+ 24
Green Lake -> Baxter Gulch Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Extreme
15.24 mi
2,858 ft
Crested Butte's newest trail is an instant classic!
The newest trail in Crested Butte that's not _just_ a mere reroute is known as "Baxter Gulch." Just finished in late 2018, Baxter Gulch allows riders to create an epic loop with the Green Lake and Carbon trails that's accessible directly from downtown Crested Butte.
While you can pedal this loop in either direction, it's difficult to argue with the quality of the downhill on the fresh Baxter Gulch trail. This newly-dug singletrack swoops and flows through trees and alpine meadows, railing through perfectly-sculpted corners and several sets of low, flow-inducing berms.
Lower down, the bench cut singletrack weaves across the mountainside, alternating between deep, dark forest and sunny fields of wildflowers. This hand-built trail took years to complete! "Traversing across the hillside, bench cut trail has been tediously put in through drains and steep embankments over the course of 6 years to get to the USFS boundary and some more tame terrain to work with," said Dave Ochs in an [interview with ](
To get to this epic descent, climb up the Green Lake trail from downtown Crested Butte. This trail can be steep and awkward in places, which makes getting it out of the way first a blessing in disguise. If you want to visit the lake, carry on past the Carbon trail all the way to Green Lake itself, located in a bowl below a massive, rocky alpine ridge.
Once done with your snack at the lake, turn left on the Carbon Trail and head toward Baxter Gulch. Some of the climbs along this section of singletrack are quite rocky and difficult, but the tough climbs lead to stupendous views of Whestone Mountain, Mount Crested Butte, and the entire valley spread out below you!
Once you've passed the epic viewpoint, it's all about that sweet, sweet descent down Baxter Gulch. Enjoy! Written by Greg Heil
The newest trail in Crested Butte that's not _just_ a mere reroute is known as "Baxter Gulch." Just finished in late 2018, Baxter Gulch allows riders to create an epic loop with the Green Lake and Carbon trails that's accessible directly from downtown Crested Butte.
While you can pedal this loop in either direction, it's difficult to argue with the quality of the downhill on the fresh Baxter Gulch trail. This newly-dug singletrack swoops and flows through trees and alpine meadows, railing through perfectly-sculpted corners and several sets of low, flow-inducing berms.
Lower down, the bench cut singletrack weaves across the mountainside, alternating between deep, dark forest and sunny fields of wildflowers. This hand-built trail took years to complete! "Traversing across the hillside, bench cut trail has been tediously put in through drains and steep embankments over the course of 6 years to get to the USFS boundary and some more tame terrain to work with," said Dave Ochs in an [interview with ](
To get to this epic descent, climb up the Green Lake trail from downtown Crested Butte. This trail can be steep and awkward in places, which makes getting it out of the way first a blessing in disguise. If you want to visit the lake, carry on past the Carbon trail all the way to Green Lake itself, located in a bowl below a massive, rocky alpine ridge.
Once done with your snack at the lake, turn left on the Carbon Trail and head toward Baxter Gulch. Some of the climbs along this section of singletrack are quite rocky and difficult, but the tough climbs lead to stupendous views of Whestone Mountain, Mount Crested Butte, and the entire valley spread out below you!
Once you've passed the epic viewpoint, it's all about that sweet, sweet descent down Baxter Gulch. Enjoy! Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Road 12 Climb | 1.07 mi | 371 ft | 6.6% |
| Green Lake Trail Climb from CB | 4.37 mi | 1,837 ft | 7.9% |
| Green Lake Up | 3.79 mi | 1,581 ft | 7.9% |
| Green Lake UH to Para Me y Para Te | 3.24 mi | 1,470 ft | 8.6% |
| lower green lake climb | 1.34 mi | 486 ft | 6.8% |
| Wildcat Trail Climb | 0.76 mi | 318 ft | 7.9% |
| County Road 12 Climb | 1.89 mi | 958 ft | 9.6% |
| upper green lake climb | 1.58 mi | 922 ft | 11.0% |
| Saddle Ridge Rd Climb | 1.23 mi | 564 ft | 8.7% |
| Baxter Fluidity | 3.87 mi | -1,490 ft | -6.4% |
| Baxter full descent from saddle | 5.52 mi | -1,677 ft | -5.7% |
| Speedy Von Smiles a Lot | 3.59 mi | -1,476 ft | -7.8% |
| Baxter 3/4 to Bridge Down | 2.56 mi | -1,030 ft | -7.6% |
| Switchback McTurney Turn | 1.13 mi | -459 ft | -7.7% |