Colorado Wine Country

Bike fitting, orientation dinner

Distance: 45 miles

We’ll assemble in Grand Junction (van shuttle from the Denver airport available) and ride into the Colorado National Monument early morning of Day 2. We’ll climb to the monument’s summit along historic Rim Rock Drive in what will be a worthy tune-up for the Grand Mesa. We’ll spend much of the day exploring the park’s stunning red rock formations, including an optional hike to the sandstone grotto of Devil’s Kitchen. We’ll ride to Palisade later in the afternoon and spend our first of two overnights in the heart of Colorado’s fruited fields.

Distance: 25 miles

Day 3 will be devoted to a tour of the many vineyards of the Grand Valley and Orchard Mesa.

Distance: 72 miles

Early morning of Day 4, the Mesa awaits and we’ll climb from the Colorado River along the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway to its crest, some 6,000 feet above the valley floor. The views of the San Juans to the south are incredible as we begin our descent to Cedaredge, where we’ll spend the night.

Distance: 52 miles

We’ll explore the vineyards and wineries along the West Elks Loop on Day 5 and then ride to Paonia for an overnight.

Distance: 42 miles

Day 6, we’ll continue upstream along the North Fork of the Gunnison to the summit of McClure Pass (8,755 feet), and then plunge into the Crystal River Valley and our final overnight in Redstone.

Distance: 48 miles

We’ll continue downstream along the Crystal River on our final morning, with grand views of imposing Mount Sopris much of the way. We’ll join the Roaring Fork bike trail at Carbondale as it follows the Roaring Fork to its confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. The Roaring Fork Trail joins the Colorado River Trail as it parallels the river through incomparable Glenwood Canyon. Our last 19 miles will be on the scenic, paved bike trail through the canyon to the community of Dotsero. Here the Timberline van will be waiting to shuttle us back to Denver for the conclusion of our Colorado Wine Country Cycling Tour.