Bike Home From Craig, CO — Ride There for the Day, or Ride to Another Bus Stop
▼ 998 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
The end of the line, one bus a day each way, and the emptiest roads on this page — Yampa Valley ranch gravel where a car is an event. Riding home is a full bikepacking trip; riding HERE is the point.
🚲 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 substantial point-to-point push east on pavement, 236.6 miles with about 18,831 ft of climbing spread across roughly 16 hours of riding. You're looking at either two hard days or a more relaxed four-day tour, and you'll spend better than half your time on busier roads, so plan your pacing and fuel stops accordingly.
Gravel bikegravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a serious bikepacking mission: 212 miles of mixed pavement and trail heading east, with about 22,308 ft of climbing strung across the whole thing. You're looking at roughly two grinding days or four mellow ones depending on your pace and how you split the nights. Quiet roads most of the way, but come ready for substantial elevation and the mental grind of a point-to-point adventure.
Mountain bikemtb
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
A one-way point-to-point heading east on a mix of gravel and trail, 212 miles with about 22,459 ft of climbing over roughly 18 hours of riding. This is a serious bikepacking mission: two very hard days or four at a relaxed pace, mostly on quiet roads with enough elevation to demand respect for pacing and resupply.
Routes at the stop
Riding there rather than home? Start and finish at the bus.
Short spin
An hour to shake out the bus legs.
Head southwest on quiet roads and trail, mixing pavement and dirt over nearly seven miles. You'll climb about 240 ft spread across the ride, then return the way you came.
Half day
The best half-day ride from the stop.
You've got about 2,723 ft of climbing spread across 33 miles of mixed pavement and gravel, so this isn't a gentle spin. A short stretch on busier roads connects quieter sections where you'll pick up the dirt, then loop back home on the paved side. Expect a solid three-hour commitment with steady work throughout.
Gravel ridegravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You'll head southwest on quiet back roads and singletrack, mixing paved and dirt through a loop that climbs hard and often: about 3,373 ft spread across the 37 miles. Bring a bike that handles both surfaces and the fitness to match the terrain, because there's no easy section here to recover on.