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. This tour offers out of the ordinary mountain biking, delivering cyclists into a backcountry setting far away from accessible trail-heads. Rarely will one see another person let alone another cyclist.
The idea is to give you an opportunity to pedal some of Colorado’s most remote, fascinating, and inaccessible terrain.It will contain sections of single track, unimproved roads, sections with hardly a trail and everything in between.
Mountain bike
6 days
275 km / 171 mi
$ 1,760.-
Monarch Crest Trail: ride a stunning route into the foothills of the San Juan
Mountains: Cannibal Classic route.
Crest the Continental Divide for 3 times on this trip.
The historic mining town of Silverton
he deposit for this tour is $950.-pp.
Gallery
Details
Type
Mountain bike
Duration
6 days
Level
Easy = untrained, normal physical condition Moderate = regular cyclist, good condition Challenging = experienced, well trained
Challenging
Technical level
Easy = unpaved roads, almost flat Average = narrow paths, steep climbing Difficult = barely used trails, rocks
Average
Support
Guided = with cycling guide(s) - support van Self Guided = individual - directions+maps
Guided
Daily distance
40-60 km / 25-37 mi
Total distance
275 km / 171 mi
Lodging
Deluxe = 4-5 star hotel or excellent B&B Basic = 1-2 star hotel/motel or B&B Camping = tent, sports hall or campus
Camping, full board
Luggage transport
Daily luggage transfers
Bicycle
Rental
Dates
18 Jun 2023 - 23 Jun 2023 02 Jul 2023 - 07 Jul 2023 13 Aug 2023 - 18 Aug 2023 16 Jun 2024 - 21 Jun 2024 23 Jun 2024 - 28 Jun 2024
Start
Montrose
Finish
Telluride ( shuttle back to Montrose)
Airport at start
Montrose regional airport ( Denver int. airport)
Airport at finish
Montrose regional airport ( 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
Rental Tent, Ground Pad and Sleeping Bag
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.-
Optional
Tent
Our rental tents are Kelty and Sierra Design tents (sleep 2 comfortably).
$ 55.-
Optional
mountain bike rental
The 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.-
Optional
Itinerary
Included / Not Included – lodging
Day 1: Monarch Crest Trail
Nearly 25 miles of some of the most breathtaking and smoothest trail in the world
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.
Day 2: The cannibal’s Route: North Pass to Cebolla Creek Camp
39-miles of remote jeep road through the San Juan Mountains:
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!
Day 3: Cebolla Creek Camp to Spring Creek Pass Camp
23-miles over Slumgullion Pass
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.
Day 4: Spring Creek Pass to Rio Grande Headwaters Camp.
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.
Day 5: Rio Grande Camp to Silverton and the Molas Pass Camp.
25 miles: 4,500 feet of ascending and 5,800 of descending.
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
Day 6: Molas Lake Camp to Telluride!
35-miles over Ophir Pass to Galloping Goose singletrack
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.
For elevation profiles and extra information see PDF files below.
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.
*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:
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
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.
Lodging option available in Lake City, Colorado (Add $95-)
Map & Routes
Map
Satellite
Bicycle
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)
Included with Mountain Bike Rental
• Saddle Bag with Pump, Tube, and Tire Iron
• One Water Bottle Cage – accommodate full-size water bottle (24 oz)
• One Water Bottle – please bring another to stay hydrated during travel and to minimize plastic waste
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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)
