Basics
- Location:
- Buena Vista, Gunnison, Granite, Crested Butte, Leadville
- Length:
- 20 miles
- Aerobic Difficulty:
- Advanced
- Time To Allow:
- 3 - 4 hours
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 8350 feet
- Season:
- July-September
Description
Doctors Park trail is just one of many in the Granite area, a maze of old mining roadways and buff singletrack trails. The trails in the Doctors Park area are rarely frequented by mountain bikers. There is endless exploring to be had here and numerous side roads and trails to adventure onto.
The single best tool to bring to the Granite area is a good trail map, easily acquired in Gunnison, Crested Butte or Buena Vista. Once riders find it, the Doctors Park trail winds through open hillsides, mountain meadow and thick forest as it climbs up to almost 11,000 feet. There are many more amazing rides in the area to choose from. Grab a map and go!
Details
Location:
Length:
Can lengthen ride by adding side spur trails
Difficulty:
Aerobic Difficulty:
Time To Allow:
Depends on aerobic fitness
Trailhead Elevation:
High elevation riding
Season:
Additional Details:
While riding any trail system it is a great idea to include a repair kit and first aid kit. The Doctors Park area is a multi-use trail and hikers, horseback riders, vehicles and other trail users may be seen along the way. Please be considerate on the trails and understand right of way protocol. The Doctors Park area is very remote and is located in high elevation mountains. This area can experience sudden weather shifts, so riders should bring appropriate warm layers in anticipation of this.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
To get to Granite: From Crested Butte and Gunnison, head to Granite on the Taylor River Road (FS 742). From Leadville and Buena Vista take Highway 24. Once in Granite, park carefully as legal parking there is limited. Doctors Park trail is accessed via Spring Creek Road (FS 744) from Granite, which intersects with Taylor River Road (FS 742), fording a creek onto FS 554.1 to the intersection with FS 550. Turn right on FS 550 and head up roadway, which eventually turns into singletrack and Doctors Park FS 424. At times the downhill on 424 will become very loose and hiking may be necessary. Doctors Park FS 424 eventually ends up at a campground where riders can head west back to Granite.
