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Trail 403 Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
18.43 mi
2,904 ft
A long climb leads to one of Crested Butte's rowdiest descents!
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 loop mapped here begins from the Snodgrass Trailhead on Washington Gulch Road. The climb labors up the increasingly-steep Washington Gulch to reach the 403 singletrack, but the climb continues up a series of switchbacks before finally reaching the high point at a saddle below Gothic Mountain. From this elevated section of benchcut singletrack, you'll enjoy panoramic views to the south before passing over the saddle to enjoy views of Schofield Pass to the east, the valley below, and the Elk Range beyond.
When it's time to descend, pull your pads up, drop your seat, and get ready to rip! The downhill is steep and rowdy, following the fall line most of the time. The wide-open sections of the singletrack through the meadows are loose and rocky, and where the trail ducks into the trees, the trail is root-filled and slimy when wet. This downhill demands total attention and is renowned as one of the steepest and most challenging in Crested Butte.
The down is over all too quickly, and then the route joins the gravel road to roll back down valley through the town of Gothic. After pedaling up a mellow grade to get back to the pavement, you can take a hard right turn onto the Snodgrass Trail for an entertaining singletrack finish to the ride.
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. If the trail is closed, you'll have to drop all the way down the pavement to the road junction with Washington Gulch and then pedal back up to the trailhead. This increases the distance of the loop by about 2 miles. Written by Greg Heil
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 loop mapped here begins from the Snodgrass Trailhead on Washington Gulch Road. The climb labors up the increasingly-steep Washington Gulch to reach the 403 singletrack, but the climb continues up a series of switchbacks before finally reaching the high point at a saddle below Gothic Mountain. From this elevated section of benchcut singletrack, you'll enjoy panoramic views to the south before passing over the saddle to enjoy views of Schofield Pass to the east, the valley below, and the Elk Range beyond.
When it's time to descend, pull your pads up, drop your seat, and get ready to rip! The downhill is steep and rowdy, following the fall line most of the time. The wide-open sections of the singletrack through the meadows are loose and rocky, and where the trail ducks into the trees, the trail is root-filled and slimy when wet. This downhill demands total attention and is renowned as one of the steepest and most challenging in Crested Butte.
The down is over all too quickly, and then the route joins the gravel road to roll back down valley through the town of Gothic. After pedaling up a mellow grade to get back to the pavement, you can take a hard right turn onto the Snodgrass Trail for an entertaining singletrack finish to the ride.
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. If the trail is closed, you'll have to drop all the way down the pavement to the road junction with Washington Gulch and then pedal back up to the trailhead. This increases the distance of the loop by about 2 miles. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. end Snodgrass to 403 turn off on Washington Gulch road | 4.81 mi | 1,516 ft | 6.0% |
| Washington Gultch Climb (Forest rd to 403) | 3.62 mi | 1,332 ft | 7.0% |
| Washington Gulch Rd Climb | 1.09 mi | 331 ft | 5.7% |
| Washington Gulch Rd Climb | 1.43 mi | 502 ft | 6.6% |
| Last Steep Section of Washington Gulch | 0.71 mi | 466 ft | 12.3% |
| 403 Climb (2108 Reroute) | 0.97 mi | 384 ft | 7.4% |
| New 403 (2019) | 3.92 mi | -1,601 ft | -5.8% |
| 403 descent to actual trail end | 2.55 mi | -1,703 ft | -12.6% |
| 403 DH from the Tree | 2.45 mi | -1,677 ft | -13.0% |
| School Zone! | 0.27 mi | -89 ft | -6.2% |
| Gothic bridge to snodgrass parking (winter gate) | 3.10 mi | 259 ft | 1.2% |
| Up and Out 317 | 1.82 mi | 207 ft | 2.2% |
| Initial Snod Climb | 0.60 mi | 289 ft | 9.1% |
| E-W Snodgrass Climb to Open Sign | 1.14 mi | 394 ft | 6.5% |
| Snodgrass Full E to W | 3.40 mi | -486 ft | -0.6% |
| Snodgrass DH to Washington Gulch | 2.66 mi | -502 ft | -3.5% |
| Shoulder Hopper DH | 2.46 mi | -492 ft | -3.8% |
| Snodgrass Downhill Big Finish | 0.40 mi | -164 ft | -7.6% |