Itinerary

Day 1: Nutt, New Mexico to Kingston, New Mexico

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 tiny Nutt Post Office 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 2,410 feet of climbing

Day 2: Kingston to The Wilderness Lodge/Gila National Forest

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 Leoplold’s honor, designating the Gila as the first wilderness area under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Lizard Head Cycling 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: Gila Wilderness Lodge & Hot Springs
Distance:standard, 68 miles with up to 5,155 feet of climbing
Lower mileage option: 40 miles

Day 3: Wilderness Lodge/Gila Hot Springs to Silver City

The route today serves up the Gila mountains at its best with a 41-mile ride through the Sierra Pinos Altos Range to Silver City. The grades are steepest in the first 6-miles (6% to 10%) of the ride, so take the time to warm up before pedaling (ride 1-mile towards Gila Cliff Dwellings and turn around). This is a quiet and unpainted road the climbs then descends and climbs again over the Continental Divide. Large Ponderosa forests line the road and the views are lovely. Cyclists pass through the historic town of Pinos Altos before the descent to “Silver”. Upon arrival in Silver City, lunch is served in the Art Deco lobby of the Murray Hotel.
Afterward cyclists have the afternoon to visit Silver’s funky art shops, the university and the town’s “well-organized” museum. Live music can be found in local bars. If you like good espresso, choose from four cafés on Main Street alone!
Lodging: The Murrey hotel
Distance: 41 miles with up to 4,420 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: Glenwood to Mogollon to Alpine, Arizona

Today’s ride starts from Glenwood, NM and climbs the iconic ascent of the Tour De Gila bike race to Mogollon, NM, this is a steep climb on a narrow road with no traffic. The 100-mile views across New Mexico and into Arizona are remarkable. This is another highlight of the tour. After the descent from Mogollon, we ride north through high desert country alongside the Gila Mountains Wilderness to the east. On this section cyclists slowly climb 2,000-feet to 6,000-foot Saliz Pass before lunch. If a headwind is in the offering, Saliz Pass can be a “slow-go”. Lunch will be enjoyed 9.5 miles later at the Little Adobe Café: an oasis of homemade food and pastries in the middle of nowhere. After lunch the business end of today’s ride is served up with a pair of daunting climbs totaling over 2,600-feet in the final 31-miles to Alpine, AZ. This is a true mountaintop finish.
Lodging: Escudilla Cabins
Distance: 80 miles with up to 7,230 feet of climbing!
Day 5 Options:
* Riders can make the day longer with a start in Silver City for a 125-mile day!
* A shorter & lovely 50-mile option is also available

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: 77-miles with approximately 9,000 feet of descending – “It’s all down except for the up.”

Day 7: Mt. Graham Climb

The final day of the 7-Day tour offers one of the more unique climbs in the American West to the “Sky-Island” of Mt. Graham. The 29-mile Swift Trail up Pinaleno Mountains to the Mt. Graham observatory is a journey to remember. The 10,717-foot Mt. Graham soars almost a mile and a half above the town Safford and the desert below – the single greatest vertical rise of any Arizona mountain. Because of the dramatic elevation gain, temperatures drop about 30 degrees from mountain base to mountaintop, so bring warm clothing.
Ladybug Saddle, at 8,508 feet, is reached after seventeen miles of steady climbing. Southern Arizona unfolds below this lofty viewpoint. The Pinaleno Mountains are home to a variety of wildlife. Javelinas, black-tailed jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, and rattlesnakes are found in the dry lower elevations. Both mule and whitetail deer are often seen browsing in roadside meadows. Coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, turkey, and four species of skunk roam the area’s wilderness.

After descending Mt. Graham cyclists end the tour with a refreshing soak at the Kachina Mineral Springs before the return shuttle to El Paso.
Distance: 25-miles (1-way) with 5,950-feet of climbing!

* 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

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 2024: $ 3300.-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 2024:
28 Apr – 04 May, Fully booked
22 Sep. – 28 Sep
29 Sep. – 05 Oct
06 Oct – 12 Oct
13 Oct – 19 Oct
20 Oct – 26 Oct
03 Nov – 09 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.

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