Bike Home From Crested Butte, CO — Ride There for the Day, or Ride to Another Bus Stop
▼ 3,709 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
The birthplace of mountain biking, with a bus stop at the 4-way and trails in every drainage — 401, Snodgrass, Strand Hill, the Lower Loop right from town. Two buses a day, 365 days a year: ride until the afternoon departure, or stay and make a weekend of it.
🚲 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 238-mile point-to-point heading northeast on all pavement, with about 14,826 ft of climbing spread across nearly 16 hours of riding. You're looking at 2 hard days or a more relaxed 4-day tour, and roughly half the route sees moderate traffic. Plan your pacing and fuel stops carefully over the distance.
Gravel bikegravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a serious point-to-point bikepack heading northeast: 210 miles with 27,525 ft of climbing across mostly trail and some pavement. You're looking at about 19 hours of riding time spread over two hard days or four easy ones, on quiet roads and singletrack with minimal traffic. Bring a full setup and plan your water and camp stops carefully.
Mountain bikemtb
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
This is a serious point-to-point bikepack heading northeast across 213 miles of mostly trail, with 27,875 ft of climbing baked in. You're looking at about 19 hours of saddle time spread over two hard days or four at a steady pace, riding quiet dirt for most of it. Bring the right gear and expect sustained elevation work, not a gentle tour.
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.
You're looking at a 14.5-mile out-and-back on mostly pavement with a short gravel stretch mid-ride, picking up about 528 ft of climbing along the way. Fair warning: this route runs through fairly busy roads for most of it, so stay sharp on the pavement sections. Out to your turnaround and back the same way.
Gravel ridegravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You're looking at nearly 27 miles of mixed trail and pavement looping southwest, with about 6,842 ft of climbing stacked heavily into the ride. The trail surface means singletrack and dirt, not graded gravel, so come ready for technical terrain and expect the climbing to feel substantial on a mountain bike or capable trail setup. No traffic to speak of, and you'll be out there for a solid two-plus hours.