Biking Trails

Almost all of the easier trails are bikeable as well. To get your mountain-biking legs in shape, try the gentle Rio Grande Trail. A favorite of both bikers and hikers, the path meanders from Aspen along the Roaring Fork River all the way to Woody Creek. Here you can stop for lunch at the funky but always crowded Woody Creek Tavern, the former watering hole of literary great Hunter S. Thompson and his cronies. If you prefer road to mountain biking, there are two very good options. The route up Castle Creek passes through thirteen miles of the most scenic territory in the valley. It’s a moderate climb but a very good work out, and it leads to the ghost town of Ashcroft, where the Pine Creek Cookhouse (314 South 2nd St.; 970-925-1044) is located. Stop for a rustic but gourmet lunch before heading downhill. The road to Maroon Bells is about the same length and difficulty. The payoff at the top is the spectacular views of Maroon Lake and the Bells.