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Two-Elk Trail (off I-70)
9 reviews
4.33 of 5
Pavement ride from Vail to trailhead. Maybe 8-9 miles or so. Very gnarly singletrack climb once you pass under I-70. Many roots and off chamber riding. This trail is good only from July to early September. Once you're on top, there are several options. 1)Take a right and go to the top of Benchmark for a 3,500 vertical 13 mile descent down Mill Creek Road (double track). 2)Continue going west and keep riding Two Elk trail into Minturn. 3) Go north up Commando Run to Shrine Pass Road.Or, 4) Continue going west and instead of diving into the Ravine that is Two Elk trail, bear right and climb out via the China Bowl service road descending through one of many Vail Mtn trails.
From the town of Vail ride the bike path through the Golf Course to East Vail. Join up with the old Vail Pass road and begin climbing. You'll pass a gate on Vail Pass road where no cars are allowed. Keep climbing to the point where you see a trail head on your right. This singletrack trail will dive into the Ravine and pass underneath I-70. Parrellel the creek and begin climbing up. Complete your climb at the top where Two-Elk trail intersects Commando Run.
Summary: If you are reading this review you are a chosen one. Only certain folks would care to understand what this trail is all about. Pretty sure it is legal to take a bike on this singletrack, but lots of people would suggest that is not a good idea. Pushing yourself to haul 25-30 pounds of metal up a serious incline at altitude is commendable and stretches the continuum of human possibility.
Two Elk can be climbed with lots of hike a biking. Or, it can be ridden down, which is pretty darn fun - but also dangerous. Check out 10th Mtn Divison, Minturn Mile, Benchmark, Mill Creek Road, Vail Mtn, The Grand Traverse, Shrine Pass Road and Vail Pass to learn more about the topography that makes this place special.
Always tell someone where you are going - check with The Ranger, and Avalanche forecast before engaging in the act of backcountryization. All the best Bubba Mctailfeather/Heavy Jumbo - original poster of this trail a decade ago.
Recommended Route: leave from vail or ride down from the top of vail pass
Other recommended trails in the same area: Lost Lake - see if you can find it.
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Summary: This is just one of those trails that you need to do in your lifetime if you consider yourself a serious mountain biker. Word of caution: wait for at least mid-July until you try the route described. I tried it the end of June and ended up aborting the ride as planned but found a nice alternative down the Lime Creek Road jeep trail. I went back this weekend and bagged it leaving a big smile on my face as I rode into Minturn.
Recommended Route: The route I completed was different than the one described and one I highly recommend. From Vail pass, ride up over Shrine Pass to Lime Creek Road. Take Bowman's Shortcut after about half a mile. It is very well marked. This is one sweet climb with numerous switchbacks and amazing scenery at the Top of the World with views of the Gore Range on your right and Holy Cross Wilderness on your left. From there it is up and down over roots and logs until finally the downhill begins. Take the Two Elks trail to Minturn and let the good times roll. Pass beneath all of your favorite back bowl runs and enjoy the abundant wildflowers. The trail comes out at a dirt road that will take you to Minturn. A shuttle is recommended but a loop could be completed via Red Cliff to Shrine Pass Road.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Cougar Ridge, Game Creek Trail, Matterhorn, Son of Middle Creek, Buffehr Creek, Red and White to Davo, Meadow Mountain and Polly's Plunge
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Review Date November 21, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 5 of 5
Technical Difficulty 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: steve47co1
,
Weekend Warrior
, from Steamboat Springs, CO
Summary: Awesome trail - I put it in the "epic" category; has everything; views, climbs, descents, solitary, wildlife, technical, and loads of fun.
Did this ride the third weekend in September this year at peak foliage - it just doesn't get any better. 21 miles of the best of mountain biking. No wimps, though; all bail out routes are tough.
Recommended Route: Park one vehicle near Shrine pass Inn (leave other vehicle at Holy Cross Ranger Station in Minturn) off I-70 at the Vail Pass Summit; ride two miles downhill to fork in the road, bear right for 100 yards until you see the trail sign and get ready to climb to the top of Benchmark at 11,600 ft. (puff, puff, puff). Great descent into back bowls of Vail and then an amazing rock garden run for four miles along Minturn Creek to dirt road to Minturn and a few more miles along the road to Ranger Station. A great 21 mile ride.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Son of Middle Creek, Meadow Mountain, North Trail System, Lost Lake Trail, Buffer Creek.
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Review Date May 5, 2003
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: Kyle
, from Vail, Colorado
Summary: Whoever maintains this website should throw out all the VA bashing reviews from 3-4 yrs ago. The construction of Blue Sky Basin has not closed this trail, almost every local is happy that Vail expanded (to only 1/3 of the acreage alotted). As for the trail, don't go unless you have good bike handling skills. The tough parts include the overly rutted and steep downhill Benchmark bowl descent (Vail ski resort side). Or from the other side (Vail Pass), the commando run climb (especially if you climb all the way from Vail Village). Pretty easy and fast downhill along China + Mongolia bowls' drainage past the Orient, Tea Cup, and Skyline Express lifts. This is followed by a very technical section almost all the way to Minturn. Also some amusing signs for those who have skied Vail's Back Bowls during this section. Don't freak out when you hear gun shots, it just means this great ride is over as you will be passing the minturn shooting range on your way back to minturn. *** This really is a 5 wheel trail.. I just rate it average to keep clowns off it.
Recommended Route: As described. Do not ride until mid summer to avoid elk- calving. Tread lightly, no downhill rigs (too hard to climb there anyway) .. keep this trail great.
Other recommended trails in the same area: The Vail Valley has great rides all over.
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Review Date July 29, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Wee
, from Valparaiso, IN
Summary: I rode this trail for the first time on 7/25/02. Since I had a lift ticket at Vail, I rode the gondola to Eagle's Nest and took Village Trail down Vail Mountain to chair lift 10. You can ride from Vail to Chair 10 (about 3 miles). At the gate you will see a jeep road heading up. This is Mill Creek Road and will take you to Benchmark. At the forks stay left. The top is very steep and I had to hike. My computer showed 6.5 miles from the gate to Benchmark. Be sure to stop and enjoy the view from Joint Point. You won't miss this point because you will be looking down at I-70. From the top of Benchmark, head to the northeast and you will see a single track. Follow this steep trail down to a junction. Turn right and enjoy the switchback trail with several creek crossings. Once you get to the Orient Express chair lift, you will duck under the rope and hit the rest of the single track to Minturn. We missed this at first but then spotted the trail. This is a very technical section with Two Elk creek to the left. The trail is rock strewn with many ups and downs. You will come to a nice section through a pine forest. This is the end of the trail. Follow the main dirt road to the bridge that goes to Minturn. Turn right and ride highway 24 to the Gore Valley Trail. This will take you back to Vail. This is one of the best trails I have ever ridden. It is comparable to the 401 in Crested Butte. Due to the technical difficulty I feel it is for advanced riders.
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4.33 of 5
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