COURSE INFO 2023

AUGUST 13-18, 2023

THE EPIC is a 6-day mountain bike race held in and around the backcountry surrounding Breckenridge, CO. Each stage begins and ends in town, allowing racers to stay in one place for the entire event.

In general, the race is 220-240 miles long and ‘features’ roughly 40,000′ feet of vertical gain (and loss!) Courses get tweaked from year to year as new trails get built, decommissioned or authorized.

The 2023 courses are VERY similar to 2022. In general, we’ve added a bit of new trail and terrain each year. Some changes you’ll see in 2023? Check out the changes section for each stage.

Trailforks is Breck Epic’s Official Mapping Partner. A full guide with downloadable GPX tracks of all 2023 courses can be found here.

Please remember throughout the week to respect ALL private property.

Clear expectations help get out in front of anxiety, so file what we’re about to say under that heading; this race takes place on our public lands, the face of which is ever-changing. Some of these changes happen on the fly at the request of our permitting partners. Others happen simply to keep you safe and mitigate risk.

Will the courses be EXACTLY as conveyed in the GPX files? Well, mostly. What we CAN guarantee is that they’ll be well within a very narrow margin of error each day and that they’ll be marked up like a frat boy passed out next to a bowl of Sharpies.

STAGE 1: PENNSYLVANIA CREEK

August 13, 2023, 8:30am
35.7 miles/57.5km, 5700’/1737m
Start: Ice Rink, Finish: Carter Park
Photo day, all riders (at race finish)
PENNSYLVANIA CREEK VIDEO
Aid 1 – 14.2 mi, Aid 2 – 20.7mi, water – 31mi
CHANGES FOR 2023: none

Breck Epic Stage 1: Pennsylvania Creek on Trailforks.com

STAGE 2: THE COLORADO TRAIL

August 14, 2023, 8:30am
42.5 miles/68.77km(!), 6565’/2001m
Start: Lower Washington, Finish: B&B Trailhead
COLORADO TRAIL VIDEO
Aid 1 – 13.5mi, Aid 2 – 31.3mi
CHANGES FOR 2023
On the return leg, just after Aid 2 at the Tiger Dredge, riders will turn LEFT on Tiger Road and ascent Galena Ditch Trail instead of turning right on Tiger road (then left) on Summit Gulch Road. This distance and difficulty are about the same, but the Galena Ditch option eliminate a long and sun-baked section of chunky gravel.

Breck Epic Stage 2: The Colorado Trail on Trailforks.com

STAGE 3 – THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF MT. GUYOT

August 15, 2023. 8:30am
40.5 miles/65km, 7100’/2164m
Start: Lower Washington, Finish: B&B Trailhead
Onesie Wednesday! Dress to impress!
Skittles hand-up at the top of French Pass
Riders will cross the Continental Divide TWICE today.
3-day rider banquet – 6pm, Mi Casa Margarita/Fajita party!
MT GUYOT VIDEO
Aid 1 – 9.8mi (new location), Aid 2 – 15.8mi , Aid 3 – 28.3mi
CHANGES FOR 2023
Stage 3’s AID 1 location has moved. It is no longer at the base of Little French and is now about a third of a mile further along the course in a pullout with much better access.

Breck Epic Stage 3: Circumnavigation of Mt. Guyot on Trailforks.com

STAGE 4 – AQUEDUCT

August 16, 2023, 8:30am
42.3 miles/68km, 6473’/1972m
Start: Lower Washington, Finish: B&B Trailhead
3-day rider photo day (stage 4-6 riders, at race finish), makeup photos for 6-day riders
AQUEDUCT VIDEO
Aid 1 – 11 miles, Aid 2 – 22.3 miles, Aid 3 – 33.9 miles
CHANGES FOR 2023:
We’re eliminating most of the fast chunky Summit Gulch Road downhill on the Aqueduct stage (right before Tiger Dredge and Aid 1). We’re replacing it with that flowy section of the Galena Ditch Trail singletrack instead.
We’re taking out the upper section of Rich Gulch and the lower section of Mineral Hill Trail just prior to the finish. This is that boney and exposed “dinner plate” section that leads to lower Minnie Mine and the crossing of French Gulch Road. We’re replacing it with a new (upper) section of Mineral Hill Trail that leads to Side Door and then Minnie Mine before hitting French Gulch Road. This duplicates about a mile of the previous day’s finishing section….but it’s a really fun mile, That lower section we’re replacing is really tough after two hard days and overall, we think this is a significant qualitative improvement.

Breck Epic Stage 4: Aqueduct/Keystone Gulch on Trailforks.com

STAGE 5 – WHEELER

August 17, 2023
24.6 miles/39.7km, 5227’/1593m
Start: Beaver Run Parking Lot, Finish: Peaks TH
NOTE: Recovery station is AT START. There will be a small water station at finish (space is tight).
10-rider TT waves. Start times posted on website Wednesday night.
Bacon hand-up – courtesy Downstairs at Eric’s
WHEELER VIDEO
Aid 1 – 4 miles, Aid 2 – 17.5 miles
CHANGES FOR 2023 – none

Breck Epic Stage 5: Wheeler on Trailforks.com

STAGE 6 – THE GOLD DUST TRAIL

August 18, 2023, 8:30am
30.2 miles/48.6km, 3740’/1139m
PBR hand-up on the return leg
FINISHER / BMF photo backdrop in place – get a pic!
GOLD DUST VIDEO
Aid 1 – 10.2 miles, Aid 2 23 miles
CHANGES FOR 2023
After exiting the Gold Dust Trail at the far eastern end of the course, riders will continue down CR 50 past the turn on CR 801 (Tarryall Creek Road/Selkirk Campground). You’ll then turn LEFT on CR 33 (Boreas Pass Road) where you’ll begin your climb back to the Section House/Continental Divide/Aid 2).
We have been generously granted permission from the Al Qatami family to pass through their property for the start and finish of Stage 6. This is incredibly generous of them and we’re very grateful.

Breck Epic Stage 6: The Gold Dust Trail on Trailforks.com

STAGE 7

Stage 7 is also on Friday. 8pm-midnight (or so). It’s in Coppertop III, the bar down the hallway from the room where we hold the big banquet. Bring your drinkin’ hat, your dancin’ shoes, some personal sanitizer and your stunt liver.

CATEGORIES & PRICING

COURSE INFO 2023

STAGE 1: PENNSYLVANIA CREEK

STAGE 2: THE COLORADO TRAIL

STAGE 3 – THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF MT. GUYOT

STAGE 4 – AQUEDUCT

STAGE 5 – WHEELER

STAGE 6 – THE GOLD DUST TRAIL

STAGE 7

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

COURSE INFO 2023

STAGE 1: PENNSYLVANIA CREEK

STAGE 2: THE COLORADO TRAIL

STAGE 3 – THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF MT. GUYOT

STAGE 4 – AQUEDUCT

STAGE 5 – WHEELER

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STAGE 7

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

STAGE 6 – THE GOLD DUST TRAIL