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Government Trail
16 reviews
4.38 of 5
9 miles of extremely sweet singletrack. It starts out moderately technical, then gets trickier, but fun as it shoots throughs groves of Aspen trees and rich forests. Caution through the "rock garden", as I like to call it. After this section it is super sweet downhill all the way into Aspen! If you're really feeling good, you can either ride back to Snowmass via Owl Creek Road, or, and I'm not ashamed to admit this, hog down on Cheeseburgers and many beers at the Cooper Street bar.
Highway 82 fron Glenwood Springs to Snowmass. Right at Brush Creek road to Snowmass. Start at base of Fannie Hill lift. Climb Wood Road a few miles to connect to a ski area service road. Climb another few miles to Government Trail start on the left.
Summary: I rode up from Snowmass to the Cross-Mountain and then on the Government over to Aspen. Hot climb up gravel roads to the startCross-mountain is quite rocky but pretty and fun. Government is good but not great. Nice mix of smooth and rocky, but not remote and beautiful like some CO trails.
Recommended Route: Do with the Cross-Mountain section above Snowmass.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Tom Blake to Highline to shuttle bus and repeat. About an hour per lap.
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Summary: THE GOVERNMENT TRAIL IS AMUNG THE BEST IN THE STATE! THIS TRAIL RIDES LIKE A BOBSLED RUN SNAKING THROUGH THE TREES. THE SINGLETRACK IS NICE AND TIGHT, THERE ARE NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SECTIONS, AND IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO RIDE IT IN THE FALL IT'S STUNNING AS THE GOVERNMENT TRAIL PASSES THROUGH NUMEROUS ASPEN GROVES. I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS TRAIL SO GOOD IS THAT THE TURNS FLOW SO WELL. UP, AND DOWN, THERE IS A RYTHEM TO IT, YOU FLOAT AROUND THE CORNERS. DON'T LISTEN TO THE FOOLS THIS IS AN AMAZING TRAIL.
Recommended Route: I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO RIDE THIS TRAIL. BE A MAN SUCK IT UP; FORGET THE WUSSY SHUTTLE CRAP! RIDE FROM DOWNTOWN ASPEN TO BUTTERMILK OVER TO SNOWMASS AND BACK. THE GOVERNMENT TRAIL STARTS UNDER THE TIEHAK LIFT AT BUTTERMILK. RIDE UP, UP, AND UP. AFTER A WHILE THE TRAIL BECOMES LESS STEEP. AFTER CROSSING A COUPLE OF SKI RUNS THERE IS A TRAIL SIGN, AT AN INTERSECTION OF A FIRE ROAD. NOW YOU CAN BLAST DOWN TO REFUEL AT SNOWMASS OR TURN AROUND HERE.
Other recommended trails in the same area: SUNNYSIDE, SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN, AND HUNTER CREEK
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Summary: I am astonished that, in the fabulous and great State of Colorado, so many people seem to think this mediocre ride should get such high billing. Treed-in, in the Blair Witch Project style. More horse poop than in the stalls at the Kentucky Derby. Absolutely no expansive views that Centennial State tourists like me come to associate with this wonderful place. Colorado is the bomb. The Government Trail isn't even the firecracker.
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Review Date September 18, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a year
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
1 votes
Reviewed by: enzo269
,
Cross Country Rider
, from Denver (Cherry Creek) CO USA
Summary: No Offense to Kenji, but do not ride this ride from Buttermilk!! It is not the way.. Park at Snowmass Village and head up to the trail.. Decent amount of climbing, but the views and the singletrack are well worth it... Rock Garden is a challenge but has been cleaned out a little and is not as rough..
Try an dclean the big oak tree section towards bottom heading towards Buttermilk. Pretty Gnarly.. Head out to Route 82 and get the Roaring Fork bus back to Snowmass Village.. Buses have bike racks on the front.
Great Trail...
Recommended Route: Snowmass to Buttermilk.. Not the other way around unless you like "Hike a Bike".
Other recommended trails in the same area: Lincoln Creek
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Review Date July 30, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5
Technical Difficulty 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: kenjiprice
,
Cross Country Rider
Summary: Once you get to the trail head, this place rocks (literally). Rocky, rooty, single-track with switchbacks, few climbs, beautiful views of the Aspen/Snowmass area.
Recommended Route: If you like climbing, park in the Buttermilk Ski area. Follow the paved trail to Bush Creek Rd and begin your climb. I estimate about 4.5-5 mile to get to the trail head. If you look across the trail head, the is a single-track going up the Mtn. We didn't do that, as we were tired of climbing, and wanted to bomb down to Aspen. Just stick to the trail (I think the G'ment trail is blazed with red markers).
Other recommended trails in the same area: Don't really know any, I'm from Baltimore (elevation 100ft.).
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