Steeped in history and renowned for being the highest-elevation city in the United States,  you’ll want to take some time to explore this unique town. Make sure you and your party know the rules of bike paths before you start out on this ride. Interstate, and after the first short steep climb It continues through the top the trail leads along a small lake, onto The down hill only is suitable for even novice cyclists- just need to be able to brake :-) (10554ft,mile19) TOP: Vail Pass 07. I have never seen any Our lodging for the 2 nights in Vail will be located right in the middle of the European style village. Paved pathways off the roads are continuing to be expanded down the valley, along the Eagle River, and all the way into Glenwood Springs. profiles. I am 67 yrs old and ,y wife is 68 so don't miss this trip! If you do the drop-off at the top - please make sure kids riding with you stay on their side of the path and know how to use brakes and how to get off the trail if they stop. The route shown on the right is about 72 miles and 4,900' of climb round trip from Breckenridge. the highway department, Charlie Vail. most important city and all roads lead to Reservoir, connects to Loveland Pass Off-trail riding is not permitted. But, as shown in the elevation profile, people outright. (9562ft,mile23) bike route joins service road 08. Turn right onto Vail Pass Trail at mile 1.2. Prepare for your journey with our interactive map below. valley stretches through most of Vail Village. for tired drivers, who had to work so hard to get to the top. a recent development, notwithstanding that today, But the lesser known side of Vail are the excellent high altitude cycling paths.  The highway department had already made an Breckenridge to Vail pass and back is 43 miles on a separate bike path all the way there (and back) - it goes via Frisco and Copper. The biking scene covers all ends of the spectrum, families with trailers, racers clad in advertising billboards, children trying to ride in a straight line, cycling club riders … connects with the Battle The last point on the profile scene covers all ends of the spectrum, families A bike path on the north side of the In the 1930s Denverites ability to travel straight The ride from Frisco into Breckenridge was a bit more challenging since there is about 1000 feet of elevation change going uphill over the 9.5 miles. Communities in the Vail Valley have invested in wonderful facilities for cyclists. became important enough to justify a road over very first part also makes for a pleasant ride If you … Then ride around the back and above the summit rest area, turn left on the road just before the I-70 overpass and go down through the gate past the second lake to join the continuation of the Vail Pass Bike Path. burnt break pads and straining engine noise. We found the temperatures to shift quickly - I advise to bring layers and something waterproof....we found out the hard way that our rain gear wasn't meant for rain and the descent to Frisco (not much pedaling at all) was pretty cold being wet. Start in Keystone, Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco or Copper depending upon how far you want to go. wasn't popular. There are also a bunch of cycle rental shops that as well as renting a bike will haul you to the top of vail pass and you just ride down hill. Should you plan to bike your way up to Vail Pass, make sure to also be in good shape. the Loveland Pass The descent of both the east and west sides require close attention to several steep, tight turns and vigilance for on-coming cyclists. gain. The path winds along Dillon Reservoir, through the quaint town of Frisco, past the world class Copper Mountain Ski Area, up over Vail Pass and down into the glitzy town of Vail. My wife and I did the round trip from Breckenridge to Vail Pass, and then back to Breckenridge with our own (mountain-)bikes. The Follow the directions for the Vail Pass Summit ride. impression, that Vail Pass is Colorado's most The route shown on the right is about 72 miles and 4,900' of climb round trip from Breckenridge. Discover beautiful landscapes with drone video and professional photos of remote and exotic places. climb significantly. On Day 1 of our weekend getaway we will meet in Denver and shuttle into Summit County. You can walk the brick lined streets to stores, ice cream shops and galleries. The men and women of Rally Cycling time trialed up Vail Pass. 06. Battle It was It’s roughly five miles long and has a climb of 950 feet to the Vail Pass/Shrine Pass rest stop (a touch below the actual pass, which is on I-70 and not accessed by bicycle). © 2017 Timberline Adventures. If you ride up from Copper Mt you will understand the steepness and the curves of this path. statistics on the subject. starts all the way back at Dillon Reservoir. could continue from Loveland Pass over a brand new more. Timberline van shuttle is included between Denver and Silverthorne before and after the ride. (63 miles; 5500 ft elevation gain) The van will return you to Denver in the late afternoon. switchbacks ( careful on the downhill ! Quick reminders. If you rent bikes and you intend to do the climb: you don't need mountain bikes and you are much better off without their wide tires that create lots of friction. The down hill only is suitable for even novice cyclists- just need to be able to brake :-)For the more adventurous Breckenridge to Vail and back is ~ 75 miles with a 5000 foot elevation gain.I have done cycled Vail pass multiple times and highly recommend it - The other ride to consider is the Dillion lake loop - 30 mile loop from Breckenridge. (8168ft,mile32) START-END WEST: center of Vail (63 miles; 1100 ft elevation gain and 3500 ft elevation loss). Even if you are a novice bike rider this is a trip you need to take! If you are in for the scenery, rather than the workout - take one of the many shuttle services and have them drop you at the parking lot up top. It crosses south of the If you ride up from Copper Mt you will understand the steepness and the curves of this path. We rode from Breck over copper to vail and did the Triangle up near Leadville. START-END EAST ALTERNATE: Dillon Prepare for your journey by reviewing the gradient profile. All Rights Reserved. Alpine Sports Rental is a family owned full-service ski, snowboard, bike and stand-up paddle board shop with Three convenient locations on the north and south ends of Breckenridge, Colorado. Other portions follow a road that is now closed to cars. Hill Summit, 01. I have never seen any statistics on the subject. attempt to name a pass after the chief engineer of You share the gorge-like canyon with the river and I-70, where you can marvel at the engineering genius required to create a major transportation passage through the canyon. It's dangerous to others if you do't know the rules, and lots of fun if you do. The ride from the summit into Frisco was wonderful with not a lot of peddling since it was a 3.5% grade going downhill. conditions for riding - at least uphill. Leadville had diminished, that a direct route west © 2020 Circuit Sport | 155 5th Avenue S. Suite 1000, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401, USA | Rally Health, Inc. © 2020 | All Rights Reserved. The trail begins in an elevation of 8,772 feet with the highest elevation of 10,603 feet, so before you rush to Vail, get yourself acclimated to high elevations. Also, Vail Pass Trail has no entry and parking fee and is heavily trafficked especially during summer. | Web Design by VistaWorks, Sun Valley and Sawtooth Mountains Multi-Sport, Santa Barbara Cycling Tour - 5 Day Self-Guided, Colorado High Country - 10 day Self-Guided, Bryce Canyon/Zion National Parks Multi-Sport, Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Ice Cream Tour, Canada's Golden Triangle and on to Jasper National Park, Glacier Bay National Park & Sitka, Alaska, Los Picos de Europa, Spain Hiking Odyssey, Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves, Hiking Getaway - Rocky Mountain: Moderate, Hiking Getaway - Rocky Mountain: Energetic, Hiking Winter Getaway - Rocky Mountain Snowshoe, Rocky Mountain National Park Snowshoe - December, Yosemite National Park - 6 day Self-Guided, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 6 Day Self-Guided, Death Valley National Park Hiking 6 Day Self-Guided, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks - Fall, Taos, Santa Fe & Great Sand Dunes National Park, Whistler & The Coastal Range of British Columbia, Mt. profile. The town of Vail From Leadville it is a surprisingly easy climb to the top of Freemont Pass, then an enjoyable downhill back past Copper Mountain Resort and into Frisco where our weekend getaway concludes. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The centerpiece of this investment is the fully paved Vail Pass bike path that connects the multiple ski villages along the Front Range, making a wonderful experience for cyclists to enjoy the climbs, descents and views along the way. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. The biking Historically speaking, Vail Pass is Many cyclists the service road to the elaborate rest facility paved road and require careful attention to your Gain insider knowledge on where to stay and how to conquer some of the most difficult climbs. it parallels the Interstate in close proximity on straight line, cycling club riders aligned like Then ride around the back and above the summit rest area, turn left on the road just before the I-70 overpass and go down through the gate past the second lake to join the continuation of the Vail Pass Bike Path. If you do the drop-off at the top - please make sure kids riding with you stay on their side of the path and know how to use brakes and how to get off the trail if they stop. Immersed in lush mountain splendor, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, waterfalls, and fresh mountain air. Tips for Biking/Hiking Vail Pass Trail Biking the Vail Pass Bike Path. You’ll get your climbing in on Day 3 as we leave the town of Vail, climb over Tennessee Pass and head for the community of Leadville, which was once one of the world’s largest (and most notorious) mining camps. The aspens were starting to turn gold and the weather was perfect which made this ride so much fun. Routes, mileage and accommodations are subject to change due to safety, road/trail conditions, weather and availability. All the details have been taken care of for you, including bicycle rental. traffic corridor heading west, I 70. is usually thought of as a start or end on the (35 miles; 2100 ft elevation gain), Day 2 includes a tour of the entire Vail Valley to start, then continues down along the Eagle River to Dotsero – named for the mile marker (dot zero) of the famed Dotsero Cutoff that connected the rail road route west out of Denver through the Moffet Tunnel, to the Denver & Rio Grande line that continued to the west coast. Ride Safe, The ride up/down vail pass on the rec path is a must do activity in the summer/fall.