Itinerary

Day 1:  Lake Valley to Kingston

After shuttling to the ride start, today is an easy pedaling day to loosen the legs for the days ahead. We ride north from the picturesque Lake Valley into the flat and barren high desert landscape and then turn west from Hillsboro gently climbing into the low brush forest of the Black Range to end the ride at the Black Range Lodge.
Meals: lunch, dinner, Lodging: The Black Range hotel
Distance: 38 miles with up to 2475 feet of climbing

Day 2: Kingston to Lake Roberts

The first part of today is a climb up and over Emory Pass which then descends 17 miles to the town of San Lorenzo where riders then head northwest through the Mimbres Valley along rambling, quiet roads. After crossing the Continental Divide, we then reach ‘The Gila Monster’ which is the steepest climb on the Tour de Gila. The climb from the Little Toad Creek is the “easy” side presenting a 1,600-feet ascent in 7.2 miles. From the top cyclists enjoy a corkscrewing descent to the Gila River Valley and to The Wilderness Lodge.
On Night 2, we lodge surrounded by the Gila Wilderness at the most remote location of any of our road tours. Our location alongside the Gila River with natural hot springs was home to the Mogollon People and is the sacred birthplace of the Chiricahua Apache, Geronimo. The Gila Wilderness itself was the first designated wilderness in the world in 1924. The Gila’s Designation was inspired by Aldo Leopold, the author of the Wilderness Doctrine, written while he was a ranger in the Gila in the 1910’s. Later, Leopold’s Doctrine became the inspiration behind the 1964 Wilderness Act with the United States government, in Leopold’s honor, designating the Gila as the first wilderness area under the 1964 Wilderness Act. We feels fortunate to be able to lead our clients to this truly wild and remote location.
NOTE: Although night 2’s lodging at the Gila Wilderness Lodge and Gila Hot Springs Motel offers private rooms with mostly shared bathrooms, there is no need to worry. The location and energy of this location are worth the journey.
Lodging: The Wilderness Lodge
Distance: 50 miles with up to 3,750 feet of climbing

Day 3: The Gila Monster and Inner Loop

This is the classic stage of the Tour De Gila bike race held each spring. As the longest continuously running stage race now in North America, the Tour de Gila has a loyal following and amazing community support. Lizard Head Cycling’s version of the Gila Monster starts at our lodging in Lake Roberts and climbs up and over the Gila Monster climb itself to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. From the Cliff Dwellings, we climb back up the north side of the Gila Monster climb, descend and the begin the amazing climb of the Inner Loop.

The Inner Loop is a narrow road that twist and turns on its way up to Wild Horse Mesa. There are no painted lines on the road and there are steep sections of 8% to 10%. This is a climb you want to experience for yourself. We consider it to be one of the most iconic road rides of the American West, on par with some of the climbs in the European Alps. Come see for yourself! Lodging: The Murrey hotel
Distance: 38 miles with up to 3,120 feet of climbing up to 67 miles with 6,970 feet of climbing

Day 4: Layover Day in Silver City

With a layover day in Silver City, guests have the opportunity to go shopping, peruse the town’s many funky art galleries or even enjoy a quiet coffee (coffee shops abound in Silver with 4 shops on main street alone!). A trip to Silver City would also not be complete without a visit to Gila Hike & Bike.
NOTE: There are riding options on this day. Ask us for details.
Lodging: The Murray hotel

Day 5: Mogollon Climb Out & Back, and Big Lake via Three Forks Road

On Day five, we shuttle out of Silver City and experience the hill climbing stage of the Tour de Gila. Although a relatively short climb, the views are huge. At the top, we enjoy the view, descend for lunch, and then shuttle to the Arizona/New Mexico border.

From the border we ride into Alpine, Arizona and then along a fabulous and newly paved road along the Mogollon Rim. With virtually no traffic out here and with views of Arizona’s highest peaks, the experience is sublime.
Lodging: Escudilla Cabins

Day 5 Options:

Mogollon Climb: 19 miles with up to 2,370 feet of climbing
Distance: Big Lake 47 miles with up to 3,150feet of climbing

Day 6: The Coronado Trail

We consider this ride one the best in the American West! The Coronado Trail delivers cyclists from the Mountains to the Desert. It is the route the Coronado expedition from Spain followed in the early 1500’s as they attempted to find the elusive Cities of Gold. This is a wild and lonely landscape that offers incredible cycling.
We have found no other road in North America that offers the twists, turns, scenery and car-free experience of the Coronado Trail.
Although cyclists descend a mind boggling 9,100 feet while following the historic Coronado Trail, they also climb a series of climbs equaling over 4,000 feet. The finale day begins with a steady and peaceful 2,000 foot climb through the White Mountains of Arizona to 9,000 foot high Hannagan Meadow (the high point of the tour). At this point the Coronado Trail begins a descent that eventually drops cyclists below the 4,000 foot elevation mark.
The White Mountains that surround the Coronado Trail were home to Geronimo, an Apache Indian of the Chiricahua band. The U.S. Army spent 10-years trying to locate and contain his band. Geronimo and other Apache chiefs would evade the their pursuers and make their way south to Old Mexico through this rugged country.
The Coronado Trail is a lonely mountainous road with twists, turns and climbing/descending from start to finish. It is rarely flat. The road engineers of the Coronado Trail did not spend much effort grading this road. The road follows the natural features of the land. As a result it is well suited for road bike riding.
Towards the end cyclists are able to negotiate this road at a faster speed then the van and trailer.
After the Coronado Trail, we spend one additional night in Safford, Arizona and climb the lofty heights of Mt. Graham the following day!
Lodging: SpringHill suites by Mariott Thatcher
Distance: 79-miles with approximately 9,000 feet of descending – “It’s all down except for the up.” Shorter mileage option 47 miles

Day 7: Shuttle to El Paso

The final day of the 7-Day tour we wake, enjoy breakfast and then shuttle back to El Paso arriving back at 2 pm local time. If you are planning to fly out this day, reservation should be made for 4pm 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

Tour of the Gila

Night 1: The Black Range Lodge, Kingston, New Mexico >>>

Night 2: Inn at Lake Roberts, Mimbres New Mexico

Nights 3 & 4: The Murray Hotel, Silver City, New Mexico >>>

Night 5: Escudilla Cabins, Alpine, Arizona
Night 6: SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Thatcher, Arizona

Included:

• 6 nights lodging
• All meals included, (except for 1 dinner and 1 breakfast)
• Shuttle to and from the Gila Mountains
• 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 2026: $ 3450.-pp. Single fee $ 495.-
Bike rental:
Scott Addict 10 $ 250.- per week
Scott E-bike road bikes with straight bars $ 395.- per week
Tour dates 2026:
21 Apr 2026
29 Apr 2026
06 May 2026
27 Sep 2026
12 Oct – 18 Oct
20 Oct – 26 Oct
02 Nov – 08 Nov

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

The riding in this region offers roads that climb, dive, twist and turn to the finish. Much of the riding is through cool Ponderosa Pines that offer shade to the cyclist. The climbs can be steep in areas with European type grades of 6% to 12%. So although the climbing can be challenging, there is little traffic on these quiet roads and as such the riding has proven entertaining.

Hot Springs – The region abounds in geothermal activity with multiple hot springs along the Gila River.

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