COURSE INFO
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.
FATMAP is Breck Epic’s Official Mapping Partner. A full guide with downloadable GPX tracks of all 2022 courses can be found here.
COURSE INFO
The 2023 courses are VERY similar to 2018-19. Minus 2018’s rain-shortened Stage 1, of course. In general, we’ve added a bit of new trail and terrain each year. Click the link below to access GPX files, lo-res maps, high-res maps, some big-ass maps and written course descriptions.
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 those 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 who passed out next to a bowl of Sharpies.
2023 STAGE ORDER AND GPS TRACKS (Date/Stage/Start/Finish/APPROX distance/elevation).
- Aug 13: Stage 1 – Pennsylvania Creek (Ice Rink/Carter Park) – 35.7 miles/57.5km, 5700’/1737m
- Photo day, all riders (at race finish)
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- PENNSYLVANIA CREEK VIDEO
- LARGE 2D MAP
- FULL COURSE DESCRIPTION BELOW
- Aug 14: Stage 2 – Colorado Trail (Lower Washington/B&B Lot) – 42.5 miles/68.77km(!), 6565’/2001m
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- COLORADO TRAIL VIDEO
- LARGE 2D MAP
- FULL COURSE DESCRIPTION BELOW
- Aug 15: Stage 3 – Guyot (Lower Washington/B&B Lot) – 40.5 miles/65km, 7100’/2164m
- Onesie Wednesday! Dress to impress!
- Skittles hand-up at the top of French Pass
- 3-day rider banquet – 6pm, Beaver Run Resort
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- MT GUYOT VIDEO
- LARGE 2D MAP
- Aid 1 – 9.3 miles, Aid 2 – 15.7 miles, Aid 3 – 26.3 miles
- Aug 16: Stage 4 – Aqueduct (Lower Washington/B&B Lot) – 42.3 miles/68km, 6473’/1972m
- 3-day rider photo day (stage 4-6 riders, at race finish), makeup photos for 6-day riders
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- AQUEDUCT VIDEO
- LARGE 2D MAP
- Aid 1 – 11 miles, Aid 2 – 22.3 miles, Aid 3 – 33.9 miles
- Aug 17: Stage 5 – Wheeler (Beaver Run Parking Lot/Peaks TH) – 24.6 miles/39.7km, 5227’/1593m
- 8:30am START! 10-rider TT waves. Start times posted on website Wednesday night.
- Bacon hand-up – courtesy Downstairs at Eric’s
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- WHEELER VIDEO
- LARGE 2D MAP
- Aid 1 – 4 miles, Aid 2 – 17.5 miles
- Aug 18: Stage 6 – Gold Dust (Ice Rink/Ice Rink) 30.2 miles/48.6km, 3740’/1139m
- PBR hand-up on the return leg
- FINISHER / BMF photo backdrop in place – get a pic!
- FATMAP COURSE LINK
- GOLD DUST
- LARGE 2D MAP
- Aid 1 – 10.2 miles, Aid 2 23 miles
Stage 7 is also on Friday. Bring your drinkin’ hat, your dancin’ shoes, some personal sanitizer and your stunt liver.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
Wanna get away?
The race uses a modest amount of the local network each day and is done by 2pm. Lotsa folks out there just want to get their ride or hike in without encountering all of our circus animals. Here are a few alternative routes for those who wish to avoid the race:
Aug 13, 2023: Stage 1 – Pennsylvania Creek (Ice Rink/Carter Park)
Suggested alternative routes: Wheeler, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Colorado Trail, Flume Trails, Blue River Trail (after 10am), Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Burro Trail, Spruce Creek, B&B, Turks, Gold Dust
Aug 14, 2023: Stage 2 – Colorado Trail (Lower Washington/B&B Lot)
Suggested alternative routes: Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wheeler, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Blue River Trail, Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Burro Trail, Spruce Creek, Gold Dust, Baker’s Tank, Little French, Georgia Pass, French Pass
Aug 15, 2023: Stage 3 – Guyot (Lower Washington/B&B Lot)
Suggested alternative routes: Colorado Trail, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wheeler, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Blue River Trail, Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Burro Trail, Spruce Creek, Flume Trails, Gold Dust, Baker’s Tank
Aug 16, 2023: Stage 4 – Aqueduct (Lower Washington/B&B Lot)
Suggested alternative routes: Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wheeler, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Blue River Trail, Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Burro Trail, Spruce Creek, Flume Trails, Little French, Georgia Pass, French Pass
Aug 17, 2023: Stage 5 – Wheeler (Beaver Run Parking Lot/Peaks TH)
Suggested alternative routes: Colorado Trail, Indiana, Pennsylvania, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Blue River Trail, Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Spruce Creek, Flume Trails, Little French, Georgia Pass, French Pass, Gold Dust
Aug 18, 2023: Stage 6 – Gold Dust (Ice Rink/Ice Rink)
Suggested alternative routes: Colorado Trail, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wheeler, McCullough Gulch, Peaks Trail, Keystone, Copper, Breck Ski Area, Burro Trail, Spruce Creek, Flume Trails, Little French, Georgia Pass, French Pass
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Course Descriptions
- Sunday, August 13, Course #1: Pennsylvania Creek
- Monday, August 14, Course #2: The Colorado Trail
- Tuesday, August 15, Course #3: The Guyot Loop
- Wednesday, August 16, Course #4: The Keystone Loop
- Thursday, August 17, Course #5: The Wheeler Loop
- Friday, August 18, Course #6: The Gold Dust Loop
- COURSE ORDER IS SUBJECT TO USFS, ToB and Summit County INPUT – we can change to accommodate suggestions/needs.
STAGE 1: Pennsylvania Creek
Start: Ice Rink
Finish: Carter Park
36.2m/58.3km – 5859’/1786m
- Start at Steven C West Ice Arena
- Boreas Pass Rd to Illinois Gulch Rd
- Illinois Gulch Rd to Boreas Pass Rd
- Boreas Pass Rd to Aspen Alley Tr
- Aspen Alley Tr to Blue River Tr
- Blue River Tr to Royal Bypass
- Royal Bypass to Penn Creek Rd
- Penn Creek Rd to Grind (no name on map)
- Grind to Indiana Creek Rd
- Indiana Cr Rd to Boreas Pass Rd
- Boreas Pass Rd to Bakers Tank Tr (Aid #1, 13.7mi)
- Bakers Tank Tr to Mtn Pride Tr
- Mtn Pride Tr to Pinball Alley
- Pinball Alley to True Romance
- True Romance to Nightmare on Baldy
- Nightmare on Baldy to Sallie Barber Rd
- Sallie Barber Rd to French Gulch Rd
- French Gulch Rd to Humbug Hill Road
- Humbug Hill Road to Wirepatch Trail
- Wirepatch Trail to French Gulch Road
- French Gulch Rd to Little French Trail (climb)
- Little French Trail to Lincoln Park Rd (GH 66)
- Lincoln Park Rd to Forest Queen Rd (GH79)
- Forest Queen Road to Yellow Brick Road.
- Right on Yellow Brick Road to Lincoln Park Road (AID 2 – 24.3mi)
- Right on Lincoln Park Road, left on road skirting meadow to north (old Firecracker course) Left on Spruce Rd (GH72) Left on Golden Rule Trail (GH71) Right on Fuller Trail (GH44)
- Stay on Fuller Trail until Left on Sawmill (GH22) Immediate Left on Draw (GH24)
- Left on Extension Mill Road to CR 484
- Right on CR 484 to Chantilly Trail
- Chantilly Trail to Gold Run Rd
- Gold Run Rd to French Gulch Rd
- French Gulch to B&B Trailhead and then V3 Trail (small water station here)
- V3 Trail to Barney Ford, Barney Flow, Carter Park
- Finish at Carter Park – 36.2miles, 58.3km
- PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT START AND FINISH
STAGE 2: Colorado Trail
Start: Lower Washington
Finish: B&B TH Parking Lot (across street)
41.34mi / 66.5km – 6679’ / 2036m
- French Gulch Rd to Gold Run Gulch Rd (START is mile ZERO)
- Gold Run Gulch Rd to Fall Classic Trail
- Fall Classic Trail to Extension Mill Rd (GH 25) to Draw (GH 24)
- Draw to Sawmill/Heinous Hill (GH 22)
- Heinous to Summit Gulch Road
- Summit Gulch Road to Bookcase Trail
- Bookcase Trail to ZL Trail (eastbound)
- ZL Trail to Summit Gulch Road
- Summit Gulch Road to Galena Ditch Trail
- Galena Ditch Trail to Rock Island Trail (GH 87)
- Rock Island Trail (GH 87) to Parkville Rd (GH 83)
(Aid #1 at Good Times – 13.2miles / 21.25km) - Parkville Rd (GH 83) to Middle Fork of Swan Rd (GH 86)
- Middle Fork of Swan Rd (GH 86) to Colorado Trail (1776)
- Colorado Trail to Red Trail (9125)
- Red Trail (9125) to Keystone Ranch Road
- Keystone Ranch Road to Hay Trail
- Hay Trail to Blair Witch (9129)
- Blair Witch (9129) to Colorado Trail (1776)
- Colorado Trail (1776) to CT Dredge
- Aid #2 at Dredge Lot – 30.5miles / 49km
- CT Dredge to Tiger Road
- Tiger Road to Summit Gulch Road
- Summit Gulch Road to left on ZL Trail
- Galena Gulch Road to right on ZL Trail (westbound)
- ZL Trail to Gold Run Road
- Gold Run Road to Little Corporal Trail to Upper Slalom
- Upper Slalom to Gold Run Rd
- Gold Run Road to Western Sky Trail (enter at Fall Classic Trail)
- Western Sky Trail to CR 484
- CR 484 to Prospect Hill Rd (GH 26)
- Prospect Hill Road (GH 26) (behind Matt Casey’s) to Sidedoor Trail
- Sidedoor Trail to Minnie Mine Trail
- Minnie Mine Trail to lower X10U8 Trail
- X10U8 to Minnie Mine
- Minnie Mine to French Gulch Rd (finish)
- FINISH at B&B Trailhead
41.34mi / 66.5km – 6679’ / 2036m
STAGE 3: Mt. Guyot
Start: Lower Washington
Finish: B&B Trailhead
39mi/62.8km – 6866’/2093m
- Begin in Lower Washington (MILE ZERO)
- Police escort to French Gulch Rd
- French Gulch Rd to Reiling Dredge Trailhead
- Reiling Dredge Trailhead to Minnie Mine Trail
- Minnie Mine Trail to Back Door Trail
- Back Door Trail to Prospect Hill Rd (GH 26)
- Prospect Hill Rd (GH 26) to Lincoln Park Rd (GH 66)
- Lincoln Park Rd (GH 66) to Little French Flume
- Little French Flume to French Gulch Rd (Aid #1 – 9.22 miles / 15km)
- French Gulch Rd to French Gulch Trail (South Park RD)
- French Gulch Trail to Michigan Creek Rd (Aid #2 – 15.7 miles / 25.3km)
- Michigan Creek Rd to Glacier Ridge Rd (Dillon RD)
- Glacier Ridge Rd to Colorado Trail (1776)
- Colorado Trail to Middle Fork Rd (GH 86)
- Middle Fork Rd (GH 86) Parkville Rd (GH 83)
- Parkville Rd (GH 83) to American Gulch Road (GH 93) (Aid #3 – 25.4 miles / 41km)
- South Fork Swan Rd (GH 89) to Great Flume Trail
- Great Flume Trail to American Gulch Road (GH 93) to Lincoln Park Rd (GH 66)
- Lincoln Park Rd (GH 66) to Prospect Hill Rd (GH 26)
- Prospect Hill Rd (GH 26) to Side Door Trail
- Side Door to Minnie Mine Trail
- Minnie Mine Trail to B&B Trail
- B&B Trail to Turk’s Trail
- Turk’s Trail to B&B Trail
- B&B Trail to French Gulch Rd
- Finish at B&B Trailhead
- PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT START, PORT-O-LET AT FINISH
STAGE 4: AQUEDUCT
Start: Lower Washington
Finish: B&B Lot
41mi/67km – 6830’/2082m
- Start Lower Washington
- Head out French Gulch Rd
- French Gulch Rd to Gold Run Rd
- Gold Run Rd to Prospect Trail
- Prospect Trail to Prospect Hill Road (GH 38)
- Prospect Hill Road to Extension Mill Road (GH 25)
- Extension Mill Road to Fall Classic Tr (westbound)
- Fall Classic Tr to Slalom
- Slalom to Upper Flume
- Upper Flume to Gold Run Gulch Road.
- Gold Run Road to Traylor Way
- Traylor Way to ZL Trail
- ZL Trail to Summit Gulch Road
- Summit Gulch Rd to Tiger Rd
- Tiger Rd to Dredge TH and CT (Aid 1 – 10.5mi/16.9km)
- Dredge to CT (1776) to Tiger Run Trailer Park
- Tiger Run to Campion Trail/Vomit Hill (9021)
- Campion Trail/Vomit Hill (9021) to Horseshoe Gulch Trail (9131)
- Horseshoe Gulch Trail (9131) to Aqueduct trail (9089)
- Aqueduct trail (9089) to Keystone Gulch Rd
- Aid #1 at Keystone Gulch TH (Aid 2 – 21.8 miles / 35km)
- Keystone Gulch Road to West Ridge Trail
- West Ridge Trail to Colorado Trail (1776)
- Colorado Trail (1776) to North Fork of Swan Rd
- North Fork of Swan to Tiger Road (GH 86)
- Tiger Road (GH 86) to Parkville Road (GH 83) (Aid 3 – 33.2/54km miles)
- Parkville Road (GH 83) to Rock Island Trail (GH 83)
- Rock Island Trail (GH 83) to Rock Island Road (GH 87)
- Rock Island Rd (GH 87) to Lincoln Park Road (GH 66)
- Lincoln Park Road (GH 66) to Rich Gulch Road (GH 62)
- Rich Gulch Road to Mineral Hill Trail
- Mineral Hill Trail to left on Minnie Mine Trail
- Minnie Mine to French Gulch Rd
- Cross French Gulch Rd to B&B trail
- B&B trail to finish
41mi/67km – 6830’/2082m
STAGE 5: Wheeler
DATE: Thurs, Aug 18
Start: Beaver Run parking lot
Finish: Peak 7, Breck Ski Resort
- Start at Beaver Run Parking lot to Burro
- Burro trail (80) to Spruce Creek Rd
- Spruce Creek Rd to Aqueduct Road
- Aid #1 at 4 miles / 6.4km
- Aqueduct Rd to Crystal Lakes Rd (44)
- Crystal lakes Rd (44) to Wheeler Trail (39)
- Wheeler Trail over Wheeler Pass
- Descend Wheeler to Colorado Trail
- Colorado trail (1776) Miner’s Creek Road
- Descend Miner’s Creek Road to north end of Peaks (Aid 2 17.2mi / 27.7)
- Peaks Trail to Peaks Connect
- Finish @ Breck Ski Resort
Finish Line/Recovery Station at Beaver Run (race start)
24 miles / 38.6km
5544’ / 1690m
STAGE 6: Gold Dust
Date: Friday, Aug 19
Start: Ice Rink
Finish: Ice Rink
29.24miles / 47km, 3956’ / 12-5m
- Time Trial start option according to GC time
- Ice Rink Trails to Blue River Trail
- Blue River Trail to Aspen Alley
- Aspen Alley Trail to Boreas Pass Rd
- Boreas Pass Road to Baker’s Tank Trail
- Baker’s Tank Trail to Valdero Trail to CR 531
- CR 531 to CR 532
- CR 532 to Iowa Mill Road (Laurium Mine access)
- Iowa Mill Road to Mountain Pride Trail
- Mountain Pride Trail to Baker’s Tank Trail (40)
- Bakers Tank Trail (40) to Boreas Pass Rd
- Boreas Pass Rd to Gold Dust Trail (South Park RD)
- Aid #1 at Boreas Pass summit – 9.8 miles / 15.8km
- Gold Dust Trail to Park CR 50
- Park CR 50 to North Tarryall Creek Rd
- Tarryall Creek Rd to Selkirk Campground Rd
- Selkirk Campground Rd to Boreas Pass Rd
- Aid #2 at Boreas Pass summit – 22.25mi / 35.8 miles
- Boreas Pass Rd to Indiana Creek Rd
- Indiana Creek Rd to Blue River Trail
- Blue River Trail to Illinois creek Trail
- Illinois creek Trail to ice rink
FINISH AT ICE RINK