Telluride to Durango Singletrack - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

DAY 1

After meeting in Durango, we’ll load up and shuttle 2-1/2 hours to Telluride. On the way we’ll drive through the historic mining town of Rico, over 10,222 foot Lizard Head Pass, and beneath the 14,000 foot peaks of El Diente and Mt. Wilson. From Telluride we’ll ride the gondola with our bikes up and out of town to the ski area’s core at Mountain Village. Once we’re on our bikes again a 2,000 foot descent on singletrack awaits, plunging us into the Ilium Valley where we’ll have lunch. The remainder of the day will be spent climbing beneath the trees on the Galloping Goose railroad grade. At a consistent 3% grade the “Goose” climbs 2,200 feet, topping out in the trees where we will camp for the night. TOTAL MILEAGE: 17 miles

DAY 2

This mornings we will warm up with a ride that circumnavigates the beautiful Trout lake, taking us up to Lizard head pass. After a quick re-group we will connect 2 miles of pavement, downhill, to the East Fork Trailhead. From here our route follows the difficult East Fork Trail up the headwaters of the Dolores River. This roadless drainage is extremely beautiful as it traverses high meadows beneath the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains. The trail is fairly primitive and discretionary riders may want to walk some short sections. The East Fork Trail eventually intersects an old doubletrack that we’ll follow to our Bolam Pass camp. From this 11,000 foot elevation camp, fine views of Graysill Mountain and the La Plata Mountains dominate the skyline. After setting up our tents, an optional ride to Sliderock Pass on the Colorado Trail is available. Celebration Lake is near camp, where the hardy can enjoy a truly refreshing dip in the afternoon. TOTAL MILEAGE: 15 - 18 miles

DAY 3

Todays ride is an out-and-back from camp. We will start with a climb up to Sliderock Pass where we will do a quick regroup to take in the amazing views of the San Juans. After catching our breath we will enjoy an amazing yet technical descent down to Cascade Falls. After enjoying our packed lunch at the Falls we will start our climb back up to Sliderock Pass. Once at the pass we enjoy a familiar descent back into camp.

TOTAL MILEAGE: 14 miles, shorter options available

DAY 4

Today we’ll join the alpine singletrack of the Colorado Trail for a spectacular ride at an altitude few people ever reach on their bikes. The Colorado Trail offers incredible wilderness scenery and runs nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango. From camp the trail begins by winding around the slopes of Hermosa Peak before ascending 12,000 foot Blackhawk Pass. There will be some short hike-a-bikes on this section, which offer a chance to stretch our legs and enjoy the far reaching views from this high elevation trail. At the pass we’ll have a snack, maybe a nap, and begin our incredible descent off the backside of Blackhawk pass. Ending this descent on double-track road we will do a quick climb to another descent on the Stagecoach trail. Buckle up folks, the Stagecoach trail brings you down to the valley floor, where we will camp for the evening along Hermosa Creek.

TOTAL MILEAGE: 17 - 19 miles

DAY 5

The Hermosa Creek Trail is considered one of the best singletrack trails in the Rockies. Although we are almost always losing elevation on this 18 mile trail, it is a challenging workout. Beginning in the open meadows of Hermosa Park, we ride beside Hermosa Creek for a few miles before the creek drops away from the trail. The singletrack threads through large stands of aspens and conifers. After intersecting Dutch Creek we will begin a short, but strenuous climb. Some of the best riding of the day occurs after the climb, as we roll along at a fairly steady elevation, high above the roaring creek. Ending at the Lower Hermosa Creek Trailhead, we’ll load up the shuttle van and head back into Durango where our journey will end. TOTAL MILEAGE: 18 - 20 miles

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.

Driving

Durango is located in southwestern Colorado. It is a 6-hour drive from Denver via Interstate 25 to US 160. From Grand Junction, Colorado it is a 4-hour drive via US 50 and 550. Please notify Western Spirit if you need to park your car during the trip and Western Spirit will make arrangements.

Flying into Durango, CO Airport Code: DRO

Durango is a popular summer vacation spot. It is a good idea to book your rooms several months in advance if possible; here are a few recommendations:

Lightner Creek Inn B & B 970-259-1226, 800-268-9804

Comfort Inn 970-259-5373, 800-228-5150

Best Western Durango Inn 970-247-3251, 800-547-9090

Best Western Mountain Shadows 970-247-5200, 800-780-7234

Budget Inn 970-247-5222, 800-257-5222

Super 8 970-259-0590

We love biking and traveling as much as you do! For over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of bike guiding and we’ve honed every little detail to give you the highest quality bike trip on the market. We’ve cherry-picked the best mountain bike trails and road rides so you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the American West. We go the extra mile to make sure you have the most fun on your bike!

At Western Spirit, our staff is the heart of our company. Our guides love what they do, and are dedicated to providing you with a memorable vacation. Each of them has received extensive training in backcountry travel, cooking, natural history, and first aid, not to mention their cycling and mechanical skills. They are committed to helping people experience the outdoors and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their attention to every detail leaves you free to enjoy the riding.

It’s our philosophy that everyone in our busy world needs to get outside more. We know it’s tough to squeeze it all in, but with Western Spirit we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our friendly office staff is just a call away to help you find the perfect trip for you. We believe in getting away from it all, spending rejuvenating time in nature, and most of all, having a lot of fun!

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.

Not included are: 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.

Your total tour cost will include your trip fee, appropriate rental fees and applicable sales tax

We provide water, coffee, teas, electrolyte drinks, and assorted soft drinks. We cannot provide alcohol. You are welcome to bring your favorite alcoholic beverages and our guides will store them at the appropriate temperature. We’ll keep the beer cold while you’re out riding!

Yes! From lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, we’ve got healthy and delicious food to fuel your fun. Food is one thing we take pretty seriously and we get rave reviews from our guests.

Our guides are amazing backcountry chefs and will prepare all your meals. All snacks are included. We’re sponsored by Clif Bar, and provide you with plentiful bars, snacks and electrolyte drinks. If you have specific favorite riding snacks, however, please bring them with you.

Yes, no problem! We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and we do it frequently. Our guides are masters at making sure everyone is satisfied. Please let us know when you fill out your forms so our guides can accommodate you and your needs. It is good to be specific (e.g., vegetarian but prefer tempeh over tofu) to help the guides with meal planning.

We wish we could tell you exactly, but Mother Nature is quite unpredictable as you may know. Our trips are designed with the best weather in mind, and follow the seasons—desert trips in spring and fall, and mountain trips in the summer. By sticking to our packing list that we’ve designed for you, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes our way (bringing rain gear almost assures it won’t rain, right?).

Most of our permits allow us to take 13 guests and 2 guides, although many trips are smaller than our maximum allowed. Our Maze permit in Canyonlands National Park is more limited with only 7 guests and 2 guides to maintain the remote wilderness experience.

For mountain bikes, we use the Specialized Stumpjumper ST 29ers. For road bikes, we use the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite. All our rental bikes come with flat pedals, a helmet, and one water bottle cage. We provide the water bottle and all the bike repair gear.

If you’re renting a bike from us, you do not need to show up early. Please meet at the scheduled time and we will fit you to your rented bike then.

All Western Spirit rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you have clipless pedals (e.g., SPD, Crank Brothers, etc.), you’re welcome to bring them along with your shoes. We swap out pedals all the time!

The packing list will tell you how to pack, since it depends on which trip you are on. Overall, we use a 3-bag system:

Camping gear and personal items for camp (gets packed away in the morning and is inaccessible throughout the day), Small daypack (stays in vehicle and is accessible throughout the day, e.g., extra layers, prescription medications, extra snacks, etc.), Hydration pack you wear (all things you readily need, right there on your back). We recommend a 2-liter hydration system (e.g., Camelbak) to carry the things needed during the day (water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layer, sunscreen, camera, etc.), and to easily hydrate without stopping.

Nope! We provide spare tubes (for 26”, 27.5” and 29” wheels), lube, tool kits, and pumps.

Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too!

Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip. If you’re bringing your own bike, please make sure it has been tuned up and is in excellent riding condition before the trip.

Yes! We rent tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. Sleeping bags are thoroughly washed between trips. The following prices are for the whole trip:

2-person tent – $40 Sleeping bag – $35 Sleeping pad – $15 Total $90

We offer solar showers which are a nice way to rinse off and refresh yourself, but it is not enough water to take a full-fledge shower. The showers are not private, so please bring a swimsuit and your own towel. Showers are dependent on water resources, which may be restricted if it’s a hot desert trip. Some campsites have streams and lakes available for swimming. We also recommend wet-wipes to refresh after a fun day on the bike.

It’s not a glamorous topic, and we know this can be a subject of concern and embarrassment for some. We make it as easy and sanitary as possible! If we’re camping in designated campsites, we use the pit toilets available in the campgrounds. If we’re camping in the backcountry, we obey by the pack-it-in-pack-it-out rule. We set up a portable toilet lovingly called “the groover,” and put it in a private location with a stunning view. We provide a hand wash system for clean up.

Please join us! We get solo travelers all the time and going on a bike trip is a great way to meet like-minded people. Many of our guests end up as lifelong friends after a Western Spirit trip.