Bike Home From Vail, CO — Or Ride There for the Day
▼ 2,950 ft net descent to Denver Union Station
Vail sits nearly 3,000 feet above Denver, and the bus does every foot of that climb for you. The ride home drops through Vail Pass and the Tenmile canyon on some of the best separated bike path in the state before the long descent down Clear Creek.
🚲 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.
About three days of riding north on pavement, covering 127 miles with nearly 12,000 ft of climbing packed in. You'll spend a fair bit of time on busier roads, so stay visible and keep your wits about traffic.
Gravel bikegravel
Dirt where dirt is good, pavement where it isn't.
About 114 miles over two days heading north on a mix of quiet paved and gravel roads, with about 15,710 ft of climbing spread across both days. You'll spend roughly 37 percent of the ride on dirt, so bring gear for mixed surfaces. This is a one-way point-to-point, so plan your logistics before you roll out.
Mountain bikemtb
Singletrack allowed — the trail gate opens for mountain bikes only.
A two-day point-to-point heading north with about 116 miles split between paved and gravel, about 16,056 ft of climbing across both days. You'll ride quiet roads most of the way, mixing roughly two-thirds pavement with a solid gravel component woven throughout. Bring a loaded bike and plan for a solid overnight stop midway.
Routes at the stop
Riding there rather than home? Start and finish at the bus.
Gravel ridegravel
Dirt roads out of town.
You're heading southwest on quiet gravel roads with about 7,315 ft of climbing packed into 26.6 miles, so pace yourself early. Most of the day is unpaved, and you'll feel every foot of that elevation on the way out before you get the reward of an easier return. This one's a real leg-burner, but the minimal traffic means you can focus on the work.