SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS' CLASSIC TOUR
- 6 days, 5 nights - Monday through Saturday
- July 23-28
- Moderate+ to Challenging
- On Road Travel
- Road Bikes Recommended
- (220 miles total)
- Bike Rentals Available
The Owner on his solo test ride of the San Juan Skyway, SW Colorado
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SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS' CLASSIC SUMMARY
Again, we have bitten off a seemly hard core tour route, but doing it in a relaxed way that will accommodate both the conditioned recreational rider as well as the more ambitious cyclist. This tour travels the majority of the San Juan Skyway in southwestern Colorado on mostly low traffic roads with grades of 6% or less with adequate ride able shoulders not withstanding a few exceptions. It is an amazing scenic loop and parts of it are referred to as the American Alps. Although quite mountainous, the tour is designed to assist you in adjusting to the altitude with a relatively easy first day and with gradual mileage the second day. We will average 36 - 41 miles a day ranging from as much as 50 miles the 4th day and as little as 23 miles the 5th day. But don’t let the 23 mile day fool you; this is the crux of the tour with over 3300 ft of elevation gain with a narrow twisting road that will take your breath away. As customary for Dakota Bike Tours, we stay in unique places such as Mesa Verde National Park, and in quaint towns and villages like Rico, Telluride, Ouray and Silverton, all mining towns with a rich history. This tour fits the mold of the “Relaxed Adventure Company” and will exceed your expectations. As always, you can ride extra miles, or you can use our NO-SHAME VAN Policy and get a breather anytime you want.
Prior to Monday's Arrival : The tour convenes in Durango at 8:30 a.m. and ends in Durango Saturday afternoon around 2:00 p.m. The guides will be staying at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Durango where the tour will commence. Cars will be parked for the week at an area to be determined. Road bike rentals will be available in Durango and the guides will assist you in picking them up Sunday afternoon and returning them on Saturday. Do not book a flight out of Durango prior to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Monday, Bike Tour Begins, Durango to Mesa Verde National Park: The morning starts with a moderate bike ride of 35 miles followed by visiting several cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park in the afternoon. We will also spend the night in the park Monday night at the Far View Lodge at 8040 ft of elevation, which has incredible views and fantastic lounging and dining facilities. This elevation is perfect for continuing the acclimatization process.
- Guests will convene ready to ride at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Double Tree Hotel in Durango (6,512 ft.), where the guides will be staying Sunday night and utilizing the Hotel as tour headquarters for the start of the tour.
- We will depart on our bikes and ride on Hwy 160 for 27.6 miles to Mancos for lunch provided by Dakota Bike Tours. This stretch is very pleasant with a few climbs, but is mostly gentle with a good shoulder.
- After lunch, we will proceed for 7.4 miles on Hwy 160 to the park entrance of Mesa Verde National Park.
- The park prohibits organized bikes groups from riding in the park, so we will drive into the park for 15 miles, check into our rooms at Far View Lodge, and prepare for a guided tour of one of the ranger led cliff dwellings. There will also be time for a self guided tour as well.
- We will return to our lodge where we will have a social hour followed by dinner in the main dining room.
Tuesday, Dolores to Rico: Route is 38 miles with a steady elevation gain of 2,000 ft. following the scenic Dolores River.
- Following a 35 mile van ride, we will depart on on our bikes via hwy 145 from Dolores and gradually ascend alongside the Dolores River which is very pleasant. For those who want extra mile this day, we will provide you an option for adding 18 miles to this day..
- A picnic lunch will be served along the route approximately half way to Rico.
- The ride ends in Rico (elevation 8827) at the Rico Hotel, a funky but charming historic hotel with recently remodeled rooms.
- The highlight of our stay promises to be dinner at the attached restaurant, where the owner and executive chef will prepare us a superb meal.
Wednesday, Rico over Lizard Head Pass (10,222 ft.) to Telluride Mt. Village and then to Telluride: Route is 33.8 miles with an elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
- Following breakfast, we will ride for 12.7 miles to Lizard Head Pass where the scenery gets amazing with large alpine meadows and panorama views of both the San Miguel Mountains and the western edge of the San Juan Mountains.
- We will descend from Lizard Head Pass where the scenery remains breathtaking as well as several road side explanations of the mining and railroad days in this rugged area.
- After a short climb, we will depart Hwy 145 and ride our bikes into the Telluride Mountain Village where everyone is on their own for lunch.
- After lunch, we will finish the day by riding 7.9 miles to the Aspen Street Inn in downtown Telluride, elevation 8,745 ft. This Inn is absolutely delightful with many amenities and kind managers.
- Telluride is a very charming town with upscale shops without the glitz. One of the highlights is a free tram that goes to a midway high point and then down into the Telluride Mountain Village. This is a must do, at least to the midway point where a upscale restaurant serves great appetizers and drinks.
- We have yet to select Wednesday night’s dining venue; there are so many to pick from that another visit to Telluride may be necessary (darn).
Thursday, Dallas Divide (8,970 ft.), Ridgeway to Ouray (7,706 ft.): This day is 49.6 miles, with a lot of descent and 2,500 ft. of elevation gain. Although the highway has limited shoulders for about 1/3 of the route, we travel this section early in the morning and the majority of the traffic flow is driving the opposite way into Telluride.
- We depart Telluride following a delicious breakfast served at the Aspen Street inn and will ride 15.6 miles mostly downhill to Placerville (elevation 6,985) where we will have a rest stop at the Placerville General Store.
- After Placerville, we begin a 1700 ft ascent to the Dallas Divide (8,970 ft) while being entertained by rugged peaks and large alpine meadows and forest. By this time view fatigued could set in.
- From Dallas Divide, we descend 10.3 miles to Ridgeway for lunch. This is a very charming town with several restaurants to choose from for lunch as well as a bike shop with a really nice owner.
- After lunch, we will ride 10 miles and gain 720 feet to Ouray, one of the neatest mountain villages in all of Colorado with natural hot springs busting out in several places throughout the town.
- We will stay at the Box Canyon Lodge where there are three levels of natural mineral spring's hot tubs (odorless) on the hillside behind the inn.
- Ouray is where the phrase "The American Alps" originated and is famous for hot springs and a box canyon which features a ice climbing park in the winter which is the center piece for their winter festival. It is also a very popular hiking area in the summer which literally starts on the edge of the lodge we will be staying in.
- We will have dinner on the patio at the Historic Western Hotel.
Friday, Red Mountain Pass (11,008 ft.) to Silverton: This 23 mile day is a mountain classic with over 3300 ft of climbing in 13 miles. Slow and steady early in the morning is doable for most riders. Van support is available.
- First thing in the morning we will immediately climb out of Ouray and get this view of the town. The first six miles is curvy and exposed with a minimum shoulder if any. However, there is very low traffic early in the morning and vehicles are averaging less than 35 miles per hour. The lack of a guardrail is a shocker, but that can be overcome by taking the lane and not looking over the edge or by taking a NO-SHAME van ride for this short section of the tour.
- There are many side outs on this stretch to the pass with a wider shoulder after the first six miles.
- The views at the pass and along this route are spectacular.
- After a 10 mile descent with a wide shoulder and limited exposure, we will arrive in Silverton which is largely known for its sordid past starting in the 1860’s and defined by mining activity for over 120 years. It is also famous for the destination town for the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
- We will stay in the Wyman Hotel & Inn, built in 1902 and full of Victorian Antiques.
- Everyone is on their own for lunch and during the afternoon, but some of the country’s best four-wheel drive roads are found around Silverton, so a jeep ride is highly recommended.
- Dinner will be served at one of several restaurants with great western atmosphere.
Saturday,Molas Pass (10,910 ft.), Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft.) to Hermosa: The ending of this tour promises to be the finale. It is 38.3 miles with an elevation gain of 2300 ft and an elevation loss of nearly 5000 ft.
- After a fancy breakfast served by the Wyman Hotel, we will depart on our bikes and immediately ascend on a low traffic road with minimal shoulders for the first 5 miles.
- After 7 miles and 1600 ft of climbing, we will be at Molas Pass for more splendid views and a rest stop.
- In another 7.5 miles we will drop 900 ft and climb up 600 ft. to Coal Bank Pass, our last pass of the tour.
- After Coal Bank Pass, we will descend 4,000 ft. in 24 miles to Hermosa (6,640 ft.) where we will have a celebratory lunch on Dakota Bike Tours.
- This is the official end of riding part of the tour, but those that want to complete the 10 mile gentle ride to Durango on their bikes are encouraged to do so. Although the shoulder is excellent, higher volume traffic and the anticipation that some guest will have satisfied their mileage bucket at this point, is the reason for making this section optional.
- The van will shuttle people to Durango and drop anyone off at their car, motel or the Airport. Again, please make plane reservations on Saturday after 4:00 p.m. Guides will gladly return any bike rentals.
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS' CLASSIC TOUR LEVEL - Moderate+ To Challenging
For more information, contact Dakota Bike Tours today!
NOTE: Fee includes Double Occupancy Accommodations, 5 dinners, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, lodging, van support, snacks and beverage while riding, 2 guides, and light bicycle maintenance. Fees do not include admission fees to attractions, single supplement, bike rentals, alcoholic beverage at meals, guide gratuities and additional request for transportation.
