Rocky Mountain Loop Road Tour
RIDING TYPE
Advanced
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
July - August
Rocky Mountain Loop Road Tour: Conquer Colorado's 12,000-Foot Passes
Advanced Road Cycling in the Heart of the Colorado Rockies
Have Bob Roll, Phil Liggett, and Paul Sherwin inspired you to climb high mountain passes and rip down incredible descents like a “grand prix motor car”? There is no need to travel to Europe for such a road biking experience. In the Colorado Rockies, we have spectacular passes surrounded by snowcapped peaks and lush wildflowers. Are you ready for the serious challenge of five days of mountain passes through the heart of the Rockies?
This is our most advanced road tour, incorporating several of Colorado’s most scenic and historic byways. We start by riding up and over Grand Mesa, east of Grand Junction. From here, we head to the West Elk Scenic Loop and on to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Then it’s up and over Monarch Pass to Buena Vista and the famous Independence Pass into Aspen. Finally, we spin out of Carbondale over McClure Pass to complete the loop. For those ready for a serious effort towards a higher plane of being, this route offers a truly transcendent experience. Up for the challenge?
Advanced Challenge: The Ultimate Colorado Rockies Road Tour
This premier Colorado Rockies road bike tour is designed for expert riders who demand sustained high-altitude effort, rewarded by epic descents and seamless support:
Triple-Pass Summitry: Conquer three major mountain passes exceeding 11,000 feet, including the iconic Monarch Pass (11,312 ft) and the supreme challenge of Independence Pass (12,095 ft).
Iconic Byway Traverse: Experience the full spectrum of Colorado’s majesty, from the scenic climb up Grand Mesa to the narrow canyons surrounding the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Extreme High-Altitude Fitness: Rated Very Difficult due to cumulative elevation gain (~22,000+ feet) and sustained riding at altitudes up to 12,095 feet. Training is required to fully enjoy this high-plane adventure.
Fully Supported & Historic Lodging: Enjoy comfortable accommodations in historic mining towns and river valleys each night, with full Western Spirit support ensuring you can focus entirely on turning your pedals to the top.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
We start the week by climbing the scenic and historic Grand Mesa Byway to our high point at 10,800 feet.
The climb delivers incredible views of Plateau Creek and over 300 stream-fed lakes before the descent into the fruit-growing town of Cedaredge.
We wind our way up, down, in, and out on scenic Route 92, a backcountry byway seemingly built for road biking, leading towards Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The day’s cumulative effort will test the legs before we roll into Gunnison Valley along Blue Mesa Reservoir, ready for a “cowboy dinner.”
Today, we tackle the Monarch Pass climb, gaining 3,600 vertical feet to reach the 11,312-foot summit.
The big downhill into Buena Vista is pure reward for this huge day in the saddle, with lodging nestled right in the Arkansas River Valley.
Prepare for the “Alpe d’Huez” of the trip: the climb up Independence Pass (12,095 feet).
We pass in the shadow of Mount Elbert (Colorado’s tallest peak) to conquer this 12,000-foot beast before the exhilarating descent into Colorado’s tinsel town, Aspen.
Our final day brings us down valley from Aspen, past Mount Sopris and the historic coke ovens at Redstone.
The last major effort is the climb over McClure Pass (8,755 feet) before the cruise towards the farmland of Paonia, concluding with a farewell picnic lunch and shuttle back to Grand Junction.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Overall Rating
Advanced
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
Very difficult. High elevations, steep climbs, long miles.
Altitude
4,000 - 12,000 feet
Biking Mileage
48-85 miles per day
Hiking Mileage
48-85 miles per day
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Grand Junction, CO, 8:00 AM MST at the Clarion Inn, 755 Horizon Dr., 970-243-6790. Ending time: return to Grand Junction 4:00-5:00 PM last day. Getting there: 250 mi west of Denver, 50 mi east of UT/CO line on I-70; fly into Grand Junction (GJT).
Lodging Before Your Trip
Clarion Inn
This is where the trip will meet—mention that you are on a Western Spirit trip. They have storage available while you are on your trip.
Ramada Inn
Best Western Sandman
Quality Inn of Grand Junction
All of these hotels offer airport shuttles.
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 2 large cycling water bottles
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Road bike
- Helmet
- Cycling clothing
- Casual clothing for dinners
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Road bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet
Cycling clothing
- Cycling/hiking shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 jerseys
- Long sleeve jersey
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Knee warmers/warm tights
- Cycling gloves
- Ear band
- Booties
- Rain jacket & pants
Casual clothing
- Casual shorts/pants
- Shirts
- One nice dinner outfit
- Socks
- Jammies
- Fleece jacket
- Warm gloves/hat
- Swim suit
- Walking shoes
- Sandals
Personal
- Sunscreen & lip balm
- Medication
- Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Cash for souvenirs/tipping (5-10%)
Gear
- Sunglasses
- Hat/visor
- 2 large water bottles (provided)
- Riding hydration pack
- Day pack
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Beverages
- Books
- Maps
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
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We pick camps for a reason. Rivers, lakes, sunset vistas — and a chef-prepared meal under one of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
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n/a · Challenging road biking. Requires strong physical fitness and road cycling experience for sustained climbs and descents. Advanced
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5 Days · Challenging road biking. Requires strong physical fitness and road cycling experience for sustained climbs and descents. Advanced
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