Bustang to Empire With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next Stop
▼ 3,414 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
A flag stop at the bottom of Berthoud Pass — short, steep, and the quickest way to buy yourself a big descent without a long day in the saddle. Flag stops are request-only; be visible and be early.
🚲 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've got a one-way point-to-point heading east on pavement, about 59 miles with roughly 4,476 ft of climbing, so expect some real elevation work across the ride. Fair warning: this route spends over half its distance on busier roads, so pick your timing and stay sharp. All paved, no dirt, and you'll need a ride back or a plan for the finish.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
Head east on a mix of paved and gravel roads, about 28 miles of dirt mixed through 50 miles total, with nearly 4,700 ft of climbing stacked hard across the ride. You'll spend some time on busier roads connecting the good stuff, so stay sharp on pavement, and plan for a solid five-hour day finishing at a different spot than you started.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
You're riding point-to-point east on a mixed surface affair: about 70% pavement and 30% gravel across 52.7 miles with roughly 4,972 ft of climbing. Expect some traffic exposure on connecting stretches, and plan for nearly four hours in the saddle with the elevation spread throughout the day.
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 looking at nearly 40 miles with about 7,914 ft of climbing, so this is a serious day out. The route mixes pavement and trail in roughly equal measure, with a short stretch on busier roads to connect the quiet sections. Pace yourself early because you'll need reserves for the sustained elevation gain.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
Heads up: this is a trail loop, not gravel, you'll want a mountain bike or a rigid singletrack setup, not a gravel bike. You're looking at 37 miles with about 8,577 ft of climbing packed throughout, mostly on dirt singletrack with some paved road mixed in, all on quiet roads with next to no traffic. Bring plenty of water and plan for a long day in the saddle.