Generally known as the birthplace of the mountain bike, Crested Butte is home to the best singletrack that Colorado has to offer. Boasting miles upon miles of high alpine bike trails Crested Butte has something for everyone, Whether you’re after fast, smooth singletrack or a steep, technical challenge, Crested Butte delivers. The town of Crested Butte sits at 9,000′ allowing for accessible rides through unmatched mountain scenery.
Alley Loop Fat Tire Mountain Bike Race
How do you make the Alley Loop even more fun? You add a fat bike race! CBMBA presents the 2023 Alley Loop Fat Bike Race! Race will be held on the Red Lady Loop ( This is the only time you will be able to ride your fat bikes on this trail!) Start and finish on Elk Avenue in front of the Eldo, beer will be provided for racers. 3pm registration, 4:30pm race start. Lights will be required for all racers. Wear your best racing costume and get those bikes lit up–prizes will be awarded for best costume, best decorated bike and first place in each class. Registration is $25 for 1 person, $35 for 2 person team and $45 for 4 person team. If you have a 3 person team you can register in the 4 person category and we will get it all sorted out! Race will be 6 laps, each lap is 2.6 miles.
When: February 3, 2023; 3 pm reg / 4 pm start
Where: Start/Finish in Front of The Eldo on Elk
Website: CB Mountain Bike Assn.
Registration: HERE
Flow State Colorado Mountain Bike Festival
Flow State Gunnison is a four day celebration of all things mountain biking. Campers and visitors will be based out of the expansive I Bar Ranch which is directly across Highway 50 from the Signal Peak trail network and a short drive to the iconic Hartman Rocks system. FLOW STATE will feature product demos, guided rides and clinics as well as camping, food trucks and beer, live music and more. Flow State Gunnison will also run in congress with Gunnison Trails’ Growler Mountain Bike Race so families and racers can come and camp in a kid-friendly, festival setting.
When: TBA
Where: I Bar Ranch
Website: Flow State Gunnison
Passes & Tickets: HERE
The Original Growler Endurance Mountain Bike Race
The Original Growler showcases most of the trails at the Hartman Rocks recreation area on BLM public lands. “Hartman’s,” as we call it, was chosen as one of the top 20 mountain biking destinations on BLM lands and offers a one-of-kind trail riding experience. If you have ridden Hartman’s, you know all about the magic of these high desert trails.
If you haven’t, you owe it to yourself as an experienced mountain biker to test your skills and fitness on the trails at Hartman Rocks. You’ll be forced to alternate relentlessly between fast and flow in seas of sagebrush and tricky and technical through weathered and twisted juniper on islands of granite and in the many micro canyons that pock this primal landscape. While there are no big climbs and the total vertical gain isn’t remarkable, the seesaw nature of the Growler course is a supreme test of all around mountain biking. Go ahead, commit. But be prepared to challenge your mind, your body and your skills. Race includes Saturday May 29, 2021, The Classic Growler – around 32-miles on the dirt (limited to 350 riders), Sunday May 30, 2021, The Pup (kid’s race)– around 20 miles on the dirt and Sunday May 30, 2021, The Big Bad – around 40 miles on the dirt.
When: May 27-28, 2023
Where: I Bar Ranch
Website: The Original Growler
Register: HERE
Junior Bike Week
Since 2016, the biggest kids bike party on the planet has been right here in Crested Butte, Coloradoo – the birthplace of mountain biking! Junior Bike Week is the only multi-day festival in the world that exclusively celebrates kids on bikes! There are events happening throughout the week for kids of all ages and abilities with everything from trail work and skills clinics to competitive racing.
When: June 21-25, 2023
Where: Crested Butte, CO.
Web: Junior Bike Week
Chainless World Championships
Seven miles from the top of Kebler Pass to downtown Crested Butte, CO with no pedaling, no chain and lots of dirt road and speed. Ladies and gentlemen – welcome to the world’s greatest chainless bike race.
Only in Crested Butte would we come up with a gravity-fed race like this. Bigger bikes. Bigger costumes. More ridiculous antics. Do whatever it takes to get you here in time for the Chainless. Racers weigh down their bikes, put on ridiculous costumes, and remove their chains before racing the seven miles from Kebler Pass into downtown Crested Butte.
More info: HERE or email events@cbchamber.com. (970) 349-6438
When: Friday, June 23, 2023
Where: Crested Butte, CO.
Web: Chainless World Championships
Outerbike Crested Butte
What better place to access lift-serve cross country trails to test your dream bike? Unrivaled mountain scenery, flowy singletrack, and the state’s best wildflowers too. Combine all that with Colorado’s most genuine mountain town with a plethora of lodging and camping options. What’s not to love?
Western Spirit Cycling has partnered with Crested Butte Mountain Resort to provide a summer Outerbike in one of the birth places of the sport.
Crested Butte has always been high on the bucket list for hardcore riders, but now the new Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park has something for everyone. Hop on the lift to test the latest and greatest bikes on the classic Crested Butte rides, or ride the fun new trails for everyone at the base area. Repeat as needed. Ride your little heart out, soak up the impressive mountain views, then relax with a tasty beverage at the end of the day. Attendance is capped, so register early to get your spot!
When: August 18-20, 2023
Where: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Web: Outerbike
The Grand Traverse
The Grand Traverse Mountain Bike Race is no ordinary mountain bike race. It is a point-to-point from Aspen to Crested Butte, Colorado. In total, bikers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountains with over 7,800′ of elevation gain. The course starts with a 3000′ ascent up Aspen Mountain before continuing deep into the Elk Mountains. This mountain bike race is not for the faint of heart.
When: September 3, 2023
Where: Crested Butte, CO.
Web: The Grand Traverse
Pearl Pass Tour
The oldest mountain bike event in the world is repeated year after year on a September weekend. The first tour happened in 1976 when a group of Crested Butte rowdies pedaled and pushed their one-speed klunkers over the 12,705 ft. pass and on into Aspen. The Tour now is a classic and historic 39-mile off-road ride from Crested Butte to Aspen over Pearl Pass at 12,705 feet. It’s the longest running organized mountain bike ride in the world.
The ride to Aspen is one day over Pearl Pass, which is an expert 38 mile ride. Needless to say, make sure you are in top shape if you plan to ride this tour.
When: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Where: Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum (start line)
Web: Pearl Pass Tour