CBMR open through October, awaiting bike trail approval

Expansion would include 15 more miles of bike trails

By Katherine Nettles

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and the Evolution Bike Park will close for the winter season on October 7, and in the meantime will be open daily through September 3, and then Friday to Sunday only from September 7 to September 30. The last weekend is October 6 and October 7.

CBMR is scheduled to reopen for the winter season on Wednesday, November 21.

“Overall, it was a fantastic summer, and we are happy with the way things are looking,” said CBMR public relations and communications manager Erica Mueller.

Mueller said no new trails were added this summer and there are no plans yet for changes or improvements to the resort in the works for the winter season, especially with the upcoming sale to Vail Resorts. One thing to look forward to, however, might be the potential for more biking trails in 2019. “We are still in the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] process, but we have 15 more miles of bike trails to add to our expansion program,” said Mueller.

The final draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected out this fall, said Mueller. “It will give the final say of yes or no, but we feel pretty confident that it will be a yes.” Clearing the trails would then begin in the spring.

“But we can’t build those until that happens, so mostly what we’ve been doing this summer is maintaining,” said Mueller. Work on existing trails has included improvements and updates to Avery, an advanced downhill bike trail; the lower section of Luge, an intermediate downhill bike trail; and various trails and features of the bike park.

“Just recently, our trail crew finished their work on the lower section of Luge including new berms, jumps and some incredible flow. Luge may have just leap-frogged Teaser as the new locals’ favorite trail at the Evolution Bike Park,” said CBMR spokesperson Zach Pickett.

The trail crew worked on Avery to improve some of the older sections. Some of the bike park’s cross country trails have seen upgrades with work being done on Columbine, Prospector, and a new wooden bridge on Lower Meander.

The trail crew focused on carpentry work in the bike park as well, updating and improving wood features. Throughout the remainder of the season, plans to continue moving around the bike park to improve trails will focus on the bottom terminus of the bike park trails as they exit in between the Silver Queen and Red Lady Lifts, said Pickett.

“We’d like to extend a big shout out to all of our employees who have helped make this a successful summer season. It takes a tremendous effort to operate the resort and we’re proud of our team for all the work that they’ve put in. Also, thank you to everyone who has visited the resort and Bike Park this summer,” said Pickett.