This loop is actually several trails which all connect to each other and form the loop. Start out riding up Keystone Gulch. You will climb gradually on this fairly well maintained dirt road for about 4.5 miles. Just after the road veers left, after the third chairlift, look for a road taking off to the right near a large maintenance building. There is a sign here but the day I rode this it was wrapped in plastic and leaning against a tree. At about 5 miles and crossing two ski runs, take the road to the right. Look for a round sign with a blue arrow. There are also bright red signs with bicycle symbol on them marking the trail. Many of these signs however are in disrepair so don't rely on them, but if you do see one you will know you are on the right trail. At this point the trail goes down through a meadow and accross a very small stream. After you cross the stream begin the climb up the westridge to the Colorado Trail. After about three miles the trail intersects the Colorado Trail. At this point you should see the markers (a triangle symbol) identifying the Colorado Trail. Take the sharp right here. Meander across the westridge for a few miles and stay left at the next fork (appx. 8 mi.) If you go right here you will go back down to Keystone gulch. From here the Colorado Trail begins it's long and fast descent toward Breckenridge. After a couple miles descending, the Colorado Trail will make a VERY sharp turn to the left and Red's trail will be the straight option. I believe there is a post at this intersection. Go straight onto Red's Trail and follow the narrow singletrack along a steep hillside and eventually back into the forest. After a few more miles this trail will terminate with a choice of dirt road to the left or more singletrack to the right. Take the single track to the right which is Keystone Ranch Trail. Follow this trail for a few miles. The golf course will be on your left. Cross a few roads and this trail will turn into the Aqueduct trail. Follow the aquaduct trail around the mountain and back to Keystone gulch. Once you come out on the road turn left back to your car.
A downhill that keeps on giving after what feels like not so much climbing. Sweet.
| ThankThis is a fun, fun ride. Climbing up the road 4 miles then up another 2 or 3 on singletrack until you hit the Colorado Trail for a mile of rollers. Veer right at the split, then Katy bar the door! Downhill all the way back plus a couple stream crossings. Found the trail to be well marked and used a lot by the locals. More like 15 miles from the parking lot on Keystone Gulch.
| ThankTook a shortcut back to the Keystone Gulch Rd, turning right at about 8 miles down a single track, which connects to the switchbacked road, back to Keystone Gulch Rd.
| ThankGood climb up Keystone Gulch Rd, and some steeper hike-a-bike sections as you climb to the west across the creek. The downhill back on Keystone Gulch Rd was VERY fast; the road was mostly very smooth with no washboard (very unusual). We've ridden the other return, which is very good too, except they took down most of the trees on the hillside.
The downside to my loop is the mostly dirt road, and little singletrack.
Another really fun Breck ride. Just like all the other trails, bunch of climbing but really fun fast singletrack. Nothing technical, just screaming fast, and blow past Keystone. Great set of switchbacks coming back down to Tiger Rd. Great loop.
| ThankSki resort access road climb for 4.5 miles that goes into loose and steep wooded singletrack climb (steep in places - @20%) to the CO Trail connector. Super fun, fast and windy descent to the Keystone Ranch Trail; a couple of log overs and one tricky water crossing before reaching the CO Trail to Breckenridge. The last 7-8 miles fly by (literally) in what seems like minutes as you blow past old duffers on the Ranch Course!
| ThankAgree with the above reviews; the loooong downhills are almost all in the singletrack part of the ride and the climbs are on the road--had no idea I had climbed so far. The lack of signage on this ride is pretty annoying. Two things to note are that the area where Red's Trail turns into the Aqueduct Trail is currently interrupted by / usurped by a logging road - just follow along on the road until you see the trail veer off again. Also, at the end of the Aqueduct Trail (campgrounds), there is a potentially not-too-shallow water crossing to get back over to Keystone Gulch Road. This ride really does take almost 4 hours (mostly because you're consulting your map/directions at every unmarked fork), so you might want to bring some food.
| ThankHad a super fun ride on this trail for the first time yesterday. Conditions were perfect. I have no idea I was going for an ~18 mile ride. Felt like 10 cause of all the awesome downhill that just flys by. I would highly recommend this ride. On the way up, once you leave the wide forest road, after the chair lifts, stay on the most used looking paths. There are a couple of little off shoots and the intersections are not labeled, look for the one that looks most used and you'll be fine.
| ThankNote: Currently there is way too much snow at the top to ride this! It Should be gone in about 2 weeks.
I agree with the reader's comments below. There is far too little single track on this route to do it without turning into into a combo with the acquaduct trail, or continueing on the colorado trail all the way back into Breck. I have done both. Combined with the Acquaduct trail you get some serious sick downhill and it turns into about a 17 mile loop. Warning though, this turns the trail rating from an easy to a legit Black Diamond.* Review edited 6/19/2009
* Review edited 6/19/2009
| ThankIt's a good workout, or a good loop to time yourself on, and the network that it accesses from the Colorado Trail is tight, but its not a great ride in itself...the only singletrack is the CT section, and thats not much, the rest is the gulch road, and wide logging trails that switchback up the hill. If you do this you should take Red's Trail down instead of the west ridge loop and then take the aqueduct back.
* Review edited 7/31/2008
| Thank