Matterhorn Trail

Rode this trail yesterday (9/17/18). Fun, technical, raw, singletrack that sheds elevation quickly. Lots of deadfall across the trail (pirate trail not maintained). Some stunts, skinnies, still exist (there used to be more). Awesome fall ride as it goes thru a huge aspen grove. Very steep in spots. To access ride west thru the hikers only area at Eagles Nest (paved walking path). Head down the Game Creek trail. After a minute of descending you'll hit a fork in the trail. Go right and keep your head up. It's technical and tight with some steep pitches. Great colors in the fall. It eventually drops down into the Matterhorn neighborhood. From there you ride down the streets to the Vail bike path. It's an easy 5 minute uphill pedal back to Lionshead.

This trail is not a part of any official system and it shows. As such, you should only attempt it if experienced, self-sufficient, and used to approaching completely ungroomed terrain. Eastern riders may appreciate the constant roots, often slick, as the trail lies on the north, moisture holding side of the mountain. The trail is often very tight, with many trees being scarcely a handlebar width apart. While most of the challenging features have ridearounds, in places, the trail can be very sketchy. One dry stretch near the bottom is a heinously steep and loose collection of loose dirt and rock awkwardly sitting in a horrendous rut.

All that said, it's quite the fun alternative to the standard Vail experience for the adventurous rider. The trail ultimately dumps out into a cul-de-sac awaiting new home construction, so I'm not sure how long the trial will last.