Bike Home From Idaho Springs, CO — Or Ride There for the Day
▼ 2,326 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
The shortest of the mountain rides home and the easiest to talk a friend into — straight down the Clear Creek corridor, roughly 2,300 feet of net descent, and served by both the West Line and the Craig Outrider.
🚲 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 with the front wheel off; gravel bikes sometimes fit the rack as-is.
- 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 heading north on paved roads, this 49-miler brings nearly 4,500 ft of climbing, so pace yourself early. About half the ride runs on busier roads, so stay sharp on the pavement and anticipate the traffic exposure throughout.
Gravel bikegravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
You're looking at a point-to-point push north on a mix that's about two-thirds pavement and one-third gravel, with substantial climbing: about 4,442 ft over 40 miles. That's serious elevation gain, so expect a day of steady work rather than a cruise. You'll hit some traffic on connectors, but most of the ride sits on quieter roads.
Mountain bikemtb
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
You're heading north on a point-to-point that splits the difference between pavement and gravel, about 36 percent dirt, with roughly 4,751 ft of climbing packed into 42.7 miles. Expect a short stretch of traffic on a connecting road, but otherwise you've got mostly quiet terrain. This one's a solid all-day effort.
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.
This northwest loop packs about 2,546 ft of climbing into 15 miles, so don't let the distance fool you. You're looking at roughly 22 percent gravel mixed in with the paved sections, and the climbing is front-loaded, leaving you stronger roads in the back half. Quiet roads throughout with almost no traffic to worry about.
Gravel ridegravel
Dirt roads out of town.
Head northwest on a loop that's mostly gravel with some paved sections to connect, tackling about 6,713 ft of climbing over 31 miles. The riding stays quiet and mellow on backroads, but expect a sustained day in the saddle with that elevation stacked in. Bring plenty of water and take the gravel climbs steady.