Don’t miss this beautiful summer ride, complete with descents through aspen glades, rocky plunges and unique views of the Vail Valley. From the trailhead, the dirt road toward Piney Lake can be a dusty grind that you’ll share with car traffic. After a couple miles on the road (FS 700), you’ll reach an intersection.
Going straight leads to Piney Lake, while you’ll want to take the right turn toward Lost Lake. A few hundred feet after the turn, keep your eyes open for the Son of Middle Creek trail to your right. Once on the singletrack, enjoy short technical sections, rollers through pine forests and a few stream crossings.
There are several false summits and lungbusting climbs before you’ll reach a T in the trail. Take the right-hand, downhill route for a rip-roarin’, twisting descent back onto FS 700, where you can breeze back down to the trailhead. Make the ride longer (and more technical) by riding past the Son of Middle Creek turnoff and continuing to Lost Lake, another classic Vail route.
You’ll ride a challenging, rocky loop around the water before heading back to complete Son of Middle Creek. This version adds about 4 miles onto the total ride. Hikers will also enjoy Lost Lake as a less crowded alternative to the popular Piney Lake.
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