Aspen Alley is one of the most popular multi-use trails in all of Breckenridge, Colorado. The nearly 1.5-mile trail gets its name from the incredible aspen grove it passes through. Hikers, runners, and mountain bikers all share the trail, with conflict constantly growing between the user groups, especially in the fall, when changing leaves draw the largest crowds.
Breckenridge hopes to address the crowding and conflict by designating Aspen Alley as a DH-only mountain bike trail. In addition to the redesignation, the city will add trails to address trail conflicts and improve connections to expanding neighborhoods.
Conflict on Aspen Alley
“We’ve certainly fielded reports of near misses,” Duke Barlow told Singletracks. “As the name would imply, the trail crosses through a large aspen grove, and it gets really popular, so when use really spikes, it’s just difficult for bikers and hikers to be on the same trail because it’s so congested.”
Barlow is the Open Space and Trails Manager for Breckenridge. Breckenridge Open Space works closely with Summit County Open Space and the White River National Forest. They steward roughly 70 miles of trails, partnering with the other agencies on quite a few of them.
Locals and visitors use Aspen Alley quite frequently, and trail conflict persists even outside of the popular fall color season. Despite the trail not being as busy, there is almost no time of year when people don’t access Aspen Alley. Because the colors may not yet be changing, mountain bikers may think the trail is less busy, and it is a good time to let it rip.
The reality is that Aspen Alley has gotten to the point where there is basically never a good time to “let ‘er rip.”
Often, in a story like this, we would report that a town has decided to build a new trail for mountain bikers. But this isn’t the case in Breckenridge; well, for downhill riders, that is. Breckenridge recognized that Aspen Alley was a fun and beloved trail for local and visiting mountain bikers, especially when the wheels are pointed downhill. Rather than building a new trail for mountain bikes, Breckenridge is proposing a new trail, purposely built for hikers and runners.
Introducing the proposed Aspen Alley trail, take two.
A “new” Aspen Alley
Breckenridge proposed a new trail essentially parallel to the current Aspen Alley trail. The proposal is currently with the White River National Forest as it goes through the NEPA process. But fingers are crossed for a speedy approval.
The new trail, which doesn’t officially have a name, will be open to hikers and runners. While it will also allow mountain bikers traveling uphill, it will primarily cater to the two former groups, designed with them in mind.
“The plan is to make the tread width three feet wide,” Barlow told us. “So a little bit wider than our standard 18 to 24 inches. That way, uphill bikers could pass hikers or runners, or hikers could pass each other.”
The new trail will also be built with consistently lower grades than the current Aspen Alley. Not only will this be better for hikers and runners climbing and descending, but it will also be a bit easier for mountain bikers climbing.
Aside from the steady grade, Barlow also mentioned that the new trail passes through perhaps an even better section of the aspen grove. Now, “better” is obviously subjective, but he feels that those who are there for the changing colors won’t be disappointed with the new trail. The proposed new trail is situated further south, providing great views of the valley that you miss on the existing Aspen Alley trail.
In Barlow’s opinion, the new trail has better views. It also crosses a “particularly lush hillside” that is rarer in the area. Regardless, the proposed trail isn’t far from the current Aspen Alley, with certain pinch points less than 30 feet away. But, Barlow said, you likely won’t see the other trail with the vegetation being as dense as it is.
The “old” Aspen Alley
With hikers, runners, and uphill bikers jumping on the new trail, the original Aspen Alley will switch designations. The once popular multi-use, multi-directional trail will now be for mountain bikes only.
Along with the use designation, Aspen Alley will also become a descending-only trail.
The current Aspen Alley trail is nearly 1.5 miles long, intermediate, and descends around 550 feet. Like many trails in the Breckenridge area, it was originally a mining trail that followed the fall line. Over a decade ago, it became a bit more mountain bike flow-friendly. While no “features” were added, turns and berms were, adding to the Alley’s overall higher speeds.
Though the trail will remain the same for mountain bikers, Breckenridge is considering future changes, such as incorporating other features commonly found on intermediate DH flow trails.
Additional features on Aspen Alley were certainly mentioned as a “maybe,” but mentioned nonetheless. If all goes as planned, Breckenridge Open Space, in partnership with Summit County Open Space and White River National Forest, hopes to finish the “new” Aspen Alley trail before the fall leaf season.
More trails in Breck
A new Aspen Alley isn’t the only new trail Breckenridge proposed. Another trail, unofficially dubbed the “North Barton” trail, is also proposed. While Barlow said they might be able to start this trail this coming fall, he doesn’t anticipate its completion until 2027.
Unlike the new Aspen Alley proposal, the North Barton trail isn’t intended to reduce trail conflict. Rather, the proposed trail will help Breckenridge keep its goal of having residents within walking/riding distance of a main trail or trail system. Barlow mentioned that a Breckenridge town council mantra is “more boots and bikes, fewer cars.”
As Breckenridge continues to grow, an area on the northwest side of town expects 800 new residential units. Since this is a new housing development, there currently isn’t great trail access in the area. The plan is to bridge this new area to a popular Breckenridge trail with a nearly one-mile connector trail. Currently, it is called “North Barton,” though Barlow said there isn’t an official name yet.
“This trail–the ‘to-be-named’ trail–would connect to an existing trail that is lightly used called the Barton Trail, which then connects to the Peaks Trail,” he explained.
Since the project focuses on access to a new residential area in town, Breckenridge Open Space is only working with White River National Forest on the connector. Being a connector trail, it will be multi-use and beginner-friendly, with a climb of less than 200 feet.
Breckenridge hopes to start the connector trail this fall, but notes there is a chance it is pushed to 2027. Like the new Aspen Alley trail, this trail is also on USFS land, and the city awaits its approval. If everything is approved, Higher Ground Earthworks will take on building the trails.
Barlow was a bit tight-lipped regarding the cost of the two new trails. However, he did mention that the city does have the funding and approval, and that the Aspen Alley project will be split with Summit County Open Space. As with all Breckenridge Open Space projects, funding comes from a percentage of the sales tax.
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