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Big Bend & Rio Grande - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

Guided ·

4.9

Midland• Big Bend National Park

Locally Owned

Shuttle Included

Small Group Sizes

Duration: 5 days

Pricing

Big Bend & The Rio Grande

$1,745

Description

Big Bend & The Rio Grande - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

Do you want to have an adventure in one of the largest, most remote, and least visited national parks in the lower 48? Would you like to ride your bike through the beautiful and rugged Chihuahuan Desert and explore a region with over one million acres of public land? How about paddling for a day in the stunning canyons of the famous Rio Grande? Embark on an unforgettable adventure in one of the most remote and least visited national parks in the continental United States—Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas.

This 5-day guided mountain biking and camping trip takes you deep into the spectacular Chihuahuan Desert, a vast wilderness of rugged canyons, dramatic rock formations, and sprawling desert vistas covering over one million acres of public land.

Once a renowned hub for mountain bike racing, Big Bend offers diverse terrain ranging from flowing singletrack to technical rock sections, challenging your skills while rewarding you with breathtaking views of the Solitario’s volcanic caldera, the Rio Grande’s winding river corridor, and the surrounding desert landscape. Along the way, you’ll discover historic sites like the Whitroy Mine, explore the Wall of Hands, and immerse yourself in the region’s rich natural and cultural history.

Midweek, switch gears as you paddle through the stunning Hot Springs Canyon on the Rio Grande, soaking in natural hot springs and dramatic limestone cliffs. Each day’s ride or float ends back at camp where you can relax under the vast desert sky, share stories, and enjoy hearty meals prepared with care.

Perfect for intermediate riders seeking a blend of challenging terrain, natural beauty, and cultural discovery, this trip offers a rare opportunity to experience Big Bend’s wild magic, both on two wheels and by river.

Trip Details, Duration & Difficulty

Road Surface: Mixed surfaces. Single track, double track, packed dirt road, rocky 4x4 road, loose rock, sand washes, and pavement.
Overall Rating: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. While much of the route is suitable for intermediate riders, there are some steep, loose, technical rock sections.
Physical Difficulty: Moderate. Some short, steep climbs at low elevations.
Altitude: 1,800- 7,500 ft

RIDING TYPE | Intermediate

TRIP DURATION | 5 Days

SEASON | February – April

Ages & Requirements

This trip is designed for intermediate mountain bikers who are comfortable riding a variety of surfaces, including singletrack, rocky trails, loose dirt, and sandy washes. You should have solid bike handling skills to navigate some technical sections and be prepared for moderate physical effort with short, steep climbs at varying elevations between 1,800 and 7,500 feet. Good endurance and overall fitness are important to enjoy daily rides of up to 30 miles.

Camping experience is helpful but not required, as you’ll spend several nights at established campsites and be guided through the basics of backcountry camping. The trip also includes a river float on the Rio Grande, which requires no prior paddling experience but does call for comfort spending several hours on the water. Rental bikes and camping gear are available if you prefer not to bring your own.

While there’s not a specific minimum age for this trip, it’s important that all participants meet the physical requirements and are confident riding intermediate mountain bike terrain. Because this is a group tour, riders should be able to keep pace and not impact the overall group experience. If you’re considering bringing a younger rider, please include their age and biking experience in your booking request form. We’re happy to assess whether the trip is a good fit or discuss the option of a private tour better suited to your family’s needs.

Location / Where to Meet

MEETING PLACE AND TIME

Midland, TX The trip will meet at 7:00 AM CDT at the Sleep Inn & Suites, 5612 Deauville Blvd, Midland, TX. This is ~10 minutes from the airport. Sleep Inn & Suites offers free airport shuttles. You may park your car here, gratis, during the trip. You will need to spend the night before in Midland, TX.

ENDING TIME

We will return to Midland between 4:00-5:00 PM on the last day.

What's Included

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks
camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware
1 cycling water bottle
camp chairs
dry bags to pack your gear
solar showers
sunscreen & bug spray
bike stand and lube
guides bring their own tools
first aid kit with basic medications

Not Included

Rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

Rental Options & Additional Services:

Camping Gear: We rent three-man tents (comfortable fit 2 adults), 20-degree sleeping bags and Thermarest pads.
Bike Shipping & Handling: Having your own bike for the trip is never a bad idea. We recommend BikeFlights when shipping your bike to and from the trip. Check with our office staff on our partnered bike shop in the area of your trip.

Multi-Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventures

ADVENTURE PROVIDED BY Western Spirit Cycling Adventures

FAQs

Itinerary

DAY 1

After meeting in Midland, we will shuttle south to Terlingua and Desert Sports Bike Shop. Here you can soak up views of the Chisos Mountains and Big Bend National Park or grab a map to orient you to this remote and rugged landscape. After a delicious lunch we will shuttle a few more miles to the Lajitas Trailhead. Our afternoon ride will offer a great introduction and warm up for the rest of the week. We’ll ride fast and flowing singletrack and techy two-track that weaves through ocotillo cactus with stunning views of the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. This ride will have you grinning from ear to ear! After our ride we will shuttle further west towards Big Bend Ranch State Park and our camp for the next three nights. TOTAL MILEAGE: 10 miles

DAY 2

Today’s ride will take us into the heart of Big Bend Ranch State Park, starting at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center and the East Contrabando Trailhead. The Rincon Loop is part of a larger IMBA epic ride and showcases the variety of mountain bike terrain the park has to offer. A mixture of singletrack, two track, dirt road, and desert washes make up this challenging loop. Along the way we will see the historical Whitroy Mine, Smith Crawford House, the Wall of Hands, and the Flatirons of the remote Solitario. We will pack a lunch today, allowing us the whole day to ride, explore, and take in the scenery. TOTAL MILEAGE: 30 miles

DAY 3

Today we will ride another section of Big Bend Ranch State Park, starting from the West Contrabando Trailhead. We will ride the classic Contrabando Dome Loop, incorporating the Waterhole Trail and the newer Fresno Divide Trail. Incredible views and technical rock sections will demand your full attention. After our ride in the state park we have several options, including a visit to the historical Contrabando movie set, a refreshing dip in the Rio Grande, or more riding or hiking along the River Road, rated as one of the most scenic routes in Texas. TOTAL MILEAGE: 10-20 miles

DAY 4

After packing camp we will shuttle east to Big Bend National Park. Today we take a break from the bikes and get on the river with a float through Hot Springs Canyon on the Rio Grande. Our float takes us past limestone bluffs, ancient ruins, and the historic Langford Hot Springs where we’ll stop and soak our tired bodies. After our float through Hot Springs Canyon we’ll shuttle to our camp in Chisos Basin, beneath the dramatic Chisos Mountains. TOTAL MILEAGE: 8-20 miles

DAY 5

This morning will begin with either a hike or bike ride beneath the stunning Chisos Mountains. Regardless of how we choose to end our adventure we will be rewarded with views of the vast Chihuahuan Desert and the terrain we explored earlier in the week. We’ll have lunch in the national park and then shuttle back to Midland. TOTAL MILEAGE: 7 miles riding or 6 miles hiking

Packing List

Be sure to bring everything on this list. We have carefully developed this list to ensure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared it can be a serious problem.We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!

HOW TO PACK: The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle (preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day.

For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag:

Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient.

A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This day-pack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.

WHAT WE PROVIDE: ✓ meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks ✓ camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware ✓ 1 cycling water bottle ✓ camp chairs ✓ solar showers ✓ sunscreen & bug spray ✓ bike stand and lube ✓ guides bring their own tools ✓ first aid kit with basic medications

BRINGING OR RENTING

Bike (Our rentals come with flat pedals. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.)
Helmet (gratis w/rental bike)
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad

CYCLING CLOTHING

cycling shoes
3 - 5 pair cycling shorts
3 - 5 cycling shirts
long sleeve cycling shirt
long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
cycling socks
windbreaker
tights or leg warmers
2 pair cycling gloves (1 pair full length for warmth)
rain jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
warm layer (lightweight synthetic puffy jacket or long sleeve fleece shirt)
sunglasses or other eye protection

CAMP CLOTHING

camp shorts
shirts
warm socks
long underwear, top and bottom (wicking layer, not cotton)
2 pair warm long pants
long sleeve fleece or sweater
pile or down jacket (insulating layer)
warm gloves and hat
brimmed hat or visor
bathing suit (for solar showers on the trip and at the hotel before/after your trip)
hiking shoes
sandals
rain gear to wear in camp

PERSONAL

toiletries
medication (daily and emergency)
towel
biodegradable soap
wet-wipes
flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
sunglasses
optional day bag
stuff sacks or reusable grocery bags (or separate compartments for your dry bag
cash for tipping guides: your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10-20% of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides when you return to civilization is a great way to say thanks for a job well done.

OPTIONAL

camera, extra batteries
binoculars
alcoholic or any of your favorite beverages (your guides will pack these)
books or maps
we encourage you to turn your devices off, but if you cannot, please bring a way to charge them. We recommend a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges. Also, putting your phone on airplane mode to save power is recommended.

Getting to Midland, Texas

Driving to Midland, TX. Midland is in west Texas, 300 miles west of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Flying into Midland/Odessa, TX Airport Code: MAF

TAXI SERVICE

Imperial Taxi: 432-770-3660 Midland Shuttle Services: 432-312-0443 Midland Executive Car Services: 432-260-5428

Lodging Before Your Trip

It is a good idea to book your rooms in advance; here are a few recommendations for Midland, TX:

Sleep Inn & Suites 432-694-4200

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Midland Loop 250 432-520-3600

Quality Suites 432-620-9191

Country Inn & Suites 432-218-7980

Cancellation Policy

We would hate to see you go but if something does come up here is the cancellation policy.

Should you need to cancel for any reason, we will apply the following cancellation policy: For cancellations prior to 60 days before departure, a $50 handling fee per person is retained and the remainder of your deposit is refunded. For cancellations 60-31 days before departure, 50% of your trip fees are refunded. For cancellations 30 days or less before departure, no monies are refundable.

We must adhere to our cancellation policy in order to maintain the price structure of our trips. Please do not ask us to make exceptions. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your investment. Western Spirit Cycling reserves the right to cancel any trip. Full refunds will be made in these instances. Western Spirit Cycling is not responsible for non-refundable airfare.