Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 11.9 miles /
19.2 km
Duration: 1-3 hours
Family Friendly
• Dog Friendly
Overview:
Winter Park Resort is located over 60 miles away from Denver. To get there, take I-70 west for about 29 miles to exit 232, Empire/Granby exit. Take this winding road up and over Berthoud Pass to the second entrance to Winter Park, about 26 miles from the exit. Keep in mind the first entrance actually takes you to the Mary Jane side of the mountain. Do not take this first entrance. Turn left at the second entrance and follow the road down for about 1 mile. You will see the Village Cabriolet lift. There is a parking lot across the street from this lift. Park your car here.
Winter Park Mountain Bike Resort mostly caters to freeride downhillers who take the lift up and bomb downhill on the trails. If you want to ride some of the singletrack up to the top of the mountain, this is the only legal way up the mountain (many of the trails are only one way downhill). Of course, you can take the jeep roads up the mountain but this wouldn't be as much fun as getting some singletrack uphill.
As you are facing the Village Cabriolet lift, there is a jeep road to the left that goes uphill. Take this jeep road. This drops you shortly onto the Icarus trail, a jeep road. Climb this trail until the intersection with the Jackalope trail at 0.7 miles. You can take the Jackalope trail (fun narrow singletrack with some steep uphill sections) or continue on the Icarus trail. The Jackalope rejoins the Icarus trail at 1.7 miles. At 1.7 miles, cross the two parking lots toward the mountain. You will see a jeep road that climbs steeply up. This is the continuation of the Icarus trail. At 2.9 miles, follow the sign for the Icarus trail. This is where the Icarus trail turns into singletrack trail. You will also see the Panorama Express lift to your left. At 4.2 miles the singletrack turns back into jeep road. You will be right by an abandoned ski lift. Turn right onto the jeep road (Icarus trail) and climb some more. At 4.8 miles you will be at the top of the ride. It is quite obvious. You will see the High Lonesome and Superguage lifts as well as a ski patrol lodge. Continue on the jeep road as it descends by the Superguage lift. At 5.3 miles, there is a faint singletrack to the left with a sign pointing you to the Upper Roof of the Rockies trail. Take this singletrack. In less than 0.1 miles, the trail splits. Take the left (downhill) and enjoy your singletrack descent. At 6.4 miles, you will come to the intersection with the Lower Roof of the Rockies trail. Go right onto this trail. At 7.1 miles, you will continue on the Shy Ann trail. This trail crosses the jeep road, follow the signs. At 8.6 miles, you will come to the intersection with the Long trail and Pipecut trail. Go left and cross the jeep road (watch for traffic) and you will see more signs for the Long trail. Follow the Long trail signs. At 9.2 miles, the Rainmaker trail comes very close to the Long trail. Continue on the Long trail (the uppermost trail). The Rainmaker trail is black rated and may lead to some gnarly singletrack. At 9.4 miles, you will intersect with the No Quarter trail. Follow the Long trail down. At 10 miles, you will intersect with the Upper Cherokee trail. Follow the Long trail sign down. At 10.3 miles, continue following the Long trail sign. At 10.4 miles, follow the Long trail sign again. At 10.5 miles, you will come to an intersection with the Green World trail, Bootcamp/Boulevard trails. Go left across the jeep road (watch for traffic) and follow the Green World trail sign down. The Green World trail is fun also (don't let the green rating fool you) and will dump you onto a jeep road. Turn right at the jeep road and at 11.9 miles you will be back at the Village base/Cabriolet lift.
Trail Stats
Length: 11.9 miles
Elevation gain: about 2300 feet
Tips:
Grab a trail map at the Winter Park base. This will prove to be very helpful as there are many trails that intersect with each other. My description of the ride is one of many different ways that you can go, especially on the downhill. Feel free to try out different trails.
Be wary of the freeride downhillers. Most of the resort is catered to riders taking the lift up and bombing downhill in full pads/helmet. You are also more than welcome to take the lift up and just do the downhill trails. Keep in mind that there is a fee to ride the lift (currently $24/half day and $34/full day). See www.trestlebikepark.com for more information.
Unless you are a very confident freeride downhiller, I would stay off of most of the black rated trails. But if you do end up over your head on a black trail, you can always walk by the obstacles.
This is a high altitude ride, starting at about 9000 feet elevation and topping out at above 11000 feet. As with all high altitude rides, be prepared for extreme changes in weather (rain, snow, lightning, etc). I almost always bring a rain jacket, warm long fingered gloves and extra warm clothes (long sleeve polypro shirt, arm and leg warmers).
