Some rides sit on the list for years. This one had unfinished business: our first attempt at the Wasatch Loop ended in the high country with a thunderstorm rolling in and a long retreat down the road. This summer, with my nephew in town — we have a standing tradition of big days in the mountains, trail running or riding — we finally went back and closed the loop.

Start at the bike shop. Always.

We kicked things off at Telluride Cyclery — a quick bike check, ride snacks, and the thing you cannot download: local beta. Max pointed us at a detour we would never have prioritized on our own — the spur to Lewis Lake and the old mill above it — and it turned into the highlight of the whole ride. This is exactly why we stop at local shops instead of leaning only on online research. #supportlocal

Nine and a half miles of up

The route wastes no time: from town you point uphill and stay there. The first 9.5 miles climb roughly 4,000 feet with barely a flat pedal stroke — up the switchbacks past Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall, where the road turns to one-way jeep traffic. We knew what we signed up for. Honestly, we love climbing. It helps.

Past the falls you roll through a gate and the basin goes quiet — no vehicles are permitted beyond the top of the falls, and the old mining doubletrack into Bridal Veil Basin was completely empty. Just switchbacks, creek crossings, and the kind of views that make you forget your heart rate.

Max’s detour: Lewis Lake and the mill

At mile 8.4, right where the Trailforks map shows the Lewis Lake spur peeling off, we took the shop’s advice: 0.9 miles and about 400 more feet of climbing. What was still blooming up there in early August surprised us — banks of subalpine fleabane, alpine avens, and rosy paintbrush at 12,300 feet, this late in the season.

The lake itself sits at 12,700 feet in a stark glacial bowl. We took a dip. “Refreshing” is one word for it.

Just below the lake, the route passes the remains of the historic Lewis Mill — you ride right past the old iron penstock that once fed the mill workings. Mining history at 12,600 feet, wildflowers growing through it.

The high point: 13,073 feet

Back on the main line, the climb tops out at a saddle above the basin at 13,073 feet — mile 12.4, about four hours of moving time in. Bikes went overhead. It felt earned.

The decision at the fork — and a lot of down

At mile 14.1 the route forks: East Fork Bear Creek (a double-black on Trailforks) or Wasatch Trail (Upper). East Fork looked even steeper from where we stood, so we took Wasatch — which was itself steep, loose, black-diamond riding that demanded full attention the whole way down. This is not a descent to underestimate.

Then the reward: a stretch of new singletrack built parallel to the Bear Creek road, all the way back toward town. After the loose, brake-burning upper mountain, that tacky, buffed dirt was the finish both of us needed. We rolled off the trail grinning.

The best finish line in Colorado

We ended the day the Telluride way: legs empty, dancing badly at the free Sunset Concert Series over in Mountain Village. Big alpine loop, a swim at 12,700 feet, mining history, wildflowers, black-diamond descending, live music. One day. That is why this town is on every rider’s list.