Reviewed by: telemarkrg ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This loop requires a dusty road ride to close or open the loop; starting up the road first is better. Someone is building a reroute of the trail just past the dike, where the very steep uphill stops pedalling in a hurry! The reroute is sketchy so far and soft and still steep in places and only avoids about a third of the total uphill past the dike. But when the aspens gods turn golden, it's a nice day to walk the bike and enjoy the treasure. This loop is fine and not too technical, except for one or two rocky spots in the long downhill to Horse Ranch trailhead, so expect a lot of dusty uphill churn and burn for only a modest forest cruise. It's all about the aspens . . .

Recommended Route:
Wait until late Sept to enjoy the aspens!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Deadman/Flag loop; Pearl Pass in and out

Reviewed by: ColoMtnBiker ,  Cross Country Rider , from Highlands Ranch, CO

Summary:
Great ride. Lot's of fast downhill and some leg-burning uphills. Some pretty technical areas I thought. Beautiful views. I will definitely ride this one again.

Recommended Route:
I started from the bottom of the trail and rode up the dirt rode to Kebler Pass then on to Irwin Lake. Maybe the reverse would be better to keep your legs fresh for the climbs.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
401, Deer Creek

Reviewed by: imtnbke ,  Cross Country Rider , from Oakland, Calif., USA

Summary:
I rode the Dyke Trail in July 2003. It was in excellent shape, despite a lack of recent rain in the area. Perhaps its own microclimate had received rain; that happens around Crested Butte. I thought it was fun indeed: technically challenging without ever being scary, and featuring great scenery. In the fall, it must be magnificent, because you ride through aspen groves seemingly for miles. I do hope that the local trailbuilders construct a route around the hike-a-bike section in the middle someday.

Recommended Route:
I parked at the Kebler Pass Road turnoff to Irwin. Riding to the Dyke Trail from town would not be much harder, but it would add about 10 miles.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
401, 403, Gunsight Pass.

Reviewed by: isaac , from boulder

Summary:
Yup. It's a great trail as eveyone here is noting. Just a ripper for the most part with enough technical problems to keep you honest (maybe a 6.5 out of 10 on the tech scale) one good push of 10-15 minutes in the middle and all the gorgeous aspens you'd ever want to see in your entire life in the second half of the ride!! Go for it - it's one of my moderate CB favorites.

Recommended Route:
The rd ride is kinda busy and a grind so I sometimes park at Kebler pass, ride the road the 2 or 3 miles up past the lake to the trailhead and then down to the horsepark at the end,stash the bike, and hitch up from there. Works pretty well (folks are friendly) but not so much traffic toward the end of the day so you can get stranded!

Reviewed by: Byron , from Los Angeles, CA

Summary:
This trail is a brilliant example of mother nature and how you can live in Crested Butte and still find it hard to ride all the trails in a single year before snow moves back in. If you like to go fast, this trail is for you -- but don't tear it up.

Recommended Route:
You should buy a map.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Doctor's Park