Awesome Big MTB Ride Thread

I've been putting ideas together for big MTB rides later this year and into 2025, so I thought I'd start up a thread to collect even more ideas.... "big" is obviously subjective, so just be sure to include mileage and elevation, and maybe a "suffer score" (either estimated or personally experienced, also subjective). Here are a few of my target rides thus far, feel free to add your own:

Buffalo Creek 50
Location: Buffalo Creek, CO
Distance: 50+ miles
Elevation: 6-7k
Suffer Score: 8
Notes: Would need to do virtually every mile in the Buff Creek system, or can connect Segment 2 of the CT into Buffalo Creek.

Black Canyon Trail (in a day)
Location: North of Phoenix, AZ
Distance: 60+ miles
Elevation Gain: 5-6k
Suffer Score: ?? (6-7 based on blogs)

Crested Butte Classic (in two days)
Location: Crested Butte, CO
Distance: 40-45/day
Elevation Gain: 8k'/day
Suffer Score: 9-10
Notes: This was originally a single day race, but there's no way I can do it in a day.... thus two. Watch MSP's The Biker's Ballad segment for route info.

Eagle Backcountry Trifecta
Location: Eagle, CO
Distance: 30
Elevation Gain: 5k'
Suffer Score: 7
Notes: Point to point (or a loop) including Iron Edge, Sneve Gulch and MacKenzie Gulch

JeffCo Triple Crown
Location: Golden / Morrison, CO
Distance: 35-40 miles
Elevation Gain: 8k'
Suffer Score: 8-9
Notes: Point to point includes White Ranch, Chimney-Apex, and Falcon-LOTB, ending at Red Rocks Beer Garden in Morrison.

Vail-Minturn Figure 8
Location: Minturn, CO
Distance: 28 miles
Elevation Gain: 6k'
Suffer Score: 6-7
Notes: Up Cougar Ridge, down Game Creek, then up Meadow Mtn (Line Shack) and down Whiskey Creek to EverKrisp. Absolutely incredible fall ride.

Aspen mega loop is a classic one and great in the fall. Can skip the rim trail portion to make it a little less of a suffer

I did this yesterday. Not a fan of Scraggy so it's the first time I'd ridden it in a few years. Been talking about it for a few years and finally got around to it. It's mostly pretty easy just a long time on the bike, I wouldn't put suffer score over 7 unless you go in the heat of the day in which case it could be a 9. I'm still tired today though.

Attachment 501670

Since it's already a P2P, if you wanted to add to that Triple Crown you could start at Mountain Lion in GGSP, then climb Drew hill to the top of White Ranch vs climbing Belcher.

Prescott Circle Trail
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Distance: 56
Elevation Gain: 6k'
Suffer Score: 6 (it keeps going!)
Notes: I started at Thumb Butte which meant the In/Out burger was almost at the halfway point.

Seven Summits
Location: Rossland, BC, Canada
Distance: 30
Elevation Gain: 4k'
Suffer Score: 6
Notes: Requires a shuttle (or an extra 20 miles of uphill road biking). Lots of loose rock and punchy uphills to contend with

Frisby Ridge
Location: Revelstoke, BC, Canada
Distance: 20
Elevation Gain: 3k'
Suffer Score: 5
Notes: Spectacular out and back, the riding is mostly easy but you can make the climb hurt as much as you want. 10 miles of downhill back to the parking lot and you can add on another 10 more with a shuttle.

Honorable Note:
Keystone Basin
Location: (north of) Revelstoke, BC, Canada
Distance: 15
Elevation Gain: 1.5k'
Suffer Score: 7
Notes: Not a huge amount of elevation, but spectacular scenery. Mostly a hiking trail, but can be biked although it'd make you work for it.

Park City Circumnavigation, Park City, UT
Miles: 50, could make longer with riding up to crest/down to SLC.
Elevation:~5500 depending,
Suffer Score: 5ish? long, can be hot, not terribly technical or crazy climbs
Notes: I did this by parking at newpark, riding through trailside, Round Valley, solamere, deer valley to Mid Mountain, MM to utah olympic park. Addition could be climbing DV to 9k to puke hill, crest to canyons to UOP. very enjoyable ride.

[QUOTE=ironhippy;7134751]Prescott Circle Trail
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Distance: 56
Elevation Gain: 6k'
Suffer Score: 6 (it keeps going!)
[COLOR=#333333]Notes: I started at Thumb Butte which meant the In/Out burger was almost at the halfway point.
/QUOTE]

How early in the year is this typically rideable?

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Originally Posted by smmokan

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Originally Posted by ironhippy

Prescott Circle Trail
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Distance: 56
Elevation Gain: 6k'
Suffer Score: 6 (it keeps going!)
[COLOR=#333333]Notes: I started at Thumb Butte which meant the In/Out burger was almost at the halfway point.

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How early in the year is this typically rideable?

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I'm from the east coast of Canada, so i'm not really sure, but it looks like it gets ridden year round but will be wet in Jan/Feb depending on conditions.

I rode it in November and it was perfect, I wouldn't want to be out there in the summer though

I think Prescott would be maybe March to May or Oct-Nov for ideal temps for that ride.

Any of the Arizona endurance series rides would qualify. All are great routes you can do with their group start or anytime on your own.

https://rockyroad5050.wordpress.com/

My favorites are the Picket post punisher and Sedona big friggin loop. Don't have stats for either but suffer score is high. I have TRs for most of these rides if you search.

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Originally Posted by evdog

I think Prescott would be maybe March to May or Oct-Nov for ideal temps for that ride.

Any of the Arizona endurance series rides would qualify. All are great routes you can do with their group start or anytime on your own.

https://rockyroad5050.wordpress.com/

My favorites are the Picket post punisher and Sedona big friggin loop. Don't have stats for either but suffer score is high. I have TRs for most of these rides if you search.

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If you're going to participate in this thread, we'll need your "smaller" rides listed please. :)

Monarch Mindbender
Location: Monarch Crest, CO
Distance: 80+ miles
Elevation: 11k
Suffer Score: 10/10
Notes: Basically every descent off the Crest except Agate under your own power. Most likely brutal, but rewarding. Probably.
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/ro/58302/
https://coloradoes.wordpress.com/mon...nder-mmb-2023/

Super Doctor
Location: Crested Butte, CO
Distance: 40 miles
Elevation: 5500’
Suffer Score: 8(?)/10
Notes: Self-powered Reno Flag Bear Doctor by climbing Spring Creek Rd and Deadman up to Reno Ridge/Flag Divide Rd.
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/430614/

Golden Chelada
Location: Golden, CO
Distance: 45 miles
Elevation: 7k
Suffer Score: 7/10
Notes: Name is a play on the Enchilada/Uncolada trope. I actually rode this from my house in Applewood on my 47th birthday, and there was a few extra miles to ride from home and it ended up being exactly 47 miles. Great ride.
https://strava.app.link/jbLbTU4qzNb

I’ll try and dig up some more.

Monarch Mini Mindbender
Location: Monarch Crest, CO
Distance: 48 miles
Elevation: 6800’
Suffer Score: 7-8/10
Notes: Kind of my own personal “Best of the ‘Bender” route, skips Silver Creek, Rainbow, and a heinous climb up Marshal Pass Rd. but is still plenty challenging with four (4) awesome descents off the Crest. Technically, three full descents plus two half descents but who’s really keep track on rides likes this anyways?
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/ro/58315/

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Originally Posted by N1CK.

Since it's already a P2P, if you wanted to add to that Triple Crown you could start at Mountain Lion in GGSP, then climb Drew hill to the top of White Ranch vs climbing Belcher.

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But then it wouldn’t be the Triple Crown, since you’d be missing the Belcher climb. Assuming the idea here is to climb all three shitty JeffCo climbs in one go.

;) :D

I would be remiss if I didn't get Nevada on the list.

Toiyabe Crest Trail

Central Nevada

~32mi, 9k ft north to south, 7k south to north
70mi loop, 11k+.

Suffer score would be a 6 for the shuttle version, 9 for the loop.

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...d.php?t=335943

TR: The Toiyabe Crest Trail (central Nevada)

@smmkoan - you are blowing it by still not coming out to do the Tour de Big aka BURLOS (Bigs Ultimate Ride - Link Of Shred) with me. Fourth annual is mid September next year.

Truncated BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 30mi
Elevation Gain: 8500'
Suffer Score: 7
Notes: Beartrap (via Mill D), Brighton, Honeycomb to Greens Basin, Days Fork (out and back)
Time: 6-7hrs

Full BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 40mi
Elevation Gain: 11,000'
Suffer Score: 9
Notes: Beartrap, Brighton, Honeycomb to Solitude, Silver Fork (via Raptor/Twin Lakes), Days Fork
Time: 8-9hrs

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Originally Posted by Phall

Park City Circumnavigation, Park City, UT
Miles: 50, could make longer with riding up to crest/down to SLC.
Elevation:~5500 depending,
Suffer Score: 5ish? long, can be hot, not terribly technical or crazy climbs
Notes: I did this by parking at newpark, riding through trailside, Round Valley, solamere, deer valley to Mid Mountain, MM to utah olympic park. Addition could be climbing DV to 9k to puke hill, crest to canyons to UOP. very enjoyable ride.

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The PCP2P route is a super fun alternate to this as well! Great recommendation.

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Originally Posted by Marshal Olson

@smmkoan - you are blowing it by still not coming out to do the Tour de Big aka BURLOS (Bigs Ultimate Ride - Link Of Shred) with me. Fourth annual is mid September next year.

Truncated BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 30mi
Elevation Gain: 8500'
Suffer Score: 7
Notes: Beartrap (loop from Mill D), Brighton, Honeycomb to Greens Basin, Days Fork (out and back)
Time: 6-7hrs

Full BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 40mi
Elevation Gain: 11,000'
Suffer Score: 9
Notes: Beartrap, Brighton, Honeycomb to Solitude, Silver Fork (via Raptor/Twin Lakes), Days Fork
Time: 8-9hrs

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Sadly, fall is my busiest time of year for trips so it's hard to make anything happen. That said, I might be able to swing it next year since I'm planning to be in BC and Montana in early to mid September, so maybe on the way back through.

To get WA on this list, I recommend the original NW Epic Series Suntop 50 route.
Suntop 50
Location: Greenwater WA
Distance: ~53 miles
Elevation: ~9-10k vert
Suffer score 8-9?
Notes: The campground is a great base camp for the area's riding, this route includes two of the three big climbs and a couple of the best descents (like Palisades). Incredible views of Rainier. Lots of other great trails in the area. A fire affected some trails a few years back but I think it's mostly intact (I'm sure others here can provide more recent updates). I raced it on a ss hardtail, finished in 7 hrs, but I suck at descending.

I can't remember details but Indiana big ride in sun valley. Osberg but then went out somewhere else...
Lots of big rides back there

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Originally Posted by Marshal Olson

@smmkoan - you are blowing it by still not coming out to do the Tour de Big aka BURLOS (Bigs Ultimate Ride - Link Of Shred) with me. Fourth annual is mid September next year.

Truncated BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 30mi
Elevation Gain: 8500'
Suffer Score: 7
Notes: Beartrap (via Mill D), Brighton, Honeycomb to Greens Basin, Days Fork (out and back)
Time: 6-7hrs

Full BURLOS
Location: Spruces Compground/Big Conttonwood, UT
Distance: 40mi
Elevation Gain: 11,000'
Suffer Score: 9
Notes: Beartrap, Brighton, Honeycomb to Solitude, Silver Fork (via Raptor/Twin Lakes), Days Fork
Time: 8-9hrs

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Yo, my man!

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Originally Posted by smmokan

Sadly, fall is my busiest time of year for trips so it's hard to make anything happen. That said, I might be able to swing it next year since I'm planning to be in BC and Montana in early to mid September, so maybe on the way back through.

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LMK! I can plan the dates around your travel if needed :)

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Originally Posted by Full Trucker

Yo, my man!

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U come ride too. It’s just like the skiing. But with bikes on dirt

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Originally Posted by Marshal Olson

@smmkoan - you are blowing it by still not coming out to do the Tour de Big aka BURLOS (Bigs Ultimate Ride - Link Of Shred) with me. Fourth annual is mid September next year.

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If you need a recovery ride after getting crushed on this beatdown, I recently did a shortened version of what I call the Whole Enchilgnarda.
Location: Mirror Lake Highway, Uintas Range, UT
Distance: 26 miles
Elevation Gain: 3k (6k elevation loss)
Suffer Score: 7-8 (anticipated)
Route: Bald Mtn TH > Notch lake > Ibantik lake (going around Notch Mtn) > up the Notch > Clyde lake > Crystal lake > Long lake > Duck lake > Island lake > Big Elk lake > Erickson lakes > Shingle Creek DH

All the elevation gain is above 10k for good measure. There are 2 mandatory HAB sections but the bulk of the positive vert is rideable if you have the legs and the skills. Incredibly scenic ride, alpine lakes everywhere and in between tech on top of tech and miles of gorgeous chunder. Uintas miles are about 2x as hard as mesa miles, and mesa miles are probably 2-3x harder than regular miles which makes the stats hilariously deceiving.
The shortened loop was 16 miles and only 2k of climbing for a suffer score of 5ish. I could see getting it done in 3 hours by really getting after it but the likelihood of blowing something up on the bike or exploding in a massive rock garden is very high.

This was pretty cool: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...-City-to-Provo

Park City to Provo Traverse
Location: Wasatch
Distance: 49 miles
Elevation: >10k
Suffer Score: 8
Notes: Shuttle is long but not too terrible for a point-to-point of this magnitude. Very remote at times, but lot's of opportunities to bail out (for better or worse). Minimal maintenance on the GWT sections around the west side of Timp and the descent from Baldy Pass down to Provo Canyon. Per Trailforks reports the locals seem to do some clearing and pruning every few years, but hateful overgrowth and deadfall is a definite possibility. Exiting via Grove Creek would be a good alternate final descent and save 1,500 vert. Can shorten by starting at Alta or Brighton and not miss any good ST descending. Going all the way from PC is kind of a "Because it is there" thing.