September 23 - September 28, 2012

Explore the White River National Forest,  the Roaring Fork Valley and the Crystal River Valley of western Colorado.

Test yourself, reward yourself, ride like you've never ridden before! This trip rocks. The trails are challenging yet fun and you are surrounded by absolute beauty. Fall in Colorado is simply exquisite. Golden Aspen trees, skies bluer than blue, and temperatures in the mid 70's.  So if you have been thinking about mountain biking our west, wait no more. It's time for a vacation of a lifetime!

How do you ensure that you have a fun and relaxing vacation enjoying biking and not getting skunked by looking for trail heads, hiking more than biking etc. You know what exploring a new area can be like,, sometimes just frustrating. That is where we come in ! 

This trip has been designed for the intermediate mountain biker and planned around the concept of coming from low elevation.  Our exact ride location each day will be dictated by weather, the descriptions below will provide you an outline of what to expect.  We have a number of rides with similar characteristics that we can choose from, thus an overview of ride type.

Between all of the riding options, mind blowing scenery and great food, this area can be highly addictive.  Just a warning, this will be the first of many visits you will make to the western slope of Colorado.

Trip Itinerary:

This itinerary is an example of the week.  Exact trails may vary based on weather, trail closures, and riders ability.

Day 1 - Sunday

Transport to the Roaring Fork Valley from Denver

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Redstone Cliffs Lodge 

We will start with a fairly easy ride to welcome you to altitude.  Plan on a 2+ hour 8-10 mile ride with a minimum of elevation gain, and technically easy.

Wine/ micro-brew & Cheese gathering to get to know your guides and fellow travelers.

Check in at the Lodge and enjoy a home cooked dinner.

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Redstone Cliffs Lodge 

A step harder of a ride.  about 18 miles with challenging terrain. Bring the chamois butter, 4 hours of riding and an on trail lunch.

Following our ride, visit the Redstone Castle (on your own), stroll the boulevard of Redstone, or chill out at the ranch 
Dinner will be at the Redstone Inn
Following dinner,  optional visit of Penny Hot Springs.

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: 10th Mountain Division Hut system

Breakfast at the ranch & head up the Roaring Fork Valley. Today we  will shuttle to a fairly high trail head.  This will allow us to spend the day at a high altitude without breaking our bodies getting there.  We will cruise into a hut for the evening, voila your gear has been transported for you. Enjoy the alpen glow, you are sitting in the middle of it.

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dinner will be on your own in Aspen
Lodging: Redstone Cliffs Lodge 

The good news is today you will start your riding at the top!  Mostly downhill from the Hut back to Aspen. The first half of the day will be at high elevation, 10,000 feet +/- so we will keep the climbs to a minimum.  Can you say "technical descent"?   

Dinner in Aspen, bring your furs for our night out on the town. 
You will have more than 100 world class eateries to choose from!

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Redstone Cliffs Lodge 

BIG RIDE!  What do you think of about 28 miles?  Don't worry, this is not a race, we will spend all day knocking out some miles and taking in the views.  

Farewell dinner in Carbondale.  It may be hard to eat this evening, because that would mean you have to stop grinning long enough to chew.

Optional visit to Penny Hot Springs en route back to the lodge.

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Last chance for some Rocky Mountain High, we will squeeze in a quick 10 mile ride this AM, before preparing to say adeiu to our new friends and this gorgeous location

We will transport to Denver in the early afternoon, you can schedule an evening flight.

This trip will be lead by our very own Kasia, who grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley, and Bill, director of bike tours.  This trip is run in conjunction with our friends at Blazing Adventures of Snowmass Village, Colorado.