401 Trail Loop

Owen here. The 401 sits at the top of most riders' Colorado lists for a reason, and that reason is not subtle: a long climb up a dirt road, then a singletrack ribbon traversing wildflower meadows above Crested Butte with the Elk Range stacked across the valley. It's also a ride that humbles people who underestimate altitude, afternoon weather, or how technical the descent gets when it's been chewed up by a wet July.

The trail

The standard loop runs about 25 km with roughly 900 m of climbing and takes most riders around four hours moving time, longer if you stop for photos (you will). The first half is a sustained grind up Gothic Road — graded dirt, manageable gradient, but you're starting near 2,900 m and climbing from there. After Schofield Pass you turn onto singletrack and the character flips entirely.

The traverse section is the postcard: narrow bench-cut trail through head-high wildflowers in late July, dropping in and out of timber, with exposed sidehill where a foot off the line means a long slide down loose grass. Then the descent — fast, rooty, rocky in patches, with a few committing chutes near the bottom before you spit out toward Gothic and roll back to town.

When to go

Mid-July through mid-September is the realistic window. Earlier and you'll hit snow patches on the upper traverse and bottomless mud in the meadows; locals will (rightly) be annoyed if you ride it wet because the trail braids fast. Peak wildflower bloom is usually the last week of July into the first week of August, which is also when the trail is most crowded — expect to yield to climbers and to encounter motos on shared sections.

September is quieter, drier, and the aspens turn, but afternoons cool off quickly above treeline. Whatever month you pick, start early. Afternoon thunderstorms build by 1 PM in summer and you do not want to be on the exposed traverse when one rolls through.

What to know before you go

• No permit required, but parking in Crested Butte and at the Gothic trailhead fills by mid-morning on weekends. Riding from town adds road miles but solves the problem.
• Altitude is the real difficulty multiplier. If you flew in from sea level yesterday, this ride will feel two grades harder than the stats suggest. Give yourself a day or two.
• Water sources exist along the climb (creeks crossing the road) but treat everything. The traverse and descent have nothing reliable — carry what you need.
• It's a multi-use trail. Hikers, runners, motos, and uphill riders all share it. Yield generously, especially on blind corners through the flowers.
• Cell service is spotty to nonexistent past the edge of town. Tell someone your plan.
• Navigation is straightforward — climb the road, take the marked 401 turnoff at the pass, follow singletrack down — but the upper junctions can be confusing in fog.

What to bring

This is a full-day backcountry mountain bike ride, not a lift-served lap. Pack like it. You want enough water for four hours of effort at altitude, real food (not just gels), a layer for the top, and a rain shell that actually works — high-altitude storms are cold and fast. Tubeless tires with sealant, a spare tube anyway, a pump, a multi-tool with a chain breaker, and a quick link. Sunscreen and a brimmed something under the helmet; the UV up there is brutal. A small first-aid kit. If you're prone to altitude headaches, electrolytes help more than ibuprofen.

Suspension-wise, a trail or short-travel enduro bike is the right tool. Hardtails get ridden up there but the descent punishes you. Bring riding glasses — the wildflower section throws a surprising amount of pollen and grit.

Variations

• Shorter: Shuttle to Schofield Pass and ride only the singletrack down. Cuts the climb entirely and turns this into a roughly 90-minute descent. Less satisfying, easier on the lungs.
• Longer: Link 401 with Trail 403 for a bigger day with two traverses and a second climb — adds significant distance and another 400+ m of gain. Strong riders only, and start at first light.
• Harder add-on: Continue past the standard descent exit and ride Lower Loop or Upper Loop trails back into town for a fuller cross-country day with more technical singletrack.
• Out-and-back option: Climb the road, ride the traverse to a high point, and return the way you came. Good if storms are building and you want a bail option.