Rockies & Crested Butte Mountain Bike Festival
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Denver in the early evening. A single group transfer is provided in the early evening. If you cannot take advantage of this transfer, a free airport shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes and will take you to the group hotel. KE Land Only services start with a briefing by the local guide before dinner.
Day 2: After breakfast, we make an early morning transfer (2 hours) to Bison Peak Lodge. After checking in to the lodge we will build our bikes and take a warm-up ride following roads, double-track trails and single track for around 2 hours of riding on a trail called Spruce Grove. Overnight at the lodge. Ride distance 15 km (9 miles).
Day 3: We start with a 1 hour transfer then ride the fast and level Rampart Reservoir trail. This trail is around 12 miles long and winds in and out of the many inlets surrounding the lake with some technical sections. On our way home we will visit the Team Telecycle bike shop in Woodland Park. Overnight at the lodge. Ride distance 19 km (12miles).
Day 4: The ride starts from the door today on two track and singletrack high in the Tarryall Mountains. After a short road section we climb up to an alpine meadow at Burns Park. From here we ride pristine singletrack to a dirt road descent with short technical sections. After a short climb, a final steep singletrack descent leads back onto the road and to the lodge. Ride distance 30 km (19 miles).
Day 5: We transfer (2 hours, 30 mins) to Crested Butte and Gunnison for the Crested Butte Fat Tire Week. We have a 3 day pass for access to group rides, live music and the bike expo, etc. In the afternoon, we ride on back roads, jeep track, and singletrack. This evening we are invited to the MTB party. Overnight in a hotel. Ride distance 29 km (18 miles).
Day 6: Today we ride the Hartman Rocks Trail which is the course for the Rage in the Sage. It offers fast and fun high desert singletrack with minimal elevation gain and loss. This evening the whole group is automatically entered in the 'Chainless Race'. Overnight at the hotel. Ride distance 48 km (30 miles).
Day 7: An early start to watch the beginning of the cross country mountain bike race. We then ride in the high mountain outside Crested Butte on some of the greatest singletrack in Colorado. More festival festivities this evening. Overnight at the hotel. Ride distance 40 km (25miles).
Day 8: Transfer (1hour, 30 mins) to Buena Vista. There is an optional river rafting trip (not included in the trip price) through the Brown's Canyon section of the Arkansas River with lots of rapids. Alternatively, we will make a short ride on the Midland Trail just outside the town. Overnight at a hotel in Buena Vista. Ride distance (optional) 13 km (8 miles).
Day 9: After a short drive, we start the South Park Crest, a long continuous collection of trails that lead over the next 4 days back to the Bison Peak Lodge. Today we ride the Sheep Creek Trail including loads of singletrack and the crossing of Breakneck Pass at nearly 11,000 feet (3350m). We end the day at the town of Fairplay where we overnight in a hotel. Ride distance 30 km (19 miles).
Day 10: We continue the South Park Crest, starting with a steady climb on a forest road up into the mountains. A final section of carrying takes us above the tree line to a ridge, beyond which we have a blast singletack descent to the Gold Dust Trail which we follow into Como at 9896 feet (3015m). Overnight in a hotel. Ride distance 23 km (14 miles).
Day 11: Today's ride takes us across the continental civide at Georgia Pass. A big climb and a big descent, following the famous Colorado Trail toward Kenosha Pass. We finish the day on the buffed singletrack and meet our transport back to Bison Peak Lodge for a home cooked meal and good night's rest. Ride distance 35 km (22 miles).
Day 12: An early start for a big day and our last ride. We transfer back to the previous day's end point and set off climbing into the Tarryall Mountains. We ride a mix of dirt road and technical singletrack with a final few miles of road to reach Bison Peak Lodge. Arriving mid-afternoon we then pack our bikes and transfer to our hotel close to Denver Airport. Ride distance 38 km (24 miles).
Day 13: KE Land Only services end with breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time in Denver. A group transfer to Denver Airport is provided in the evening. A free shuttle service also operates.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
