Vail Valley Bike Trails Locals Love

The Best Fall Road Rides in Vail:

• Vail Pass: Smooth pavement, no cars, and big climbs. The bike path winds it’s way up Vail Pass to 10,666 feet with steady grades and even better views. “Vail Pass gets riders off the road, away from cars, and has great views of the valley and peaks in the Gore Range,” says Chris Anderson, owner of Kind Bikes and Skis. Start in Vail Village if you’re feeling ambitious, or park at the foot of the pass in East Vail for a shorter version. Ride to either the cul-de-sac, the top of the pass, or go full send all the way up and over to Copper Mountain.
• Highway 24: Minturn to Camp Hale or Leadville: A classic Colorado route, especially when the leaves flip to gold. “This route is part of a Colorado scenic byway and for good reason. This route is at its best during the leaf-changing season,” Anderson says. Ride out of Minturn, climbing over Battle Mountain Pass, a twisting road through aspen groves that passes through several historic towns and destinations. Stop at Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, once home to the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, or push all the way to Leadville, the highest incorporated town at just over 10,000 feet. It’s history and scenery rolled into one epic road ride.
  

The Best Fall Mountain Bike Rides in Vail:

• Golden Gate: A quick and easy ride on Vail Mountain, Golden Gate’s flowy and buffed out trail winds through gorgeous aspen groves. It’s a mellow climb on Mill Creek Road to the base of Chair 10, where riders can pick up the trail. “It’s a local’s favorite lunch or after-work ride due to its quick and easy access right from the village,” explains Anderson. Want more vert? Continue climbing on Mill Creek Road to Mid-Vail, where you can catch Sidekick to connect with Golden Gate. 
• Buffehr Creek: It’s a grind to start, but oh-so-worth it. After climbing Red Sandstone Road, hop on the Buffehr Creek Trail. From there, it’s a long descent that plunges through glowing aspens with big views of Vail Mountain. “This might be on the list of longer rides,” says Anderson, “but it gets riders way out there, and you get a really solid connection with nature.” There are a few turns before you hit the Buffehr Creek Trail, so familiarize yourself with this route and turn on a trails app before you head out.
• Beaver Creek Village Tour: “Beaver Creek is thick with aspens that are golden in the fall,” Anderson says. He recommends starting at the Ute Trail in Arrowhead, connecting with the Dakota Trail, and following the Village to Village Trail. From there, link to the new Moose Trail, a flowy alternative to the Village to Village Trail. “The new Moose singletrack puts riders in the thick of the beautiful fall aspens.” For a shorter loop, drop down Elkhorn into Avon. Or extend your ride by traversing along Allie’s Way to Corkscrew, a fun, twisting downhill that dumps you right in Beaver Creek Village.

Service Before You Shred: How to Prep Your Bike for Fall

Before you chase those golden leaves, give your bike a little love. Fall riding brings different conditions, and a quick tune-up will keep you rolling smoothly.

• Check your sealant: Hot summers dry up sealant. Tubeless sealant is a latex-based liquid in your tire that plugs small punctures and allows you to run on lower tire pressure. The easy way to check? Simply shake your wheel. Hear some sloshing? You’re good to go. But if it’s more like crickets, you’ll want a top off.
• Swap to knobbier tires: Like snow tires for your car, chunkier treads give you more grip and helps cut through leaves and loose dirt. 
• General check-up: From checking wear on your brake pads to adjusting your suspension, fall is a sneaky-good time to service your bike so you’re ready to ride til the snow flies — and you’re set up for spring.