Featured Ride: Doctor Park, Colorado

Trail information and photos courtesy of MTB Project.

Autumn colors are beginning to show in the Colorado high country. The Doctor Park trail is beloved by locals, especially in the fall when the aspens are turning and the landscape is covered in bright yellows and oranges.

The Doctor Park singletrack trail is just under 7 miles one way, but is connected to Crested Butte’s massive trail network that could provide several days of riding.  You can actually drive to the trailhead, but it’s on a 4×4-only access road. Most people grind out the climb up the Jeep road and Doctor Gulch trail to access this fabled descent, which turns it into a 20-mile ride.

The first mile of the Doctor Park descent is a climb through dark, damp forests up to 10,900 feet. At the top, the landscape opens up into a beautiful meadow. Take a break and enjoy the views—but know that the views will only get better.

From there, the trail dives onto very skinny, bermed singletrack. From the get-go, this trail throws some gnar your way. Be ready for rooty, rocky drops, and super fun corners to navigate. This initial difficult section gives way to some very flowing trail that’s surrounded by aspens. This section is just plain fast, fun, with a few very technical rock gardens thrown in for good measure.

At the end of this mostly non-technical portion, the trail tips upwards for the final time. The descent off this climb is the most technical portion of this trail. It’s filled with tight switchbacks, loose sand, big rock drops and fun optional lines. You end up around 8,400 feet and multiple options for continuing the ride.

Special thanks to the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, which oversees this trail.