Please click here to jump to the Overview section with all tour details including pricing.

Aspen Loop Bike Tour: Highlights

Aspen Loop Bike Tour: Dates

Potential tour dates are listed below and not all tour dates will run. Lock in your preferred tour date early as unopened tour dates will be closed. Please see the Spring/Autumn Tour Calendar and the Summer Tour Calendar for confirmed departures. Any unopened date can be a Custom Week (9 riders required). Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891

To easily register for a particular tour, please click the Book Now! link after the tour date listed below. This will select the tour name and the appropriate date on the registration form.

2024 Tour Dates

• July 7 to 13, 2024 (Book Now!)
• July 14 to 20, 2024 (Book Now!)
• July 21 to 27, 2024 (Book Now!)

Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.

Why Should you Sign-Up Now and OPEN a Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so that we can commit to that date.

For starters, when you OPEN a date you get to pick your preferred departure date, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets its 6 rider minimum.

BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.

In conclusion, if you want a tour to run, we need you to sign up and not wait for others to do the same! Waiting for others may mean that a tour date takes longer or does not confirm. Just Do It! Once a few riders jump into the proverbial waters, others will follow!

Aspen Loop Bike Tour: Overview

Tour Length: 7-Days Cycling and Hiking/7-Nights Lodging

Meeting Town: Aspen, Colorado. Pre-Tour lodging on Day 0 is included.
Riders fly to either Denver, CO (Denver International Airport – DEN), Aspen, CO (Aspen/Pitkin County Airport – ASE), or Eagle, CO (Eagle County Regional Airport – EGE). Regular shuttles from Denver and Eagle are available through Colorado Express.

Departing Town/Airport: The tour ends back in Aspen on Day 7. Riders can choose to stay post tour in either Aspen or Carbondale, Colorado or shuttle to an airport with Colorado Express.

Ability Level: Intermediate (2/3)  to Upper Intermediate (3)  to Advanced (3/4) 
Big E.F.I. options exist!

Tour Cost: $3,640 per person with shared accommodations. Add $675 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (7-Nights).

Tour Discounts: Please see our Reptile Rewards & Tour Discounts page to learn more about Reptile Rewards, Tour Discounts, and Group Discounts. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions – only the highest valued discount is provided. Please note that for discounts to apply the tour minimum must be met.

Tour Includes: 7-Days guide service, 7-Days of excellent lodging, high performance bike rental, 5 dinners, 6 breakfasts, all lunches, forest service fees, energy food, liquid refreshments, in-tour shuttles, and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages, bike rental, and massage (if available) are additional.

Non-Riding Spouses & Partners on Tour: If a non-riding spouse or partner would like to join you on tour and they have their own transportation, they can stay in your room for the cost of the tour's single room supplement. Please note that non-riders cannot check into hotels prior to guide arrival as the guides need to manage the check-in process. Checking in a large group can be challenging and take longer than normal, so non-riders need to hang back and be patient. Non-riding spouses and partners are welcome to join the Lizard Head meal plan which includes breakfasts and dinners for $75 per day. Note: Lunches are not included for non-riders driving their own vehicles due to the inherent variability of both lunch timing and locations. It is best for non-riders to plan to explore each day.

Lodging for 7 Nights: (subject to change)

• Nights 1, 2 & 3: The Inn at Aspen, Aspen, CO (elevation 8,000′)
• Night 4: Crystal River Villas, Redstone, CO (elevation 7,200′)
• Nights 5, 6 & 7: Elk Mountain Lodge, Crested Butte, CO (elevation 8,900′)

Road Bike Rentals

NOTE: The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs for a rental bike or have any questions about rental bikes.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent Scott Bikes. The Scott Addict 10 Disc was designed from the ground up with those longer days in mind. With geometry that is less focused on racing and more on enduring, the Addict 10 will be your go to when you’re looking to put the miles in.

The Scott Addict 10 Disc features: Carbon Frame and Fork, Shimano Ultegra 2x11 Drivetrain, 34x32 Compact Gearing, 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)

☛ Learn more about our Rental Bikes and Equipment

Road E-Bike Rentals: Click Here for more information on our Road E-Bike Rentals including pricing. Please note that E-Bikes are not available for certain tours including those that involve camping. Please contact us for more information before registering for a tour. NOTE: E-Bikes are great, but our tours are designed to be ridden without motorized assistance. We offer "bumps" along the road so that everyone can stay together.

Tandems and Recumbents: Lizard Head Cycling Guides happily accommodates both tandem and recumbent bikes on our tours.

If you have any further questions, please read more on our Rental Bikes FAQ page. You can also email us at info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com or call us at 970.728.5891

Meals On Tour

Lizard Head Cycling Guides provides most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted) including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.

Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and occasionally guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being "off the grid", most of our off-road tours feature guide prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called "Guide TV".

We also pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests and needs, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works best for you during your tour. Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, or a someone who loves it all – we will keep you well fed during the tour!

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepares healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours, Lizard Head Cycling sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert... yum! Also, while on tour if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Aspen Loop Bike Tour: Itinerary*

*PLEASE NOTE: Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Also, the distances and elevation profiles shown below may not reflect the actual distances and elevations while on tour as these are provided here to give an idea as to the anticipated mileage and terrain. Please view this itinerary, the distances, and elevation profiles as a general outline as to what to expect while on this tour.

Day 0: Pre-Tour Lodging is Included

Pre-Tour Day 0 lodging is included on July 13th at theThe Inn at Aspen. The tour meets the following morning July 14th at this hotel.

Day 1: Aspen to Maroon Bells
22 miles with up to 1,915 feet of climbing

We think this is a ride you will truly enjoy as we ride up to the simply drop dropping gorgeous Maroon Bells where we will spend a little time to take in all the beauty and glory of this iconic Colorado location. Then it’s all downhill back to Aspen, Colorado to end the riding.

Day 2: Aspen to Ashcroft -or- Independence Pass
Standard: 26 miles with up to 2,080 feet of climbing
E.F.I.: 46 miles with up to 4,565 feet of climbing

 

In the morning ride the Castle Creek Road and have lunch at Pine Creek Cookhouse in Ashcroft, Colorado. In the afternoon, enjoy downtown Aspen, Colorado followed by dinner in Aspen.

For those looking for more of a challenge, the E.F.I. (Every Freaking Inch) option will be a ride from Aspen to Independence Pass at 12,095 feet and then back down to Aspen.

Day 3: Aspen to Redstone
45 miles with up to 1,350 feet of climbing

 

Riding from Aspen, our route takes us along the car-free Rio Grande Trail for most of the ride. Departing the trail in Carbondale, we turn left and head into the White River National Forest along the Crystal River to end the day in Redstone, Colorado.

Day 4: Redstone to Crested Butte
58 miles with up to 6,000 feet of climbing

Starting from Redstone, Colorado, we ride over 9,000-foot McClure Pass and then after reaching Paonia Reservoir the route turns towards Kebler Pass along spectacular route into the West Elk Mountains and up a beyond category (HC) climb through pine and aspen forests. Along the way we ride below the immensely beautiful Marcellina Mountain and then up to Kebler Pass. Most of the ride up to the pass is smooth gravel and on this nearly traffic-free remote back road route, you’ll almost feel like you’re pedaling through the Swiss countryside. The US Pro Cycling Challenge rode this route during the 2014 race. NOTE: Lizard Head Cycling offers riders a bump across a 20-mile section of packed dirt on the climb towards Kebler Pass.

From the top of Kebler Pass it’s then a quick seven miles into Crested Butte and to our lodging at the Elk Mountain Lodge.

Day 5: Layover Day in Crested Butte
Optional Hiking, Mountain Biking and Road Biking

With a layover day in Crested Butte, Colorado, there are options to g hiking to Oh-Be-Joyful Falls! Or go mountain biking, or road bike loop through Mt. Crested Butte to wild swimming at Long Lake, enjoy hot air ballooning, go fly-fishing… there is much summer loving to be enjoyed!

Day 6: Crested Butte to Taylor Park Reservoir to Almont
62 miles with up to 2,390 feet of climbing

On this day we offer a delightful ride from Crested Butte. The riding from town heads south to Almont and then turns up into Taylor Canyon with a turnaround at Taylor Park Reservoir. From the reservoir we descend back down Taylor Canyon to end at the Almont Resort & Restaurant to enjoy a brew before we shuttle the short distance back to Crested Butte.

Day 7: Crested Butte to Aspen

Hike from Crested Butte back to Aspen! Luggage is driven around to meet riders in Aspen. NOTE: If you want to ride back to Aspen, this is possible. In the morning you jump on the shuttle and then start riding along the route (50-miles to Aspen).

Aspen Loop Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

General Tour & Cancellation Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and cancellation policies, which can be found by clicking here.

Travel Insurance

If you have not already, now would be a great time to consider adding travel insurance to your tour. You are welcome to use any travel insurance company you would like. We recommend Generali/Trip Mate.

Generally, if contracting COVID causes clients to cancel or interrupt their tour, trip insurance companies would treat it as any other illness as long as it is contracted after the insurance was purchased. Please check your individual plan documentation for details. Please note that quarantine is usually only covered if clients are actually sick with COVID. If a state requires quarantine upon arrival because of standardized state law, coverage is generally not covered. Again, check your individual plan documentation for details.

American Guests - use this link: http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/get-a-quote.html?partner=LIZA0855

• The Premium Plan is the only plan which offers Pre-Existing coverage so long as the plan is purchased prior to Final Payment.
• The Premium Plan is the only plan that offers an optional Cancel For Any Reason - the policy must be purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and if they cancel for Any Reason, it must be 48 hours prior to departure, and the reimbursement for an Any Reason claim is 60% of pre-paid, insured, non-refundable trip cost.
• Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-874-2442 for coverage questions and policy modifications or to purchase by phone. Agency Code: LIZA0855

Canadian Guests - use this link: https://tripmate.catravelins.ca/?utm_source=lizardhead