Bustang to Pine Junction With a Bike — Ride Home to Denver, Ride There for the Day, or Ride to the Next Stop
▼ 3,270 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
The south-side Empire: a short bus hop buys you 3,200 feet of descent home through the 285 foothills, with the Buffalo Creek trail system a detour away for riders who'd rather earn some dirt before the drop.
🚲 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 heading northeast on pavement, about 45 miles with 1,613 ft of climbing spread across the ride. You'll hit some traffic on a few connecting stretches, but most of it stays on quieter roads, so settle in for a solid three-hour cruise.
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.
Head southwest on quiet roads and trail, climbing steadily through the first half before turning around at the midpoint. You're looking at about 3,742 ft of elevation gain over nearly 29 miles, with a mix of pavement and dirt underfoot. The return follows the same way home, so expect the hardest work on the way out.
Gravel rideGravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You're heading northwest on a quiet mix of paved and trail, about 22 miles out and back with nearly 4,000 ft of climbing, this one's got some real work in it. Most of the ride sits on singletrack and doubletrack, so pick a bike that's ready for uneven terrain. Get after it early; the elevation stacks up quick.