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

Zion to Telluride Bike Tour: Highlights

The Zion to Telluride Bike Tour (Z2T) traces a mountainous path across Utah and into southwestern Colorado. It is an exceptionally scenic route that showcases the high mountains, National Parks, and hot springs (ahhh!) of the Four Corners Region. Over the course of this tour it climbs the elevated plateaus of Utah and up into the mighty San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is a proud member of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners in support of their commitment to education, stewardship and restoration of the full National Monument.

Zion to Telluride 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 Winter/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.

2025 Tour Dates

No tour dates are scheduled at this time.

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!

NOTE: In anticipation and encouragement of future tour signups prior to reaching the tour minimum, the Lizard Head Cycling website may be updated to show TOUR A GO prior to actual tour confirmation. So, even if the website says that this tour is a go, please wait for your official Email Confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Zion to Telluride Bike Tour: Overview

Tour Length: 8-Days (7 Riding with 1 Layover)/7-Nights Lodging

Starting Town: Springdale, Utah. Fly into Las Vegas, Nevada or St. George, Utah.

Ending Town: Telluride, Colorado. Fly out of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Total Miles: 490-525 (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Mileage Range: 25-126

Ability Levels: Upper Intermediate (3) , Advanced (3/4) , Expert (4) – (Accommodates all levels)

Tour Cost: $3,350 per person with shared accommodations. Add $645 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.

Winter Solstice Discount - For 6-Day or longer tours take $125 off the tour cost and $75 off a bike rental. Discount applies to new registrations only made before January 1, 2025. Please make sure to mention this offer when you register.
Excludes Self-Guided tours. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

Tour Includes: 8-Days guide service, 7-Nights lodging, all meals, entrance fees, daily lunch en route, 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 Includes: (subject to change)

• Night 1: Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge, Mt Carmel, UT
• Night 2: Bryce Canyon Pines, Bryce, UT
• Nights 3 & 4: Boulder Mountain Lodge, Boulder, UT
• Night 5: Whispering Sands Motel, Hanksville, UT
• Night 6: Stone Lizard Lodge, Blanding, UT
• Night 7: Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast, Cortez, CO

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.

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

Ability Level: Can I Ride This Tour?

Definition of Ability Levels

= Intermediate (2/3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 1 to 3 times a week for a total of 50 or more miles.
= Upper Intermediate (3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 2 to 4 times a week for a total of 75 or more miles.
= Advanced (3/4) Rides and/or takes spin classes 3 to 5 times a week for a total of 100 or more miles. Has ridden multi-day tours and done a century ride.
= Expert (4) Rides 4 or more times per week totaling 150 or more miles. Rides E.F.I. with regularity. Has done numerous multi-day tours, century rides and races.

How Fit do I Have to Be? If one month prior to the tour, you can ride 2 to 3 times a week equaling a total of 75 or more miles a week, you'll do just fine. We like to jokingly say that "one is ready for a Lizard Head Cycling Tour when they are finished with tour" and this is true! The only way to simulate a week long bike tour is to go on a week long tour.

Our average rider age is 55 years. These are bike tours, not races so we take our time to stop, take pictures and see the sights. We have all day to reach our destination and most riders take "bumps" at some points. We offer reduced mileage options for each day. Of course if someone wants to ride E.F.I. (Every Freaking Inch), we love to show them all the extra climbs, loops and hidden canyons that can be included!

Do the Bump! Daily mileage options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy this tour. One of our favorite options is to give cyclists a "bump" via the support vehicle, or a 10 to 20 mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time. After the bump the rider is "off the front" and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left behind the group. They'll then have time to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. All cyclists come together in time for lunch. Afterwards, cyclists can take another bump and/or continue riding.

Seamless Mileage Options: Lizard Head Cycling Guides designs multiple mileage options for each tour – something we're well known for in our business. This technique is similar to heliskiing in that one does not ski everything, they ski the best. 🙂

Slow or Fast? Many cyclists who sign up for our tours have worried themselves silly about not being able to keep up, but then they're surprised to find that all the worrying was about nothing. They do just fine! Slow and Fast only exist relative to other cyclists. Speed does not matter as long as one is moving on the bike. As long as one is moving, they are truly going fast enough.

If you have questions about your ability to ride this tour, please contact our office via email or call us at 970.728.5891 - we'll more than happy to guide you!

Please also see this blog post for more information.

Zion to Telluride 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: Arrival in St. George, Utah

Riders fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and arrange for their own shuttle to Springdale, Utah via the St. George Shuttle. The tour starts from the meeting hotel in Springdale, Utah on Day 1 and your confirmation document will confirm the hotel name and location (not included in tour cost).

Alternatively, riders can also fly into the smaller St. George Municipal Airport (SGU) and then shuttle to Springdale, Utah via the St. George Shuttle.

Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on-their-own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

Day 1: Zion National Park to Mount Carmel
25 Miles with up to 2,700 feet of climbing

Spend the first exploring the wonders of Zion National Park. At only 25 miles, today is meant to serve as a warm up day for the rest of the tour. Lodging is outside the park’s eastern boundary in Mt. Carmel, Utah.

Day 2: Mount Carmel to Bryce Canyon National Park
53 Miles with up to 4,000 feet of climbing

Starting from Mt. Carmel, Utah, climb nearly 4,500-feet through the beautiful redrock canyons between Zion National Park and Bryce National Park (8,000-feet).

Day 3: “Utah’s Fabulous Highway 12” – Bryce Canyon National Park to Boulder Mountain Lodge
77 Miles with up to 4,800 feet of climbing

If there was ever a road built for cycling, Utah’s Highway 12 may be it. The road climbs, dives, twists and turns to the end. This is a ride you’ll never forget. We end our ride at Boulder Mountain Lodge, our home for the next two nights.

Day 4: Layover at Boulder Mountain Lodge
35 miles with up to 3,330 feet of climbing

The ride today is a 35 mile out and back to the intimate confines of Long Canyon with it’s 400-foot tall canyon walls of wingate sandstone towering above you. Even though this route is relatively short, be prepared for nearly 3,300 feet of climbing.

Day 5: Boulder Mountain Lodge to Hanksville
84 Miles with up to 5,300 feet of climbing

Enjoy even more of Highway 12 as it winds up and over the challenging slopes of Boulder Mountain (9,000-feet) with lunch in Capitol Reef National Park and ending the day in Hanksville, Utah.

Day 6: Hanksville to Blanding
126 Miles with up to 9,100 feet of climbing

Ride past Lake Powell surrounded by Redrock Wilderness. The Queen stage of the Z2T offers big miles, big climbs and big scenery. We roll out under the cover of darkness into the quiet of the desert. This is a remarkable route that ends with a climb into the Sierra Abajo Mountains to end the day in Blanding, Utah.

Day 7: Blanding to McElmo Canyon
64 Miles with up to 2,600 feet of climbing

Cross the border into Colorado riding empty ranching roads though Canyons of the Ancient National Monument, beneath the Sleeping Ute mountain and into beautiful McElmo Canyon for lunch at the Sutcliffe vineyard. Post lunch ride another 5 miles to the Kelly Place for lodging and a home cooked meal.

Day 8: McElmo Canyon to Telluride
60 Miles with up to 4,400 feet of climbing

On our final day of our tour, ride through Cortez and Delores, Colorado and up to Lizard Head Pass. Then enjoy a final descent to Telluride to end the tour.

Zion to Telluride Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Bike Shipping

Lizard Head Cycling recommends shipping with BikeFlights.com. Bikes can be shipped either to our partner bike shop in each meeting town for professional assembly or directly to the meeting hotel for self-assembly. Bike boxes can generally be left at the meeting hotel during the tour. Bikes shipped across the continental US should be shipped 8 days prior to your tour.

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.

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

 

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is a permittee of the Dixie National Forest.