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Tags:
Level: Expert
Length: 2 mi (3.2 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Other
Elevation: -
Total: 1 riders
Mountain Biking Matterhorn Trail
#320 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
This is a little known branch that peels off the Game Creek Trail and drops down into the residential area of West Vail. It is narrow, often sketchy, and has a few less than professional man-made features thrown in (each has an optional ridearound). The trail is consistently narrow and rooty. There are a number of log piles to cross and they usually don't have ridearounds. The trail is not maintained, so deadfall can be a problem, as can erosion.
First added by John Fisch on Sep 28, 2016. Last updated Apr 22, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Although not part of Vail Mountain, this trail is best accessed from the Eagle's nest area on Vail Mountain, either after climbing 2,250 vertical feet from the base, or riding the gondola up.
From Eagle's Nest, follow the sign to "all bike trails" and go left on the access road as if going to the Radio Flyer downhill trail. Pass Radio Flyer and the access road will make a hard left, turning south. Shortly after the left turn, look right for what looks like a road dropping off the right side of the ridge. Notice that the "road" disappears quickly and a singletrack begins. This is the Game Creek Trail, which drops all the way into the town of Minturn. About a mile down the Game Creek Trail, the Game Creek Trail makes a hard left while a less traveled, faint singletrack goes straight forward--this is the Matterhorn trail.
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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.
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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.
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