Bustang to Gunnison With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next Stop
▼ 2,503 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
Hartman Rocks starts riding distance from the stop — a full day of desert singletrack at 7,700 feet — and the valley gravel toward Ohio Creek goes as long as you want. Home to Denver is a proper multi-day tour over Monarch; most riders bus both ways.
🚲 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.
A one-way point-to-point pushing northeast on all pavement, 230 miles with about 14,965 ft of climbing over roughly 15 hours of riding. This is a serious two-day push or a four-day tour, and you'll spend nearly half the ride on roads with traffic, so plan your stops and pace accordingly.
Gravel BikeGravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
A one-way point-to-point headed northeast on mostly gravel with plenty of paved connectors, covering 217 miles and about 26,086 ft of climbing. This is a serious multi-day bikepacking mission: figure two hard days of riding or four at a relaxed pace, all on quiet roads with minimal traffic. Bring water, snacks, and a plan for where you're sleeping.
Mountain BikeMTB
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
A substantial one-way push northeast on mostly gravel, about 217 miles with 26,119 ft of climbing spread across two hard days or four at an easy pace. You're on quiet roads the whole way, roughly two-thirds dirt and a third pavement, which means your gravel bike will do the heavy lifting. This is a proper bikepack or tour, not a day ride, so plan your resupply and camping accordingly.
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.
A quiet 10-mile out-and-back southwest on smooth pavement, mostly flat with just under 300 feet of climbing spread across the ride. You'll have the roads entirely to yourself, so it's a good one for settling into a steady pace or working on form.
Half day
The best half-day ride from the stop.
Head east on quiet trail, climbing steadily through 35 miles and about 6,034 ft of elevation gain. This is a serious day in the saddle: the work is relentless and unforgiving, so pace yourself and bring plenty of water.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
Heads up: this is singletrack and dirt trail, not gravel, so bring a mountain or trail bike. You're looking at 33 miles of riding south with about 3,497 ft of climbing on quiet terrain, and the elevation is baked throughout the route rather than stacked in one section. Expect a proper all-day mountain mission.