Bustang to Craig With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next 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 one-way point-to-point heading east on all pavement, about 237 miles with roughly 18,831 ft of climbing. Fair warning: you're looking at significant traffic exposure on more than half the route, so pick your timing carefully. At a relaxed pace you could spread it across four days, or push it as two hard days if you're fit for it.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a serious point-to-point bikepack heading east on a mix of pavement and trail, covering 212 miles and about 22,300 ft of climbing. You're looking at two very hard days in the saddle, or four at a steadier pace, mostly on quiet roads and dirt. Bring your bags and patience for the elevation.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
This is a serious point-to-point bikepack heading east: 212 miles over about 18 hours of saddle time, split between paved and trail, with 22,459 ft of climbing that'll demand respect over two hard days or stretched across four at a conversational pace. You're looking at more than half the distance on singletrack and dirt, so a capable setup and route knowledge matter here. Quiet roads throughout, but the real work is the elevation.
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 pavement and trail, mixing about 7 miles out and back with 243 ft of climbing spread across the ride. You'll spend most of the distance on pavement with stretches of dirt underfoot, all on roads with no traffic to speak of.
Half day
The best half-day ride from the stop.
You're looking at a 32.9-mile loop with about 2,723 ft of climbing, mixing pavement and gravel about three-to-one. Expect a short stretch on busier roads to connect, then settle into the quieter stuff where the real work lives. The climbing is substantial for the distance, so pace accordingly and bring water.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You're looking at a southwest loop with about 37 miles of quiet roads, mixing roughly 70 percent paved and 30 percent trail over nearly 3,400 ft of climbing. The climbing is substantial here, so pace yourself, and expect some real elevation work mixed through the day. All on low-traffic roads, so you can focus on the work ahead.