San Juan Skyway

Arrival Day

Our meeting point for this trip is Durango, CO at the Durango Transit Center. The day before the trip starts you can pick up a cooler (if needed) from us to do your shopping for the trip.

Day 1:

We will meet at theDurango Transit Centerat7:30am and load your gear. Heading north on CO-550 starts as a mellow ride through the Animas River Valley (sometimes alongside the Durango to Silverton train!) before tilting up at Shalona Hilland toward Purgatory Ski Area. The Needles Range in the Weminuche Wilderness dominates your eastern view and the Hermosa Cliffs your western. After the road crosses Cascade Creek you’ll begin a hefty climb up to Coal Bank Pass with the Twlight Peaks looming over you. The descent off Coal Bank Pass must be taken with care as the entire Lime Creek drainage opens up in from of you. Your final effort is the climb to Molas Pass at 10,900’ and shortly after our campsite for the night, Little Molas Lake.Ride length is about 43 miles.

Day 2:

Day two starts with a fun descent on CO-550 into the quiet mountain paradise of Silverton, CO. Some folks stop by for a coffee or a snack before starting the big climb up to Red Mountain Pass. The climb up to Red Mountain Pass is a burner, but the distant views of several centennial peaks near Ice Lakes will keep you occupied. The final push up to Red Mountain Pass is a grunt, but take comfort in the fact that it'll be all downhill to camp from there. Once over the pass, a long straight away leads to the jaw-dropping descent into Ouray, CO following the headwaters of the Uncompahgre River. You’re now in Ouray: “the Switzerland of America” where plenty of eateries and watering holes are at your service with only a flat and slightly downhill ride to tonight’s camp at the KOA left.Ride length is about 35 miles.

Day 3:

Day three – The Queen’s Stage! Today’s ride is the toughest of the trip at nearly 60 miles, but like the rest of this grand loop the views make it all worthwhile. After a short easy warmup into Ridgway, CO riders turn west on CO-62 and begin their gradual climb to Dallas Divide. The climb is mellow for most of the way with the Sneffels Range dominating your northern view punctuated by Mt Sneffels and Dallas Peak.After cresting Dallas Divide a well-deserved long downhill gives you a chance to rest the legs before turning south on CO-145 and up to Telluride. CO-145 winds along the San Miguel River as distant views of the mountains outside of Telluride sneak into view. Just as Telluride itself comes into view riders will turn west on CO-145, up past Mountain Village and then a short ride to Sunshine Campground. Ride length is about 59 miles.

Day 4:

Leaving on day four and towards Ophir, the mountain views are stunning. Wilson Peak and Sunshine Mountain. The pavement begins to mirror the historic Galloping Goose railway after Ophir all the way past Trout Lake and to the summit of Lizard Head Pass. Sheep Mountain to your left and Lizard Head Peak to your right point the way downvalley following the Dolores River. This stretch is somewhat underappreciated as the change of topography during the day from near alpine to near high desert delivers an experiential ride.The road flattens out for the final stretch as riders cruise into the small town of Dolores and to our camp for the night. Ride length is about 56 miles.

Day 5:

Our final day’s ride continues west out of Dolores before turning south by southeast on CO-184. You’re in a much different landscape now – the Colorado high desert. Distant views of Sleeping Ute Mountain, Mesa Verde National Park and the distant La Plata Mountains are in your viewfinder for most of the day. By midday you should be arriving into Mancos, CO where a few tasty lunch choices are available before you start the final stretch into Durango on CO-162. The La Plata Mountains are now your target as you climb out of Mancos, then back down and then back up to the small burgh of Hesperus. Just past Hesperus you’ll reach your highpoint for the day and then begin a pleasant descent down to Durango and the completion of your tour. Ride length is about 45 miles.