Dry Lake Motocross Park

Dry Lake Motocross Park sits 4.5 miles north of I-70 exit 140 in Gypsum, Colorado, a 160-acre dirt bike facility in the Eagle County high country that Rocky Mountain Sport Riders (RMSR) runs on land Eagle County Open Space and the Town of Gypsum bought in 2017. It is western Colorado's home track for the Vail Valley, and it is a volunteer operation from the board to the prep crew. RMSR is a family-oriented club that took shape in 1996, became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2013 and now counts more than 550 members; the Forest Service, BLM and Eagle County treat it as the voice for off-road motorcyclists in the valley, and it also builds and maintains singletrack across the county.

Six tracks and riding areas cover riders from first bike to fast: a pee-wee track, an intermediate track, a vintage-style vet track with old-school flow, the feature track that the crew fully preps and waters on weekends (dozer, loader, skid steer, tractor and water truck, rebuilding lips and landings and grooming corners, often working after dark), an endurocross practice area with technical obstacles and a five-mile perimeter singletrack loop. Tracks are one-way, DOT helmets are required everywhere including the pits, and the pit speed limit is 15 mph.

The park is two-wheel only, no quads, ATVs or side-by-sides. To ride you need a current RMSR registration ($25 for the year, which is also the club membership), a $30 day pass bought online on the day you ride, and a valid Colorado OHV tag on the bike, since OHV grant money built and maintains the park. Registration is free for riders under 18 and unlocks the members-only gate code. Riders 10 and under are free with a parent's pass, season passes run $325 for an adult or $525 for a family of five, and half of every pass is a donation that may be tax deductible. Military, police and fire get 10 percent off with a code from the park.

The season runs early May through the end of September, seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, opening at 9 AM on Saturday and Sunday to give the crew prep time. Weeknights in season bring a Wednesday Kids Night race practice and a Tuesday ladies-only ride. There is no camping or overnight use, no fires, alcohol or dogs off leash (there is a dog run by the picnic shelter), and riders under 16 need a parent on site. The access road is dirt and slick when wet.

For Vail, Eagle, Avon, Edwards, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction riders, Dry Lake is the closest prepped motocross track, and Front Range riders make the two-hour run west on I-70 for a high-country weekend. Questions go to RMSR executive director Jen Swisher at (970) 389-3456.