ride without a lift ticket.

After taking the gondola to the top of the ridge, the Prospect Trail peels away from the main resort on flowy, machine-cut singletrack goodness. Despite the ride to the top, this trail will still require you to work with short, steep climbs.

Those climbs pay off with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains as the singletrack crosses the ski runs. Telluride is one of the most visually-stunning mountain towns in the United States, so bring your camera for a few snaps!

Where the trail drops back into the trees, the swoop and flow of the machine-built singletrack will have you hooting and hollering as you rip along the side of the mountain.

Eventually the singletrack turns down, and you get to enjoy the free lift-accessed vert on a ripping, high-speed descent. This section of trail feels older and less refined than the machine-built singletrack up high. Chunky rocks will punish your suspension and could challenge the skills of intermediate riders. For those uncomfortable with the chunk, simply slowing down and negotiating this portion of trail more slowly will make the ride more attainable. While this section is rough, there aren’t any massive features or rock obstacles.

Once back down to the lift, judge how you’re feeling, and if you need more pedaling, just head back up for another lap!

**Note:** In order to access the cross country trails off the top of the Telluride Gondola during bike park hours (9am-5pm), you'll need to purchase a cross country season pass (which costs $75), a bike park day ticket (which costs $62), or a bike park season pass (which costs $395). (All prices are current as of the 2023 season.) The bike park day ticket and season pass also include the downhill trails, whereas the cross country pass does not. Alternatively, you can either begin your ride before 9am or after 5pm to avoid this fee on the cross country trails. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Prospect short loop from Gondo to pavement2.74 mi253 ft0.6%
Prospect Trail Gondo to Asphalt 7.60 mi-919 ft-0.7%
Prospect Trail Climb4.57 mi653 ft2.5%
Prospect Full to High Country Rd8.02 mi-951 ft-0.8%
Prospect Up4.36 mi653 ft2.5%
Prospect trail from gondo to teepee3.43 mi374 ft1.6%
Prospect Climb to Rockslide3.82 mi505 ft2.1%
Full Prospect Minus Last Stretch on Tarmac9.28 mi-1,591 ft-2.0%
Prospect #24.36 mi640 ft2.4%
St. Sophia to Town Hall8.96 mi-1,614 ft-2.1%
Big Prospect8.95 mi-1,581 ft-2.0%
Prospect Trail Head Sign to Yurt Exit3.27 mi381 ft2.0%
Prospect to Alta4.80 mi686 ft0.9%
Prospect Boomerang Rd to High Point3.65 mi653 ft2.7%
Punchy Prospect0.65 mi-85 ft-2.5%
Downhill from chair 4 to creek crossing chair 50.23 mi-167 ft-13.5%
Prospect Split from Tommyknocker to Sundance1.97 mi282 ft2.1%
Corner to Creek0.70 mi-69 ft-0.4%
Prospect Creek to Top 2.16 mi686 ft6.0%
Prospect Trail from Prospect Creek to Yurt1.29 mi354 ft5.0%
San Joaquin Rd Climb0.94 mi364 ft7.3%
Prospect Loop to GG4.66 mi-958 ft-2.0%
Prospect Loop UP0.94 mi282 ft5.7%
Papa Smurf and Prospect DH1.41 mi-558 ft-7.5%
Prospect Descent To Gate1.58 mi-574 ft-6.8%
Prospect Trail Decent to High Country Rd3.43 mi-951 ft-5.2%
Papa Smurf to Boomerang0.92 mi-384 ft-7.9%
Prospect DH to Pavement2.79 mi-758 ft-5.1%
Decent from Nellie to Galloping Goose0.33 mi-194 ft-10.8%
Prospect Tent to Lower GG2.63 mi-741 ft-5.3%
West Prospect DH full enchilada1.94 mi-538 ft-5.2%
Prospect-Galloping Goose to first rise DH1.01 mi-322 ft-6.0%
Prospect Mid Down with climb to gate1.77 mi-384 ft-3.9%
Weekend at Bermies0.26 mi-102 ft-7.3%