Itinerary

Day 1: Monarch Crest Trail.

On day 1 of the Colorado Trail MTB tour ride what is considered one of the very best singletrack trails in the American West, the Monarch Crest Trail. The route starts at 12,000-feet smack dab on the continental divide and descends over 4,000-feet. To start the day the trail offers above treeline views that stretch across Colorado. The ride finishes with a smooth and serpentine ride on the Rainbow Trail.
Distance: 30 miles of some of the most breathtaking and smoothest trail in the world.
NOTE: This Monarch Crest Trail section of the trail is an un-guided route. Our tour operator provides maps and hires a shuttle company to take riders to the start of this largely downhill trail.

Day 2: The cannibal’s Route: North Pass to Cebolla Creek Camp.

On this leg, you’ll ride a stunning route into the foothills of the San Juan Mountains to a camp along tranquil Cebolla creek. Although this is not a single-track day, it is a good warm up and has been one of our guest’s favorite rides, following creeks along the base of the San Juan Mountains.
Tonight enjoy grilled chicken, vegetables and salad. Soak your feet in the bracing creek while drinking a beer. Tomorrow cyclists enter into the high San Juan Mountains.
A historical note: The Cannibal Classic is this day’s route, named after the infamous Alfred Packer. He was a miner who became snowbound on an ill-fated journey into the San Juan Mountains in the late 1800’s. Come spring, Packer was the only remaining miner alive from his party of six, looking pretty healthy. He had literally eaten his compatriots.
As a result this is definitely a stage in which one should watch your tent-mates!
Distance: 36 miles through the San Juan Mountains, +2,146 / ft ( -1,891).

Day 3: Cebolla Creek Camp to Spring Creek Pass Camp.

From Cebolla Creek Camp cyclists ascend to 11,500-foot Slumgullian Pass and then ride across a spectacular wide open, above tree-line landscape to our Spring Creek Pass camp.
At this point cyclists are pedaling through a remote landscape. To the southwest rises the 13,000-foot Rio Grande Pyramid. To the north unfolds the expansive views of the fourteen thousand foot peaks of Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn.
Tonight’s Spring Creek Pass campsite leaves riders poised to ride the highest sections of the Colorado Trail.
Distance:15 miles.

Day 4: Spring Creek Pass to Rio Grande Headwaters Camp.

Distance: 25 miles with 3,289 feet of ascending and 4,115 feet of descending.
From the spectacular setting of the Spring Creek Pass Camp cyclists arise before dawn for an alpine start. An Alpine start is a term mountain climbers use when they start before dawn to reach the summit of a mountain. And today cyclists climb above tree-line to the highest point of the entire 500-mile Colorado Trail, 13,271-foot Coney Summit. On this day the Colorado trail serves up 20-miles of singletrack that hovers at the 12,000-foot mark. This is rarefied air for mountain cycling offering both great beauty and challenge. Tonight cyclists sleep in the utterly remote Rio Grande Headwaters camp.
Distance: 25 miles with +3,289 ft and /4,115 ft

Day 5: Rio Grande Camp to Silverton and the Molas Pass Camp.

From the fabulously remote Rio Grande Headwaters camp one can walk out of their tent and literally jump across this storied western river.
Today cyclists assault the massive Stoney Pass (elevation 12,650 ft.) and crest the Continental Divide for a 3rd time on this trip. Stoney Pass was the crux ascent (as it is on this tour) of the Santa Fe Trail’s historic stagecoach route serving the mining town of Silverton. Its views frame the steep terrain you’ve traversed over the past four days. This is rarefied air for mountain cycling offering both great beauty and great challenge.
A 3,600-foot descent to the historic mining town of Silverton is to follow. In Silverton be sure to take in the spectacle of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Tonight’s Molas Pass campsite is considered the “most beautiful in Colorado” by AAA. Hot showers are available tonight
Distance: 25 miles: +4,500 ft / -5,800 ft

Day 6: Molas Lake Camp to Telluride!

This day is filled with great rewards for cyclists. In the morning cyclists descend from Molas Pass and ride singletrack ascending the final pass of the Colorado Trail tour, 11,850-foot Ophir Pass!
A final singletrack spin on the Galloping Goose Trail and then across Telluride’s Valley Floor brings the tour to an end across the valley from 325-foot Bridal Veil Falls.
Finish your mighty mountain bike trek through Telluride’s streets in the afternoon with a beer at the 120-year-old New Sheridan Saloon.
Distance:29 miles: +2,500 ft / -4,200 ft

POST TOUR NOTES: Post tour lodging in Telluride is not included. Cyclists can choose to stay in Telluride for the night or take a Telluride Express shuttle back to Montrose. The least expensive lodging options are at the Telluride town campground, Victorian Inn or Mountain Lodge.

* 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

Nights 1: Lodging & dining in the fun little town of Salida (Add $50- for single room on this night).
Night 2: Tent camping in the Colorado Wilderness!
Night 3: Camping on Spring Creek Pass. NOTE: Lodging option available in Lake City, Colorado (Add $95-)
Night 4: The spectacular Rio Grande Headwaters camp.
Night 5: The equally spectacular Molas Pass campsite.

Included:

• Camping and 1 night of lodging
• All meals.
• Vehicle support

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.
• Rental Tent, Ground Pad and Sleeping Bag
• Flights to and from the trip.
• Gratuity guides.
• Alcoholic beverages

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024: $ 1850.- pp.
Mountain Bike Rental: $ 250.-
Camping gear:
Our rental tents are Kelty and Sierra Design tents (sleep 2 comfortably). The ground pads are 1.5 inches thick and our synthetic sleeping bags are rated for 20 degrees (so you’ll feel warm & comfy in the Colorado Wilderness).$85.-
Tour dates 2024:
16 Jun – 21 Jun
30 Jun – 05 Jul
07 Jul – 12 Jul
14 Jul – 19 Jul
21 Jul – 26 Jul
28 Jul – 02 Aug
04 Aug – 09 Aug
11 Aug – 16 Aug
26 Aug – 29 Aug Fully booked
01 Sep – 06 Sep

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

What about the altitude? Cyclists from lower elevations ride in Colorado each year, and most have no problems. All it takes is some preparation, patience and a little more hydration than you’d normally have. Yes, you’ll likely ride slower, and your heart rate will increase, but these are the Rockies, after all. Even though the elevation on the Colorado Trail MTB ranges from 8,000 to 13,000-feet, and the average levels on the tour are between 7,500 and 8,500-feet, the views alone will make your heart beat faster!
The weather: The high Rockies have some of the most dynamic summer weather in the country. One moment, it’s sunny and warm under intensely blue skies. The next, massive clouds race across the horizon and bring a frozen downpour with thunderclaps. As Coloradans who know a thing or two about this stuff, we’ll make sure you’re outfitted and safe from these intense, but brief weather events.
The details: You’ll explore unspoiled landscapes, rush through cool mountain air, drink in 360-degree mountain views and pedal past carpeted fields of wildflowers (which can be handle-bar high). High altitude campsites offer a canopy of bright stars and deep sleep at night. Your experienced guide takes care of all the route finding, planning and logistics. At day’s end, the fully equipped support truck at the camp provides all the necessities for a delicious guide-prepared meal. All you have to do is relax, hang out with your new friends, or explore a little more on your bike.

Cycling in the Rockies Backcountry
The San Juan Mountains are among the wildest, most beautiful and inaccessible mountainous areas in the lower 48 states. The trail crosses high mountain passes, beneath numerous unnamed waterfalls and traverses fields of verdant wildflowers at elevations that rarely drop below 10,000 feet. Large fauna of most every-type inhabit this landscape.

Our bike tours offer out of the ordinary mountain biking vacations by delivering cyclists into a backcountry setting far away from accessible trail-heads. Rarely will one see another person let alone another cyclist.

How Much Singletrack is There?
The Colorado Trail MTB tour was designed as a point to point adventure tour. This tour provides riders with the opportunity to pedal Colorado’s most remote, fascinating, and inaccessible terrain. The route contains sections of single track, unimproved roads, sections with hardly a trail and everything in between. The ride will consist of alpine terrain, technically challenging terrain, push your bike through 3-feet of snow and sit back and take-it-all-in terrain. In short, this section of Colorado Trail offers expedition-style mountain biking amazing back country section. Please contact us with your questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Although these tours are for advanced riders. They are well planned guided adventures into the back country that are within the ability of experienced riders. In reality many riders who are capable of riding and enjoying these tours self-select themselves out of participation because they feel the tour will be too hard.

Meals On Tour
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. We pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works for you during the week. Gluten Free, Dairy Free or a someone who loves it all – we will keep you well fed during the tour!