Two Elk Pass

Rundown:
Two Elk is a demanding singletrack ride that takes riders from east to west through Vail’s Back Bowls.

Distance:
10.6 miles

Difficulty Level:
Difficult

Vail Velo Members Rating:
Elevation Profile:


Season:
July 1 - May 6
(Closed May 7 - June 30)

How to Get There:
Two cars are required for the Two Elk ride.

West trailhead parking: Drive west on Interstate 70 Exit 171 (Minturn). Head south on Highway 24 for about 2.5 miles to Cemetery Road. Turn left on Cemetery Road and continue to a fork. Take the right fork and - when the road forks again - take the left fork and continue driving to the end of the road.

East trailhead parking: Drive east on Interstate 70 to Exit 180 (East Vail). Turn right and take Bighorn Rd to Gore Creek Campground. Parking is available along the road.

Description:
Start riding from the gate at Gore Creek campground. Ride about two miles toward Vail Pass and look for the Two Elk trailhead on the right. Ride over Black Gore Creek and under the interstate. From here, the trail starts to climb. This section of the trail to Two Elk pass is difficult and strenuous due to the steep grade. As the riders near the pass they are rewarded with great views of the surrounding mountains.

From the pass, the singletrack descends into the Two Elk drainage. The trail passes through Vail’s famous Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin as it continues west. The route intersects with the Sleepytime trail at the bottom of the Orient Express chairlift. Stay left through this section and rejoin the singletrack. From here, the ride becomes more technical and riders must negotiate rocks, roots and an occasional drop-off. The trail ends on the south end of Minturn near the shooting range.



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