Fat Biking in Lyons is weather dependent. For snow riding these trails are usually only rideable after heavy snow and cold. Check with Redstone Cyclery for conditions.

TRAIL: HALL RANCH

Trailhead Location: Lyons

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Only rideable right after heavy snow and consistent cold. South facing elevations melt quickly. This is a rare fatbike opportunity!

TRAIL: PICTURE ROCK

Trailhead Location: Lyons

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Only rideable right after heavy snow and consistent cold. South facing elevations melt quickly. This is a rare fatbike opportunity!

TRAIL: SOUTH SOURDOUGH TRAIL

Trailhead Location: Nederland

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Moderate foot/snowshoe/ski traffic. High wind area results in high drifts. Aggressive riding and high-float tires recommended.

Notes: Can get windy and snow can get deep.

TRAIL: MUD LAKE

Trailhead Location: Nederland

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: High foot traffic area all season. Expect well packed snow.

Notes: Shorter trail with connection options to Caribou Rd up to 505 to Rainbow Lakes Road.

TRAILS: BRAINARD LAKE ROAD and LEFTHAND PARK RESERVIOIR ROAD

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Very well packed, a great first fatbike experience choice!

Notes: Lots of good riding to connect in this area as it is heavily trafficked.

TRAILS: WALDROP

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Heavy snow area. Needs heavy foot/snowshoe/ski traffic to get a good base. Best a few days after heavy snow. Snow can get very deep. Waldrop is usually one of the first and best packed singletrack trails.

Notes: Lots of good riding to connect in this area as it is heavily trafficked. Ride out to Brainard Lake as an out-and-back or make a loop with SSV/Sourdough or Snowshoe.

TRAILS: SNOWSHOE

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Heavy snow area. Needs heavy foot/snowshoe/ski traffic to get a good base. Best a few days after heavy snow. Snow can get very deep. Has less traffic than Waldrop and more open spaces prone to drifting, especially by the campground.

Notes: Trail has some rolling hills, some quite steep.

TRAILS: SOURDOUGH (SOUTH)

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area or Sourdough Trailhead (Rainbow Lakes Road 298)

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Heavy snow area. Needs heavy foot/snowshoe/ski traffic to get a good base. Best a few days after heavy snow. Snow can get very deep. Has less traffic than the core Brainard Lake trails. Also used by snowshoers and skiers and can get well packed, but may also be soft and loose, especially in the more open areas.

Notes: From the south trailhead, Sourdough climbs steadily for 3.5 miles and 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The next 2.5 miles to Brainard Lake are rolling downhill. Makes a great out-and-back from the south trailhead or a big shuttle ride all the way to Peaceful Valley. 

TRAILS: SOURDOUGH (NORTH)

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area (or Beaver Reservoir Road or Peaceful Valley)

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Heavy snow area. Needs heavy foot/snowshoe/ski traffic to get a good base. Best a few days after heavy snow. Snow can get very deep. From the Brainard trailhead it is usually well packed to the South St Vrain trail. Past that, it gets less traffic and conditions are more iffy. Can be ridden down to Beaver Reservoir Road or all the way to Peaceful Valley.

Notes: Awesome downhill to South St Vrail trail! Can be ridden down to Beaver Reservoir Road or all the way to Peaceful Valley. The total Sourdough trail is 13 miles, making it a great shuttle or a mega out-and-back ride. From Brainard Lake, the trail descends nearly 2,000 feet and climbs 600. The section between South St Vrain and Beaver Reservoir Road is the least traveled and the most open, trail is not always great in the winter.

TRAILS: SOUTH ST VRAIN

Trailhead Location: Brainard Lake Recreation Area (or Beaver Reservoir Road)

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Heavy snow area. Needs heavy foot/snowshoe/ski traffic to get a good base. Best a few days after heavy snow. Snow can get very deep. One of the lesser trafficked trails in Brainard Lake but is a smoking downhill when it’s good. After the “staircase section” the trail is a road for a bit and can get very drifty in windy conditions.

Notes: Awesome shuttle ride from Brainard Lake! Nearly all downhill from Sourdough, or work a little taking Waldrop to the lake, then catch South St Vrain. The section from the lake to Waldrop is lightly trafficked and may not be packed enough for bikes.

General Notes: Little Raven and the CMC Ski trail are closed to bikes November 15 – April 15

TRAIL: BUCHANAN PASS

Trailhead Location: Peaceful Valley

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Very high traffic from the trailhead. First ½ mile or so stays very well packed. From the intersection of Middle Saint Vrain heading west is one of the first trails in the area to get packed in. Frequently rideable up to Timberline Falls. Beyond that can be hit or miss depending on traffic. Many fat bikers carry snowshoes to work on packing this area in so it can be looped with Coney Flats or Middle Saint Vrain.

Notes: Heavy moose activity.

TRAIL: NORTH SOURDOUGH TRAIL

Trailhead Location: Peaceful Valley

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Usually the 2nd trail from Peaceful Valley to get packed in. Usually requires 2-3 days after heavy snow to get packed in from foot/snowshoe/ski traffic. Once established it gets fast and fun. Later in the season after more traffic and deeper snow base, rideable trail may continue south of Beaver Res road (inconsistently).

Notes: Early in the season this trail is used to connect to Beaver Reservoir road up to Coney Flats and/or descend Cutoff Trail.

TRAIL: BEAVER RESERVOIR CUTOFF TRAIL

Trailhead Location: Peaceful Valley or Beaver Reservoir Road

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Usually the 3rd trail from Peaceful Valley to get packed in. Usually requires 2-3 days after heavy snow to get packed in from foot/snowshoe/ski traffic. 

Notes: Great little trail to make a 5 mile loop with Sourdough – normally ridden up Sourdough, up Beaver Reservoir Road and down Cutoff. Warning, Beaver Reservoir Road is exposed and often very windy.

TRAIL: CONEY FLATS

Trailhead Location: Near Beaver Reservoir | Ward

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Popular ski and snowshoe area due to easy access and relatively mild elevation gain. Can get very well packed later into the season and the base stays well established. Snowmobilers occasionally access this trail making for great fat biking!

Notes: If conditions allow makes for a long loop when connected with Buchanan Pass. Best to start at Peaceful Valley → North Sourdough → Beaver Res Road → Coney Flats → Descend down Buchanan Pass

TRAIL: MIDDLE SAINT VRAIN

Trailhead Location: Camp Dick (near Peaceful Valley)

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Snowmobilers occasionally access this trail making for great fat biking! Not very popular until snowmobiles pack it in. Can be very well packed.

Notes: If conditions allow makes for a long loop when connected with Buchanan Pass. Best to start at Peaceful Valley. Ride west towards Camp Dick. Descend down Buchanan Pass

TRAIL: CERAN ST. VRAIN

Trailhead Location: Jamestown

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Heavily trafficked and popular trail throughout the season. Expect well packed snow until hitting Miller Rock.

TRAIL: HERMIT PARK

Trailhead Location: Estes Park

Traffic/Trail Condition Expectations: Rideable by fat bike during light/moderate snow and only in the early season. Very light/minimal traffic. Best to ride after a few inches of snow. Mixed conditions possible (snow + dirt). Expect to break trail.

Notes: Hermit Park closes in the winter. Seasonal closure is weather dependent from around December through March. This is a fee area ($6 as of this writing).

TRAIL: ELK MEADOW OPEN SPACE

Trailhead Location: Evergreen

Traffic/Trail Conditions: High foot/snowshoe/ski traffic all season.

TRAIL: ALDERFER / THREE SISTERS / DEDISSE

Trailhead Location: Evergreen

Traffic/Trail Conditions: High foot/snowshoe/ski traffic all season.

TRAIL: MEYERS RANCH

Trailhead Location: Conifer

Traffic/Trail Conditions: High foot/snowshoe/ski traffic all season.

TRAIL: STAUNTON STATE PARK

Trailhead Location: Conifer

Traffic/Trail Conditions: High foot/snowshoe/ski traffic all season.

TRAIL: STAUNTON STATE PARK

Trailhead Location: Pine

Traffic/Trail Conditions: High foot/snowshoe/ski traffic all season (especially closest to trail heads). Not consistent snow base. Best mid season.

TRAIL: BUFFALO CREEK

Trailhead Location: Pine

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Low traffic area and not consistently snow packed. This area is popular for fat bike riding year round. In the winter it will likely be mixed conditions (snow + dirt), but do not expect true snow packed trails. NOT rideable in heavy snow.

Notes: Not a true “fatbike” destination – although great riding and rideable in all but the heaviest of snow. 

TRAIL: CMC TRAILS and MINERAL BELT LOOP

Trailhead Location: Leadville

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Consistently groomed. Check in with Cycles of Life for conditions. They groom approximately 3 times a week, so it’s good to check in to know when they’re good to go

Notes: Ride Mineral CW with a little pop off for some fun in the trees at CMC. The east side mining roads and Turquoise Lake are groomed too. Leadville is a must do. 20-40+ miles of groomers!

TRAIL: Turks Trail, Sallie Barber Road, Carter Park

Trailhead Location: Breckenridge

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Groomed, heavily trafficked, and shuttles!

Notes: Around 20 miles of singletrack and shuttles available from town: Flumes, V3, Turks, Carter Park stuff etc. French Creek trails Wellington B & B trail to Turks Ex10u8.

TRAIL: RENDEZVOUS

Trailhead Location: Winter Park

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Heavily trafficked all season long.

TRAIL: HAPPY JACK

Trailhead Location: Laramie, WY

Traffic/Trail Conditions: Groomed and heavily trafficked all season long. Rideable all season.

Notes: 12 miles of groomed single track. Well worth the drive!