Bicycle Tours Colorado
Tour Summary
Duration
6 Days / 5 NightsDistance
358 milesElevation Gain
24,200 feet2013 Dates
June 29-July 52013 Price
$2,255.00Single Room
No ChargeRider Limit
15 Rider LimitBike Rental
$245.00Highlights
Lake CitySan Juan Mountains
Durango
Silverton
Pagosa Springs
Lodging
Alpine Moose LodgeArlington Inn & Suites
Best Western Rio Grand
Grand Imperial Hotel
Holiday Inn Express
Dining
Alpine Moose LodgeRockaway Cafe
Francisco's
Handlebars
Garlic Mike's
Start / Finish
Gunnison, ColoradoMeet Time:
Gunnison, Colorado Saturday: 12:00pmAfter Tour:
Return: 3:00PM
Bicycle Tour Colorado
San Juan Mountain Loop
6 Days • 358 Miles • 24,200' • $2,255.00
Climb 5 Famous Mountain Passes in One Week
Don't let the mileage fool you! This is a challenging cycling vacation with big climbs up steep mountain passes every day. The ride begins and ends in Gunnison, tracing a loop through the old mining towns of the San Juan mountain range.
Each day we'll bike a famous mountain pass, including Wolf Creek, Red Mountain, Coal Bank, Engineer and Slumgullion, the steepest pass in Colorado. We also visit the famous towns of Creede, Lake City, Pagosa Springs, Silverton, Ouray and Durango.
Day |
Weekday |
Ride Day |
Route |
Elevation Gain |
Miles |
1 |
Saturday |
... |
Check-in & Orientation 2:00pm |
--- |
--- |
2 |
Sunday |
1 |
Gunnison to Lake city |
3,700' |
57 |
3 |
Monday |
2 |
Lake City to South Fork |
4,100' |
74 |
4 |
Tuesday |
3 |
South Fork to Pagosa Springs |
3,300' |
49 |
5 |
Wednesday |
4 |
Durango to Silverton |
5,800' |
50 |
6 |
Thursday |
5 |
Silverton to Montrose |
2,100' |
62 |
7 |
Friday |
6 |
Montrose to Gunnison |
4,800' |
66 |
... |
... |
... |
Return
Shuttle to Denver |
--- |
--- |
... |
.... |
... |
Total |
24,000' |
358 |
Route Map
Day 1 - Saturday: Meet in Gunnison
This bike Tour starts Gunnison, Colorado. We suggest you fly into Denver Friday night or Saturday morning, and then either take a connector flight to Gunnison, or rent a car for the week and drive there Saturday morning. It is a 4-5 hour drive to Gunnison from Denver. We meet at the Holiday Inn Express in Gunnison at 2:00 pm. After checking into our hotel, you'll have the chance to get settled in and set up your bike. At an early evening orientation we'll provide an overview for the week, make introductions, and answer any questions you have.
Day 2 - Gunnison to Lake City
On day one we bike from
Gunnison to Lake City, Colorado, a small mountain town nestled at the junction of the Alpine Loop and Silver Thread Scenic Byways. Today's highlights are miles of river and forest with occasional mountaintop views of the San Juans. Grades average 6-8% today with the big climb coming tomorrow. Tonight we stay at the Alpine Moose Lodge and dine with transplanted french chef Bruno and his wife Frederique.
57 miles / 3,700 ft. elevation gain
Day 3 - Lake City to South Fork
We leave Lake City, cycling toward the base of Slumgullion Pass, the steepest
mountain pass in Colorado. With prolonged grades of 8-11%, Slumgullion tops out at a lung-busting 11,580'. After earning lunch and dinner for the day, we'll summit 10,898' Spring Creek Pass along the Continental Divide, before enjoying 20 miles of descent into the historic mining town of Creede, the last silver boomtown in Colorado in the 1800's.
74 miles / 4,100 ft. elevation gain
Day 4 - South Fork to Pagosa Springs
On Day 4 we'll cycle over two thousand feet on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway tas we summit the Continental Divide for the second time at the top of Wolf Creek Pass (10,850'). If you've ever heard the song of the same name, you know the descent off Wolf Creek is steep! We'll pass waterfalls and scenic panoramas on our way down to Pagosa Springs, famous for their giant hot springs. After soaking in the springs, we'll shuttle a busy section of highway to Durango. Our hotel sits in the heart of downton Durango, so you won't have to walk far to enjoy this super popular outdoors town.
49 miles / 3,300 ft. elevation gain
Day 5 - Durango to Silverton
Today we will be cycling the route of the famous Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, a race where cyclists originally tried to beat the steam train over two mountain passes to the historic mining town of Silverton.
Once the
stomping ground of silver kings and railroad giants, Silverton survives
today as one of Colorado’s most visited destinations. After summiting 10,660' Coal Bank Pass, we'll enjoy a short three mile descent before climbing back up to 10,900' Molas
Divide. You've earned the stellar views as you descend 2,000' into town where the historic Grand Imperial Hotel and Handlebars Saloon await.
50 miles / 5,800 ft. elevation gain
Day 6 - Silverton to Montrose
We start the day by cycling out of Silverton along the “Million Dollar Highway”, part
of the San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway. The day starts with a climb as We ascend 11,018'
Red Mountain Pass before an out-of-this-world descent into the cliff-hanging town of Ouray. After lunch in the ice-climbing capital of Colorado, we'll cruise 30 miles of downhill and flats into the town of Montrose, gateway to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison park.
62 miles / 2,100 ft. elevation gain
Day 7 - Montrose to Gunnison
Our final day highlights the 2,000 foot deep Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the source of its winding river, Blue Mesa lake. A scenic side trip into this recently designated National Park will give you the chance to marvel at the depth of "Colorado's Own Grand Canyon." We then ride along Blue Mesa Lake on our way back to Gunnison and the end of our epic climbing tour!
66 miles / 4,800 ft. elevation gain
