Bustang to Avon With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next Stop
▼ 2,230 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
Avon puts you at the bottom of the Eagle Valley with the paved Eagle Valley Trail running east toward Vail. A longer day home than Vail or Frisco, and a natural first overnight for a two-day version.
🚲 2 rack spaces guaranteed — more usually fit underneath
Bustang's published limit is two bikes on the rack, first-come first-served, with no reservations. In practice the under-bus luggage bay takes more: riders regularly get three or four bikes on a mountain run. Mountain bikes go in the bay with the front wheel off; gravel bikes usually fit underneath as-is, wheels on.
- Take an early departure — the bay fills with luggage later in the day.
- Pull your front wheel before you get to the curb, especially on a mountain bike.
- A group of four should plan to split across two departures if the bay is full.
- Nothing comes inside the cabin, and nobody is responsible for damage. Pack accordingly.
Rack rules:
Bustang FAQ. Real-world capacity from riders who have done it — treat the bay as likely, not guaranteed.
The ride back to Union Station
Same start, same finish, three different bikes — the route changes with what you are riding, not just the surface mix. All three finish at Denver Union Station; plan it to your own address if you live somewhere else.
Road BikeRoad
Pavement the whole way, on the quietest roads that still go where you're going.
This is a one-way point-to-point headed east on paved roads: 164 miles with about 11,070 ft of climbing over roughly eleven hours of riding. Heavy traffic exposure (about 65%) means you're on busier roads for most of it, so expect constant navigation and plan for two hard days or three at a relaxed pace depending on your fitness and how much support you have along the way.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a substantial point-to-point push east on a mix of paved and singletrack trail, totaling 128 miles and about 19,400 ft of climbing over roughly 10 hours of riding. You're looking at either two hard days or three at a steadier pace, with nearly 40 percent singletrack woven through paved sections on quiet roads. Bring a solid gravel or trail bike and plan your resupply stops carefully, since you're committing to a one-way traverse with real elevation stacked in.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
A one-way point-to-point heading east on a mix of 61% pavement and 39% trail, about 130 miles total with nearly 19,720 ft of climbing. This is a multi-day push: plan for two hard days or three at a relaxed pace, with the climbing spread across both. Quiet roads most of the way, so you can focus on the work ahead.
Routes at the stop
Riding there rather than home? Start and finish at the bus.
Half day
The best half-day ride from the stop.
You're climbing about 4,427 ft over 21 miles of trail and gravel heading south, so pace yourself for the work. The route splits between pavement and dirt, running quiet with almost no traffic, and you'll retrace your way back once you hit the turnaround. This one's a proper alpine push, not a casual spin.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
Heads up: this one's a loop on singletrack and paved roads heading south, with about 6,533 ft of climbing packed in over 27.6 miles. You'll spend most of your time on trail, so bring a mountain bike or a burly gravel setup, and expect the effort to be serious. Quiet roads throughout, so the focus stays on the dirt and the elevation.