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4 out of 5 Rider Rating 4
2 Reviews

Gunnison to Crested Butte

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By GJRonK (2629 McR Points) on Jun 28, 2013

Rider Reviews

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KBlewiRides
68 McR Points
May 1, 2018
Beautiful area of the state.
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GJRonK
2629 McR Points
February 10, 2020
A road bike could with difficulty continue over…
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Written Directions

From Gunnison, CO, head north on Hwy. 135 as far as Crested Butte. GRAVEL WARNING!!! The road from there to Paonia is very scenic, but is mostly gravel.

Scenery

This is a pleasant ride in a wide valley with peaks of the Rockies on either side. Some will have snow to the middle of summer. Gunnison is a western themed town with most necessities. The countryside along the way is mostly ranch land with some old cabins and a winding river nearby. The jewel of the route is the old-mining, new-ski/outdoor/vacation town of Crested Butte. There are usually events of various types going on throughout the year. When I was there, the Ride-the-Rockies bicycle tour was passing through and camping, so there were hundreds of bikes in town. It's a funky place (as most small Colorado mountain towns are) with citizens that don't have much money and want to be left alone, and visitors and 2nd home out-of-towners with lots of money. There are all the types of tourist shops that are normal. Most of the downtown shops are colorfully painted and draw multitudes of tourists along the boardwalks. There is some interesting artwork here and there. In the winter, this is a Nordic and alpine ski center. It is also rumored to be the home of the first mountain bike. Many mountain bikers and jeepers use this as their base during the summer and early fall.

Drive Enjoyment

Go for the leisure ride and the scenery. The route is pretty straight.

Tourism Opportunities

Plenty of restaurants, motels, and food at both ends. Some bike services in Gunnison, which is quite a bit larger.
 

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KBlewiRides
May 1, 2018
68 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
Beautiful area of the state.
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GJRonK
February 10, 2020
2629 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
A road bike could with difficulty continue over the pass beyond Crested Butte toward Hotchkiss, but best for a dirt bike or tough car/truck.
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