Summer mountain biking at Arapahoe Basin
Whether you’re in Colorado for mountain biking or road biking, Arapahoe Basin has the ride for you. A-Basin’s terrain offers incredible views and even better rides. Test your legs and lungs, then kick back with a meal and a cold beverage at the 6th Alley Bar & Grill.
A "Reverse Enduro" is exactly as crazy as it sounds: a timed uphill climb and an untimed descent.
Don't miss the first edition of this uniquely A-Basin event, July 31, 2021. It takes place the same day as Festival of the Brewpubs, featuring unlimited local brewery tastings, burgers, brats, and live music.
The course will ascend more than 1,500 vertical feet over 3 miles. You'll begin your climb on 1.8 miles of pristine forested singletrack (Argentine North Fork Trail), then finish on a grueling, 1.2-mile dirt road climb (our summer service road) above treeline to the summit of the Zuma and Lenawee Lifts at 12,456 feet.
Argentine North Fork Trail (ANFT)
- Distance: 2 miles (one-way)
- Ascent: 700 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Hiking: Both directions
- Biking: Both directions for 2020; uphill only in the future
Argentine North Fork is A-Basin’s primary singletrack mountain biking trail. It begins near Mountain Goat Plaza in the base area and ascends to Black Mountain Lodge at mid-mountain. Hikers and bikers will find wildflowers, scenic vistas and crystal-clear streams along the way. Mountain bikers can turn around at mid-mountain or continue climbing to the summit on Upper Summer Road.
Wheels Up: Bike-only DH trail
- Distance when complete: 2.5 miles (one-way)
- Distance available: 1 mile
- Descent: 700 feet (total when finished)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Hiking: Not allowed
- Biking: Downhill, only
Wheels Up is our featured downhill, bike-only flow trail from Black Mountain Lodge to the base area. Full of berms, rollers and optional lines, this playground of a trail was built specifically for bikes. Wheels Up is suitable for intermediate riders (all features can be rolled) and extra-fun for advanced mountain bikers.
Currently, one mile is complete. Climb ANFT to connect to Wheels Up for an awesome descent. Stay tuned for the full ride -- this trail will be completed summer 2021.
Summer Road, Upper & Lower
- Distance: 2.6 miles combined (one-way)
- Ascent: 1,676 feet total
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Hiking: Both directions
- Biking: Both directions
Summer Road is a steep and rocky service road running from top to bottom. The 1.3-mile Upper Summer Road begins at Black Mountain Lodge and takes you well above treeline. It is currently the only way to access the summit at 12,456 feet. Enjoy stunning views of A-Basin, Loveland Pass, multiple 14’ers and our resident mountain goat herd. We recommend using ANFT and Wheels Up on the lower half of the mountain. Please watch for vehicles!
Pali Road
- Distance: 0.6 miles (one-way)
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Hiking: Both directions
- Biking: Both directions
Pali Road is a very steep service road that takes hikers and mountain bikers from the Upper Summer Road (just above mid-mountain) to the top of Pallavicini Lift. From there, enjoy dramatic views of The Beavers and Pallavicini ski terrain.
COMING SOON: A HIGH-ALPINE SINGLETRACK ADVENTURE
We are working in conjunction with IMBA Trail Solutions on a 10- to 12-mile backcountry mountain biking loop that will be directional and mostly bike-only. There are currently no plans for lift-served mountain biking.
The loop trail will offer an intermediate to advanced, old-school cross-country riding experience on bike-optimized trails. The high-alpine loop trail will ascend from mid-mountain to 12,500 feet at the top of the lift-served terrain, head west traversing the ridgeline, descend into The Beavers ski terrain, and finish by crossing the top of the Pallavicini terrain before connecting to a bike-only downhill trail for the final descent. This promises to be some of the best mountain biking in Colorado and is scheduled to be completed over the next few summers.
"No other ski area in Colorado is doing what we're doing here [at A-Basin]. It's a blend of old-school traditional singletrack and that new breed of purpose-built enduro mountain biking. You're going to have to earn your turns to come up here and ride this stuff," - Joey Klein, IMBA Trail Solutions
LENAWEE TRAIL, OFF THE BACKSIDE
If you know, you know. We are famous for this gorgeous but difficult U.S. Forest Service trail. From the top, a skilled backcountry rider can descend the 3.3-mile, black-diamond Lenawee Trail one ridgeline east of A-Basin’s Montezuma Bowl, ending at County Road 260/Peru Creek Road. From there, connect to additional trails and dirt road riding, if so desired. Please note this is outside our summer operating boundary.
Lenawee is steep; it’s technical and it requires a shuttle or a big loop with significant time spent pedaling on roads. Please review the elevation profile and map before attempting Lenawee for the first time. It’s worth the adventure if you are prepared. (Please be prepared!)
RENTALS? BIKE HAUL? E-BIKES?
We do not offer bike rentals, beginner trails, mountain bike programming or bike haul on our lifts.
At this time, e-bikes are NOT allowed on our singletrack trails per U.S. Forest Service regulations. They are also not allowed on the Lenawee Trail.
Arapahoe Basin is located on Loveland Pass, the finish for Stage 2 of the 2015 USA Pro Challenge. The category 1 climb up Loveland Pass is a must-do for visiting road cyclists, combining a winding 8-mile climb with an exhilarating downhill on the scenic Continental Divide.
Loveland Pass is open to vehicles throughout the year, including tanker trucks, so please use caution on this roadway. You can get to Loveland Pass from the Summit County bike path system and enjoy lunch on the deck of the 6th Alley Bar & Grill at the Basin on your way back home!
