Bustang to Glenwood Springs With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next Stop
▼ 561 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
Glenwood is where the ride home becomes a tour: the Glenwood Canyon path, the climb to Vail Pass, and the long Front Range descent — a genuine two-day with Frisco or Vail as the overnight. Day riders get the Rio Grande Trail rolling south toward Carbondale from town.
🚲 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 pavement, about 230 miles with 15,723 ft of climbing spread across two hard days or four at a relaxed pace. You'll spend more than half the ride on roads with traffic, so pick your days and times carefully. All pavement, no gravel, so a road bike or gravel bike on road tires will roll fast here.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
This is a serious point-to-point push east across about 190 miles, mixing 68% pavement with 32% gravel and stacking nearly 24,400 ft of climbing over roughly 15 hours of saddle time. Plan for two long, hard days or spread it across three at a steadier pace, and expect quiet roads most of the way with only brief stretches of traffic. Bring fuel, a map, and the legs for it.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
A one-way point-to-point heading east across 192.5 miles of mixed pavement and gravel, with about 24,597 ft of climbing spread across two hard days or three at a comfortable pace. You're looking at roughly 68% paved and 32% gravel, mostly on quiet roads with minimal traffic. Pack for distance and elevation, and plan your resupply stops carefully.
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 southeast on quiet pavement for about 13 miles out and back, with 561 ft of climbing spread across the ride. You'll stay mostly off the main roads, making this a peaceful midday spin that won't take much more than an hour.
Half day
The best half-day ride from the stop.
You're heading out on quiet paved roads with about 1,136 ft of climbing spread across nearly 39 miles. Hit your turnaround point and return the same way, staying mostly off traffic the whole time.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
Head southeast on quiet roads, mixing pavement and gravel across 42.6 miles with about 2,852 ft of climbing scattered throughout. You'll ride out to the turnaround and back the way you came, staying mostly off traffic.