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17.1 miles
Distance
5,086 ft
Climb
-5,536 ft
Descent
3 miles
High Point
-449 ft
Altitude change
9,583 ft
Altitude min
10,065 ft
Altitude start
9,616 ft
Altitude end
-0.5%
Grade
-64.3%
Grade max
82.1%
Grade min
8 miles
Distance climb
9 miles
Distance down
4,505 ft
Distance flat
Shuttle Ride: leave a car at the South Elbert Trailhead, before starting the route at the Mount Massive parking lot.
Who doesn't want to ride off the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains
This route takes a shuttle approach to maximize the quality of singletrack, increase the downhill and most importantly make the climb a little less impossible.
The route begins at the Mount Massive parking lot, start out heading south on Colorado Trail Segment 11. The Colorado Trail starts with a warmup climb followed by perfect buffed single track, with a few speedy descents before meeting up with the South Mount Elbert trail. There were extensive trail realignments between 2017-2019, that now make the trail rideable on the climb up to the alpine. There is a fourth phase set to complete sometime in 2020, which will re-route a brutal section around 12,500'.
The hike a bike "Hikyling" starts at approx 13,000' and continues to the summit with just enough rideable sections sprinkled in to tease you.
Before embarking on one of the better descents in Colorado, catch your breath and take in the views from 14,433' you've earned it!
As for the descent its one to remember! Classic alpine tech until tree-line, where the rocks disappear and the single track nears perfection, buffed, fast and playful all the way to the South Elbert trailhead.
Detailed Description
Mt. Elbert - Shuttle is a 17 mile popular extreme route located near Leadville Colorado. This mountain bike only route can be used one direction and has a extreme overall physical rating. This route includes 5 trails. This route climbs 5,086 ft with a max elevation of 14,425 ft then descends -5,536 ft.
Trail Issues on Route
- Significant Issue / Amber: 1 trail (newest: Aug 11, 2026)
Route Supporters
Best of Colorado MTB
since 2019
Best of North America MTB
since 2019
Links
Local Trail Association
Please consider joining or donating to the local riding association to support trail development & maintenance.
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Stats
-
Distance17 miles
-
Avg time1 hr 21 min
-
Altitude change-449 ft
-
Altitude min9,583 ft
-
Altitude start10,065 ft
-
Altitude end9,616 ft
-
Climb5,086 ft
-
Descent-5,536 ft
-
Grade-0.5%
-
Grade max-64.3%
-
Grade min82.1%
-
Distance climb8 miles
-
Distance down9 miles
-
Distance flat4,505 ft
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Trails in Route
| 10 miles | |||||
| 1,306 ft |
Details
- Featured
-
Riding area
-
Primary ActivityMountain Bike
-
Difficulty ratingDouble Black Diamond
-
Route TypeShuttled
-
eBike Allowed
-
Bike typeAM
-
DirectionOne Direction
-
Physical ratingExtreme
-
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Videos
youtuber
![Conquering the highest peak in the Rockies on...]()
mtb
Conquering the highest peak in the Rockies on Mountain Bikes | Mt. Elbert, CO
trail: South Mount Elbert
18:30 | 682 | comments: 0 | favs:
Apr 6, 2021
youtuber
![Mt. Elbert - Epic Mountain Biking on...]()
mtb
Mt. Elbert - Epic Mountain Biking on Colorado's Highest Fourteener!
trail: South Mount Elbert
36:05 | 368 | comments: 0 | favs:
Sep 5, 2023
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