Every Vail Pass shuttle starts the same way: you meet us at the shop, we load you and a bike into the van, and we drive up to the summit at 10,600 feet. What differs is where you stop. Trip 1 ends in Frisco, Trip 2 carries on along Lake Dillon, and Trip 3 climbs back up the Snake River to our front door.
People almost always ask which one is best. The honest answer is that they are the same ride with different amounts of it, so the question is really about time and legs rather than scenery.
Trip 1 — twelve miles, mostly coasting
About seventy minutes of actual riding, three hours with stops. From the summit the path drops through Ten Mile Canyon past mountain lakes and an old mine, with a stop at Copper Mountain if you want the scenic chairlift or lunch. This is the family trip and the one to pick if what you actually want is the view and a coffee.
Trip 2 — eighteen miles, coasting and cruising
Trip 1 plus roughly seven flat miles along the shore of Lake Dillon into Dillon itself. Two hours fifteen of riding, four hours with stops. There is a telescope pointed at an osprey nest and the Continental Divide, and the Tiki Bar at the marina is a legitimate reason to take your time. Right for anyone who rides a bike occasionally at home.
Trip 3 — twenty-four miles, the whole county
Trips 1 and 2 plus six miles of low-grade climbing along the east shore of the lake and up through the woods beside the Snake River. Three and a half hours of riding, five with stops. It is the only version that involves real work, and it is our favourite section of path in Summit County. It also ends at the shop, which means no pickup to coordinate.
If you are debating between two trips, take the shorter one and an e-bike. Nobody has ever regretted having legs left at the end.
The things that actually decide it
- Your return timeWe close at 5pm in summer, so the last pickup window is firm. An 11am departure on Trip 3 is tight — take the 9am.
- Altitude, not fitnessThe summit is at 10,600 feet. Strong riders from sea level routinely find Trip 3 harder than they expect, and it is the climbing at the end that does it.
- WeatherJuly and August bring near-daily afternoon thunderstorms. That is exactly why both departures are in the morning — and a reason to prefer the shorter trip if the forecast looks unsettled.
- Who is with youTrailers and tag-alongs fit any adult rental in our fleet, but a loaded trailer turns Trip 3 into a serious afternoon. With small children, Trip 1.
What to bring
A light rain jacket and layers, a backpack, water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, phone and wallet. Water, sunglasses and sunscreen are not optional even on a cloudy day at that elevation. Locks are available on request if you plan to stop, and if you are bringing your own bike you will need a helmet and a five-dollar safety inspection before we load it.
Arrive forty-five minutes before your departure. That is not padding — you will test-ride a bike, get sized for a helmet, and walk the map and pickup points with us properly before anyone gets in the van.
