Itinerary

Day 1: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

After a shuttle from Montrose, Colorado, our first ride of the tour takes us into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and one of Colorado’s finest bike rides. The route starts at 7,450-feet and soon enters the park offering views of steep cliffs with some of the oldest rock and the craggiest spires in North America.
After Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we shuttle to the top of Red Mountain Pass, get back on the bikes, and then enjoy a magnificent 10 mile descent along Million Dollar Highway to our first nights lodging in Silverton, Colorado.
Lodging: Grand Imperial Hotel
Distance: 1st Segment: 23 miles with up to 2,340 feet of climbing
2nd Segment: 10 miles with 1,850 feet of descending

Day 2: Silverton to Durango

Starting from Silverton, we continue south along the San Juan Skyway and soon tackle two major alpine passes: Molas Pass at 10,915′ and Coal Bank Pass at 10,640′. After topping out on Molas Pass cyclists enjoy a net descent to Durango, Colorado (6,512’) of 4,000-feet! Durango is a lively western town with a historic narrow gauge railroad. Tonight’s lodging is the landmark Strater Hotel on Durango’s main street. The Strater’s Diamond Belle Saloon’s attractive bar room belles & old time piano player both adorned in 19th century period garb have proven to be a guest (and guide) favorite.
Lodging: Strater Hotel
Distance: 52 miles with up to 3,300 feet of climbing

Day 3: The Dunton Road to Telluride

After enjoying a delicious breakfast and the good coffee that Durango offers, we shuttle northwest to ride the peaceful Dunton road. The Dunton road offers a quiet ride of 18 to 22- mile out and back along the Dunton river. At the halfway point we stop for a lunch along the river. After lunch we turn around and descend 9-miles back to the start.
From this point, if looking to ride EFI to Telluride, riders climb 1,300 in 25-miles to Rico, Colorado. If looking to ride less, this 25-miles can be shuttled.
From Rico, it is a fabulous 27-miles to Telluride with 2,000-feet of climbing over Lizard Head Cycling namesake Lizard Head Pass to Telluride for a two day stay.
Lodging: New Sheridan Hotel, or Camel’s Garden
Distance: 45 miles with 3,700 feet of climbing, or 78 miles (EFI) with up to 5,765 feet of climbing

Day 4: Layover Day in Telluride

Today cyclists enjoy a well deserved layover day in box canyon of Telluride, Colorado. This is the home town of Lizard Head Cycling Guides and in our humble opinion, the highlight town of our tour. Ride the free gondola to explore Mt. Village, enjoy a massage, shop the funky historic, hike to an alpine lake or district or simply sit on one of Telluride’s many park benches and watch the world go by.
Those looking to keep riding can opt to ride the “Tour de Telluride” which is a 53-mile on-your-own route around Telluride and up to Lizard Head peak and back.Guests are on their own this evening to enjoy dinner from one of Telluride’s many fine dining establishments.
Lodging: New Sheridan Hotel, or Camel’s Garden
Distance: Optional 53-mile “Tour de Telluride”

Day 5: Telluride to Gateway

The longest mileage day on the tour, the Mountains to the Desert stage descends over 4,000-feet from Telluride (8,827′) to Gateway, Colorado at 4,550′ elevation! This is an inspiring ride through the intimate confines of the San Miguel and Dolores River Canyons. The Dolores river canyon has been called by previous Lizard Head Cycling guests as the “most beautiful ride ever”. Come see for yourself! We believe it is the most spectacular and least known road rides in Colorado.
Tonight’s lodging at the Gateway Canyons Resort has to be seen to be believed. It is another highlight of this fabulous tour. There are few places in the world that can provide an experience and location such Gateway Canyons Resort. John Hendricks of the Discovery Channel built the resort in 2005. His love of Redrock Canyon country has created a destination that guests adore.
Lodging: Gateway Canyons Resort
Distance: Options of 55-miles or 103-miles (with 6,000-feet of descending)

Day 6: Unaweep Canyon

The final day of the our tour can be spent lounging poolside, enjoying the 21st luxury of Gateway Canyons Spa or pedaling up into the confines of yet another amazing geologic wonder, Unaweep Canyon. Whatever activity or inactivity you choose, enjoy this final day of the tour. Tonight’s lodging is once again at Gateway Canyons Resort.
Lodging: Gateway Canyons Resort
Distance: Optional ride of 30 to 80-miles through Unaweep Canyon

Day 7: Departure Day

Early Saturday morning we offer a shuttle for departing guests to the Montrose airport. Make your departing plane reservations for 9:00am or later.

* 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

Night 1: Grand Imperial Hotel, Silverton, Colorado (elevation 9,300′)
Night 2: Strater Hotel, Durango, Colorado (elevation 6,525′)
Nights 3 & 4: New Sheridan Hotel, or Camel’s Garden Telluride, Colorado (elevation 8,750′)
Nights 5 & 6: Gateway Canyons Resort, Gateway, Colorado (elevation 4,600′)
On the final two nights of our Mountains-to-Rivers Colorado Bike Tour 19th-century Victorian elegance is exchanged for the ultra modern 21st luxury of the Gateway Canyons Resort. There are few places in the world that can provide an experience and location such Gateway Canyons Resort, it has to be seen to be believed. Come see for yourself.

Included:

• 6 nights lodging
• All meals included. (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners),
• 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: $ 3520.-pp. Single fee $ 725.- per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (6-Nights). The higher cost is due to the room costs for Gateway Canyons Resort.
Bike rental:
Scott Addict 10 $ 250.- per week
Scott E-bike road bikes with straight bars $ 395.- per week
Tour dates 2024:
09 Jun – 14 Jun
16 Jun – 21 Jun
23 Jun – 28 Jun
30 Jun – 05 Jul
07 Jul – 12 Jul
21 Jul – 26 Jul

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

Don’t Worry About the Altitude!

The rarefied air is a tonic to both man & beast! Sea-level cyclists ride this tour each year. Yes, you ride slower and the heart will beat faster in Colorado, but these are the Colorado Rockies and the views alone will make your heart beat faster. Altitude on this tour ranges between 4,500-feet (Gateway Canyons Resort) and 11,000-feet (Red Mountain Pass). The average riding elevation is between 6,500 and 7,500-feet.

Colorado Micro-Breweries

If you are considering Colorado bike tours, the Mountains-to-Rivers Colorado Bike Tour is a well-crafted tour of immense beauty. It also features entertainment each night in towns where old time saloons and Colorado Micro-Breweries abound. Enjoy beer tastings and excellent hospitality as you bike tour across the San Juan Sky-Way and Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic By-Ways.

Some of the breweries we can visit include:

• Ouray Brewing Company in Ouray, Colorado
• Carver Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado
• Animas Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado
• Steamworks Brewery Company in Durango, Colorado
• Telluride Brewing Company in Telluride, Colorado

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