One of the most incredible rides from the top of the gondola is anchored by Magic Meadow. There are a couple of different ways to get there. The route shown here is the more difficult of the two options, climbing the new Wapiti Trail to reach spectacular views from the upper reaches of Telluride Ski Resort before ripping down Meridian.

Wapiti is a brand-new (as of 2023) climbing trail that bypasses an old, steep road climb up the ridge. This new track guarantees a more approachable climb. After enjoying spectacular views at the top, Meridian is a rugged, classic singletrack descent with a couple of punch-to-the-gut climbs mixed in.

Shortly after finishing Meridian, you'll pick up the Magic Meadow trail. After a few sweeping turns and some pedaling through the woods, you'll pop out into the magical meadows from whence this trail gets its name. The views are unbelievable, with one of the San Juans' rocky mountain ridges towering high above. It's hard to keep your eyes on the trail for a few minutes, but soon it's back to the trees.

Magic Meadow is a true intermediate singletrack gem. This winding, rolling trail is all machine-built flowy goodness, with endless rollers and undulations, beautiful berms in almost every corner, and many miles of perfectly sculpted singletrack. It's pretty rare to find machine-built trail this good this far out in the backcountry.

Lower down, Magic Meadow descends rapidly through a majestic aspen grove, whose trees turn a gorgeous golden in the fall. Even in mid-summer, the beauty of the aspens is impossible to beat! The dirt is generally spectacular through this section, leaving riders raving about the traction.

After crossing the highway, the stunning aspen grove continues as you descend the classic Sunshine Trail. This trail has been an official part of the trail network for many years, and as such, retains a slightly steeper, more raw character than the trails that precede it. It's another absolute gem of a trail with a wicked-fun descent!

After Sunshine, you'll pop out onto the dirt road for a few mellow miles of gravel descending before picking up Galloping Goose on the right. A gradual but sustained climb ensues, but it will take you back up and over to the Valley Trail and a gorgeous finish to the ride as you roll back into Telluride.

Note: In order to access the cross country trails off the top of the Telluride Gondola during bike park hours (9am-5pm), you'll need to purchase a cross country season pass (which costs $75), a bike park day ticket (which costs $62), or a bike park season pass (which costs $395). (All prices are current as of the 2023 season.) The bike park day ticket and season pass also include the downhill trails, whereas the cross country pass does not. Alternatively, you can either begin your ride before 9am or after 5pm to avoid this fee on the cross country trails.