Whether you’ve been coming to Aspen every summer for years and want to try a new sport, or it’s been on your bucket list years, 2017 might be the summer to try mountain biking. As with skiing, there are beginner mountain biking trails in Aspen, making it easy to introduce yourself to the extreme sport.
Tom Blake Trail
The crew at Four Mountain Sports will be happy to give you a trail map and recommendations based on your ability level, but for beginners, I recommend starting with the Tom Blake Trail in Snowmass. This dirt single track trail is just over three miles, making it a good warm up to longer rides. Check it out in the video above!
Rim Trail
The first half of the Rim Trail in Snowmass is another great spot for beginners to test their skills. The trail gets more difficult as it progresses, so if it feels like it’s going beyond your ability level, head back down to the start. It’s easily accessible from the Rodeo Lot located to your right as you enter Snowmass Village.
Mountain Biking Clinics
If you’re a regular road cyclist but want to try downhill mountain biking, bike clinics offered through the Snowmass Bike Park, are a great place to start. Aspen Snowmass Bike Pros will outfit you with the more heavy duty gear needed for downhill riding and will coach you through the technique. One huge bonus of the Snowmass Bike Park is that the huge network of trails is accessed by chairlift so you can save your legs for the fun part of the ride!
Where to Rent Bikes & Gear
Four Mountain Sports has you set for all of your mountain biking needs. They will outfit you from helmet to bike and have equipment for all ages and ability levels. If you’re planning to take the whole family out for a ride, you can even book everyone’s gear in advance.
At hotels like the Limelight, guests can borrow cruiser bikes for free! Downtown Aspen can feel quite busy on summer days, and like most locals, I find that cruising on a bike is the most efficient way to get around town. It’s also a good way to spark some muscle memory before heading to these beginner mountain biking trails in Aspen.
