Great Colorado Divide Trail Loop

Great Colorado Divide Trail Loop

Circumnavigating the state utilizing the Great Divide Mountain Biking Route and the Colorado Trail.

8/1-8/20

Section 1-Durango to Platoro, CO. via Durango Gravel Grinder/FS roads and highway through Chama, NM.  (8/1-8/2)

Durango to Chama: 107.54 miles
Chama to Platoro: 48.92 miles

Section Total: 156.42
Est Days: 1.25
Mileage Total: 156.42

Section 2-Platoro CO to Frisco, CO via Adventure Cycling's  GDMBR (8/2-8/6)

Platoro to Del Norte: 49 miles
Del Norte to Sargents: 116 miles
Sargents to Salida: 48 miles
Salida to Hartsel: 53 miles
Hartsel to Frisco: 64 miles

Section Total: 330 miles
Est Days: 4.5
Mileage Total: 486.42




Section 3- Frisco to Denver via
Bike paths/surface streets/frontage roads(8/7-8/9)

Section Total: Approx 100 miles

Est Days: 3 (includes layover)

Mileage Total: 586.42

Bike paths to Keystone - up up up over Loveland Pass - descend along I-70 for a while using frontage roads and bike paths (mostly FR). - Bike path section east of Idaho Springs terminates at Kermits bar - Don't descend through Clear Creek Canyon (bikes prohibited due to narrow tunnels and inebriated casino junkies). Instead, climb frontage road up Floyd Hill - stay on FR to El Rancho/Evergreen exit - I-70 shoulder for about 1 mile btw El Rancho and Genesee Exits - Frontage Road down, down, down into Golden - Multiple ways from Golden to Denver (recommend 26th Ave.)

* or navigate to Denver via public transportation- Saves a day and 100 miles....

Denver Resupply/Layover/Bike Maintenance 

Section 4: 2014 Colorado Trail Race Grand Depart- Waterton Canyon TH  (8/10/14)

CTR from Denver to Durango (8/10-8/18)**

Section Total: 562miles

Est Days: 8 

Mileage Total: 1148.42

** Two extra days available- (....8/20)