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36.6 miles
Distance
3,582 ft
Climb
-3,598 ft
Descent
2 miles
High Point
-16 ft
Altitude change
8,986 ft
Altitude min
9,093 ft
Altitude start
9,078 ft
Altitude end
-0%
Grade
-56.2%
Grade max
38.7%
Grade min
18 miles
Distance climb
16 miles
Distance down
2 miles
Distance flat
The Aspen Loop boasts incredible natural beauty thanks to the thick aspen forests and the wild peaks of the La Plata Mountains. Hesperus Mountain, one of the most notable peaks in this San Juan subrange, is almost always visible along the route, towering at 13,000 feet. A large amount of singletrack in the area means there’s an abundance of options to make this route more technical. In fact, this area used to be the southern terminus of the Colorado Trail before it was re-routed to Durango.
While this loop could be deemed short for a weekend trip, there’s plenty of climbing, mountain weather, and altitude to contend with. Beginners can expect it to feel taxing, but only to the point they’ll be able to appreciate the hard-fought highs of bikepacking.
This route links together a series of trails already dubbed the Alpine Loop. Usually utilized by 4×4 and horse packers, this area is hardly crowded. When the Alpine Loop trails feel too slow, find one of the many exits and ride cruisey gravel. Alternatively, when the loop feels too fast, wander out to some of the backcountry singletrack, particularly the West Mancos Trail.
Description imported from: https://bikepacking.com/routes/aspen-loop-overnighter/
Detailed Description
Aspen Loop Route is a 37 mile popular expert route located near Mancos Colorado. This mountain bike primary route can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating. This route includes 5 trails. This route climbs 3,582 ft with a max elevation of 11,038 ft then descends -3,598 ft.
Trail Issues on Route
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 1 trail (newest: May 16, 2026)
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Stats
-
Distance37 miles
-
Altitude min8,986 ft
-
Altitude start9,093 ft
-
Altitude end9,078 ft
-
Climb3,582 ft
-
Descent-3,598 ft
-
Grade-0%
-
Grade max-56.2%
-
Grade min38.7%
-
Distance climb18 miles
-
Distance down16 miles
-
Distance flat2 miles
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Trails in Route
| 2,198 ft | |||||
| 1 mile | |||||
| 5 miles | |||||
| 1 mile | |||||
| 6 miles |
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