The free lift-accessed vert thanks to the gondola that runs from Telluride, over the top of the ridge, and down to Mountain Village, is truly free. The Telluride gondola is possibly the only absolutely free lift in the United States that anyone can ride without a lift ticket.

After taking the gondola to the top of the ridge, the Prospect Trail peels away from the main resort on flowy, machine-cut singletrack goodness. Despite the ride to the top, this trail will still require you to work with short, steep climbs.

Those climbs pay off with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains as the singletrack crosses the ski runs. Telluride is one of the most visually-stunning mountain towns in the United States, so bring your camera for a few snaps!

Where the trail drops back into the trees, the swoop and flow of the machine-built singletrack will have you hooting and hollering as you rip along the side of the mountain.

Eventually the singletrack turns down, and you get to enjoy the free lift-accessed vert on a ripping, high-speed descent. This section of trail feels older and less refined than the machine-built singletrack up high. Chunky rocks will punish your suspension and could challenge the skills of intermediate riders. For those uncomfortable with the chunk, simply slowing down and negotiating this portion of trail more slowly will make the ride more attainable. While this section is rough, there aren’t any massive features or rock obstacles.

Once back down to the lift, judge how you’re feeling, and if you need more pedaling, just head back up for another lap!

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.