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Aspen to Taos bike tour

Summary

This 11-day Aspen to Taos Bike Tour focuses on the vertical landscapes and mountain town culture of the southern Colorado Rockies. This is a mountain tour that crosses the continental divide on four occasions, meanders along verdant river valleys and seeks out the eclectic lodging, food and the natural hot springs that this region is well known for.

Road bike

11 days

1086 km / 675 mi

$ 4,190.-

The Southern Colorado Rockies
Crossing the Continental Divide on four occasions
Natural Hot Springs
Taos Pueblo

The deposit for this tour is $950.-pp.

Gallery

Details

Type

Road bike

Duration

11 days

Level

Challenging

Support

Guided

Daily distance

0-20 km / 0-12 mi

Total distance

1086 km / 675 mi

Lodging

Deluxe, full board

Luggage transport

Daily luggage transfers

Bicycle

Rental

Dates

28 Aug 2022 - 07 Sep 2022
02 Jul 2023 - 12 Jul 2023
30 Jul 2023 - 09 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 - 06 Sep 2023

Start

Denver Int. Airport

Finish

Denver Int. Airport

Airport at start

Denver Int. Airport

Airport at finish

Denver Int. Airport

Prices Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

Price per person / please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

The tour price per person

$ 4,190.-

roadbike

$ 250.-

Optional

Road E-Bike

The Scott SUB Tour and the Scott Addict E-20 eRIDE bikes makes getting around easier. $375.- one week
The Scott SUB Tour has flat bars and is Powered by Bosch with a 500Wh battery. Equipped with a rack, it’s ready to provide many miles of worry-free reliability.
The Scott Addict E-20 eRIDE is a lightweight drop bar bike to make climbing easier and can go the distance comfortably.

$ 375.-

Optional

Single supplement

If you travel alone a single supplement is charged. With some group tours you can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.

$ 995.-

Itinerary

Included / Not Included – lodging

Day 0: Arrive in Denver

Guests arrive in Denver by driving or by flying to the Denver International Airport (DEN) and the Courtyard Marriott Denver Airport meeting hotel.

Day 1: Maroon Bells Loop

25 Miles with up to 2,200 feet of climbing
After a morning transfer from Denver into the heart of the Colorado Rockies, the riding starts on a relaxing closed road that climbs gently to the picturesque Maroon Bells, which are the most photographed mountains in Colorado. The road to the “Bells” will have plenty of cyclists to smile and wave to. After the descent, tonight’s lodging is at the Limelight Hotel in the heart of Aspen.

Day 2: Layover Day in Aspen

25-35 Miles
On Day 2 options abound. Cyclists can go on a ride of up to 35-miles in the Snowmass area or they can climb the lower slopes of Independence Pass. Guests should make time to explore Aspen’s shops, spas, nightlife and food culture.

Day 3: Aspen to Crested Butte

40-100 Miles with up to 5,800 feet of climbing
Today’s ride to Crested Butte, Colorado via two 12,000-foot passes, Independence and Cottonwood Passes, is a Colorado classic and has served as the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge bike race. The climb of Independence Pass will take 2 to 3 hours and delivers cyclists to a spectacular above treeline landscape. After a long descent to the Arkansas River Valley the climbing begins again up and over remote Cottonwood Pass. Eventually cyclists arrive in the summer paradise of Crested Butte, which is the wildflower capital of Colorado. We’ll settle into Crested Butte for a two night’s stay in the Elk Mountain Lodge.

Day 4: Layover in Crested Butte

A layover day in the wildflower capital of Colorado, Crested Butte! Make this a day for fly-fishing, mountain climbing, a spa day, mountain biking on the 401 Trail, white water rafting or a swim in a mountain lake.

Day 5: The Cannibal Classic

70-130 Miles with up to 8,500 feet of climbing
Crested Butte to Creede (8,500′) is a local’s favorite known as the Cannibal Classic and is a tremendous test of endurance for Crested Butte’s hard body locals.
NOTE: One DOES NOT HAVE TO RIDE this entire stage!
The Cannibal Classic earned its name from the infamous Alfred Packer, 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!
The rides starts in Crested Butte, Colorado’s (9,000-feet) majestic Elk Mountains and starts with a gradual 40-mile descent, after which riders are tested by a 45-mile section with multiple ups and downs that could drain the strength from their legs.
At approximately mile 85, take on one of the steepest paved mountain passes in Colorado, Slumgullion Pass at an elevation of 11,530 feet. This monster is a 7-mile climb that ascends nearly 3,000 feet; its average 7% to 9% grades feels particularly brutal coming at mile 90 of the Cannibal Classic. At the top, you’ll descend 4 miles and then climb another 4 miles at a mere 4% grade to Spring Creek Pass and the Continental Divide. From Spring Creek, it’s just about a 30-mile descent to lodging at Antlers Rio Grande Lodge which sits on the banks of the Rio Grande near Creede.

Day 6: Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs

64 Miles with up to 3,400 feet of climbing
From our lodging at Antlers Rio Grande Lodge we ride south over Wolf Creek Pass. At this pont cyclists are pedaling across the remote headwaters of Rio Grande watershed. The largest wilderness area in Colorado, the Weimuniche Wilderness, borders this lush region. After climbing the impressive Wolf Creek Pass (10,863′), cyclists will have climbed over the Continental Divide for the second time in two days.
Next thrill to a 4,000? descent from Wolf Creek to Pagosa Springs, Colorado along the headwaters of the San Juan River. We’ll be in close proximity to New Mexico and get a whiff of the state’s famous and fragrant green chile. Tonight we’ll enjoy a much-needed and deserved soak in towns hot springs at the renowned Springs Resort & Spa.

Day 7: Chama to Ojo Caliente

50 to 93 Miles with up to 4,900 feet of climbing.
Day 7’s ride serves up yet another beautiful ride over the mountainous continental divide into the state of New Mexico to the exclusive Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa. Steeped in myth and legend, these ancient springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for thousands of years. The use of the waters can be traced back to the earliest human migrations in the region. Ancient peoples, the ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs. Surrounding the springs are the ruins of the cities populated before the birth of history.

Day 8: Ojo Caliente to Taos

41 Miles with up to 2,000 feet of climbing.
After a relaxed morning at Ojo we’ll ride from the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs to Taos and stay at the El Monte Sagrado. Along the way we’ll cross the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Tonight dine at El Monte Sagrado’s award-winning De la Tierra Restaurant. Taos is an artist’s destination of international acclaim and home to the Taos Pueblo Indians.

Day 9: Layover Day in Taos.

Spend the day exploring Taos’ art district, visit Taos Pueblo (the oldest inhabited building in North America), taste the state’s famous of green chile or simply do nothing. This is your day!

Day 10: The Enchanted Circle

85 Miles with up to 5,800 feet of climbing.
Ride a loop along the fabulous Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway back to the El Monte Segrado. This ride circles the Sangre De Cristo Mountains offering cyclists big mountains views that showcase the topography of northern New Mexico.
We also will have the option for a ride and hike within Río Grande Del Norte National Monument.

Day 11: “The high road” Taos to Chimayo

Standaard: 49 miles (or more 74 miles) with up to 4050 ft
Another highlight ride of the Aspen to Taos tour! The riding starts in Taos taking the scenic High Road amongst the southernmost peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range through pine forests and cottonwood valleys. Today’s ride ends at a special place, the El Santuario de Chimayo, a historical church in the old village of Chimayo. At this location a tiny shrine that is built on the site of what many believe to be a miracle associated with the crucifix of “Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas” (Our Lord of Esquipulas). El Santuario de Chimayo is also the site of “el pocito” the small pit of Holy Dirt which many people attribute as possessing remarkable curative powers.
Tonight’s lodging is steps from the Santa Fe plaza in the quintessential New Mexican lodging of Chimayo de Santa Fe. Tonight’s farewell dinner at Estevan’s is one of our favorite dining experiences.

Post Tour: Logistics
After our farewell dinner on Night 11, guests are on their own to explore Santa Fe on post tour Day 12. Since you are positioned only steps from Santa Fe’s historic plaza, art galleries, restaurants and music guests can elect to add an additional night of lodging to their tour so that they have a whole day to experience in Santa Fe.

POST-TOUR Logistics: The Aspen to Taos bike tour ends dinner and lodging on night 11. Guests arrange for their own transportation to the Albuquerque via the convenient scenic Railrunner train or on many regularly scheduled shuttle services. For more information regarding transportation to Albuquerque, please visit www.riometro.org or groometransportation.com

For elevation profile see PDF file below

*Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Included:

11-nights of lodging.
All meals except 2 dinners, 1 breakfast & 1 Lunch.
Guide service.
Entry fees.
Energy food, liquid refreshments.
Shuttles and mechanical support.
Luggage transport

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

Lodging

(meeting hotel) Courtyard Marriott Denver Airport, Denver
Days 1 & 2: The Inn at Aspen
Days 3 & 4: Elk Mountain Lodge,Crested Butte
Day 5: Antlers Rio Grande Lodge, , Creede, CO
Day 6: The Springs Resort & Spa, Pagosa Springs, CO
Day 7: Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, Ojo Caliente, NM
Day 8,9 & 10: Taos Inn, Taos
Day 11: Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe, Santa Fe

Map & Routes

Map

Satellite

Bicycle

The Scott Addict 10 Disc was designed from the ground up with those longer days in mind. With geometry that is less focused on racing and more on enduring, the Addict 10 will be your go to when you’re looking to put the miles in.
The Scott Addict 10 Disc features: Carbon Frame and Fork, Shimano Ultegra 2×11 Drivetrain, 34×32 Compact Gearing, 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)
And finally we have a selection of straight bar road bikes in our rental fleet. $250.- per week
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.
The

E-bikes

Scott Spark 930, a truly fantastic way to go up or down a mountain.
The Spark 930 features: Spark Carbon HMF-Alloy Frame, FOX 34 Float Performance 130mm Fork, FOX Nude EVOL/120mm/TwinLoc rear shock, Shimano XT-SLX 12 Speed Drivetrain, Shimano Deore Disc Brakes, Syncros X-25 TR Rims, Maxxis Rekon Folding Tires, plus Syncros Dropper Post. Approx. Weight: 28.88 lbs / 13.10 kg (without pedals) $250.- per week

Downloads

Covid - 19

Aspen to Taos elevation profile