Bustang to Crested Butte With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next 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.
You're looking at a substantial point-to-point push northeast on pavement, 237 miles with about 14,826 ft of climbing spread across roughly 16 hours of riding. This one's built for a two-day effort or four easy days, and you'll be sharing the road for about half the route, so plan your timing and pack accordingly.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a serious bikepack: 210 miles northeast on a mix of trail and gravel, about 27,525 ft of climbing spread across roughly 19 hours of saddle time. You're looking at two very hard days or four mellow ones, mostly on dirt with quiet roads filling the gaps. Bring a setup built for rough ground and the food and water to match the distance.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
This is a serious point-to-point bikepack heading northeast: 213 miles of mixed paved and trail over about 27,875 ft of climbing. You're looking at two very hard days or four at a sustainable pace, all on quiet roads with plenty of singletrack woven through the gravel. Bring water, food, and a plan for where you're sleeping.
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 heading out on mostly pavement with a stretch of gravel mixed in, crossing some busier roads to get there. About 528 ft of climbing over 14.5 miles, nothing steep but steady, and you'll turn around and come back the same way. Expect traffic on a good chunk of this one.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You've got a serious climb day ahead: nearly 6,850 ft of elevation over 27 miles mixing trail, gravel, and pavement on quiet roads. This loops southwest with sustained pitches stacked throughout, so pace yourself early and stay hydrated. All told you're looking at two and a half hours of steady work in the saddle.