Itinerary

Day 1: Shuttle from El Paso & Carlsbad Caverns National Park

If you are flying in for this tour, book flights to El Paso International Airport (ELP). We provides a Day 1 early morning shuttle from El Paso, Texas to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexico where we will spend a few hours exploring this magnificent natural wonder, and then onto the Night 1’s lodging.
If you are driving to this tour, you can either leave your car at the designated meeting hotel in El Paso or meet us at the designated meeting hotel in Van Horn late in the afternoon on Day 1 and leave your car there for the week. A post-tour shuttle is offered on the last day of the tour back to Van Horn and El Paso.
Lodging: Hotel El Capitan, or Hotel Paisano or Hotel Saint George, Marfa, TX (elevation 4,082′)

Day 2: Presidio to Terlingua

On this first riding day of our Big Bend and the Texas Mountains Tour, we begin with a highlight ride. After a morning shuttle from Marfa we start east of Presidio, Texas and ride a beautiful route along the Rio Grande. On this ride Mexico is just to our right (30-feet away) for nearly the entire route. The terrain is undulating river grade (1% to 2%) as we ride through Big Bend Ranch State Park. There is one significant climb on this day with a 10% average grade for about a half mile. We finish the day pedaling into the Barton Warnock Visitors Center and then a short shuttle to the ghost town of Terlingua, Texas, which is famous for its Annual International Chili Cookoff.
Lodging: Big Bend Holiday Hotel, Terlinqua, TX (elevation 2,891′)
Distance: 39 miles with up to 2,540 feet of climbing

Day 3: Terlingua to Santa Elena Canyon

Today we start the riding early from Terlingua to the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon via the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.
We will have lunch at the end of the ride near Santa Elena Canyon and then take a small hike to take in this majestic canyon and the Rio Grande River with Mexico merely a stone’s throw across. After our hike, we shuttle to the Chisos Mountains Lodge. The E.F.I. option is to ride from Santa Elena Canyon to Chisos Mountains Lodge for an epic 96 mile day!
Lodging: Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, TX (elevation 5,400′)
Distance: Standard: 48 miles with up to 2,500 feet of climbing
Extra: 96 miles with up to 7,455 feet of climbing

Day 4: Chisos Basin to Rio Grande Village

Today is a layover in Chisos Basin with options for hiking and for a ride from Chisos Basin to Rio Grande Village and back. On the ride we start from the Chisos Mountains for a 29-mile descent towards the Rio Grande and the Rio Grande Visitor Center near the river and Mexican border. After the descent cyclists can spend a few hours on the river at an excellent natural hot spring or can opt to ride back to the Chisos Lodge from the Hot Springs to make it 60-mile day with a stiff 4,725 feet of climbing.
Lodging: Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, TX (elevation 5,400′)
Distance: Standard: 30 miles with up to 785 feet of climbing
Extra: 60 miles with up to 4,725 feet of climbing

Day 5: Chisos Basin to Marathon

Starting from Chisos Basin, we ride north over Panther Pass, descend down to Panther Junction, cruise through Persimmon Gap, and then out of Big Bend National Park eventually making our way to the quirky west Texas town of Marathon. Early in the ride we will stop at the recently opened Fossil Discovery Exhibit, a self-guided exhibit with an amazing collection of animal and plant specimens spanning through 130 million years of geologic time.
After departing the exhibit, the terrain along the way is rolling and the wide-open desert views are spectacular! Our accommodations this evening is at the world-class Gage Hotel in Marathon, a true oasis in the desert.
Lodging: Gage Hotel, Marathon, TX (elevation 4,055′)
Distance: 78 miles with up to 2,845 feet of climbing
45 mile lower mileage option

Day 6: Davis Mountains Loop

This is another highlight ride of the Big Bend tour! Starting from Point of Rocks Roadside Park we ride a classic loop through Davis Mountains past the McDonald Observatory back to Fort Davis and to our hotel. It is a day to remember. The Davis Loop offers very quiet roads, beautiful scenery, and challenging climbing.
Tonight after dinner if skies are clear and dark we take an optional shuttle back to the McDonald Observatory for evening stargazing. NOTE: The evening stargazing is dependent on the seasonal schedule of the observatory and availability.
Lodging: Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis, TX (elevation 4,892′)
Distance: 63 miles with up to 3,500 feet of climbing
50 mile lower mileage option

Day 7: Fort Davis to Wood Canyon

The final day is a reverse ride of the prior days’ route back through the Davis Mountains. After departing Fort Davis the climbing comes early as we ascend towards the McDonald Observatory. From here it is rolling terrain for the next 15 miles until the last final stretch where we enjoy a fun and fast descent. The ride ends in Wood Canyon where we pack up and shuttle back to Van Horn and then end in El Paso.

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Big Bend & Texas Mountains

Night 1: Hotel El Capitan, Van Horn, TX (elevation 4,050′), or Hotel Paisano or Hotel Saint George, Marfa, TX (elevation 4,082′)
Night 2: Big Bend Holiday Hotel, Terlinqua, TX (elevation 2,891′)
Nights 3 & 4: Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, TX (elevation 5,400′)
Night 5: Gage Hotel, Marathon, TX (elevation 4,055′)
Night 6: Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis, TX (elevation 4,892′)

Meeting & Ending Town: Guests fly into El Paso International Airport (ELP) and shuttle with us to our Night 1 Lodging. Drivers can meet us at Van Horn, TX and leave their car for the week; we will pick you up on the way from El Paso to our Night 1 Lodging.
Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on-their-own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

Included:

• 6 nights lodging
• All meals included, (except for 1 Dinner)
• Guide service.
• Entrance fees .
• In tour shuttles and mechanical support.(during the tour)

Not included:

• Night before and after the tour not included.
• Bike rental. Be sure to bring your own helmet. We have a very limited supply and will only pack them if special arrangements are made ahead of time.
• Flights to and from the trip.
• Gratuity guides.
• Alcoholic beverages

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024: $ 3350.-pp. Single fee $ 595.-
Bike rental:
Scott Addict 10 $ 250.- per week
Scott E-bike road bikes with straight bars $ 395.- per week
Tour dates 2025:
16 Feb – 22 Feb
23 Feb – 01 Mar
02 Mar – 08 Mar
09 Mar – 15 Mar
16 Mar – 22 Mar
23 Mar – 29 Mar, Fully booked

Conditions

Deposit $ 950.- pp
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

International Dark Sky Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a designated “International Dark Sky Park” by the International Dark Sky Association. The Big Bend region has what is considered the darkest sky in the lower 48-states. With wide open vistas you will experience a night sky that has largely disappeared from most of the United States. Plan to stay up after dark to experience unique astronomical sights during your stay in the park.

Meals:
We provides most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted) including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.
Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and occasionally guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being “off the grid”, most of our off-road tours feature guide prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called “Guide TV”.

Lunches: Our guides prepares healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours. We sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert… yum! Also, while on tour if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days sleep is the most important post-ride element