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

Redrock Canyons Tour: Highlights

Leading paragraph from the NY Times story: “We had awakened before dawn to get a jump on the desert heat and rolled out under a headlight moon, pedaling fast in the cool morning of the Dolores River Canyon. There were no cars, not out here. There was only the sound of bike tires on asphalt, the river’s murmur, the cascading song of a canyon wren and that beginning-of-the-world smell of river mud in the blue morning.”

☛ New York Times: “Four Corners, Two Wheels – A Bicycle Tour Through Remote Southwest Canyon Country”

The Redrock Canyons is Lizard Head Cycling’s original tour and became our most popular itinerary after it was featured in the New York Times in 2010. This was when people still read the hardcopy paper!  The pictures were huge and the story was compelling.

Since then the Redrocks tour has been our flagship tour. It is a supported lodge to lodge road cycling tour that follows a Seldom Seen route through the Redrock Canyon Country of western Colorado and eastern Utah. This iconic region boasts striking geologic features, numerous prehistoric cultural sites and encompasses some of the “greatest unexplored wilderness in the country”. If one was to ride just one tour in the American West, this is the one to experience.

The Redrock Canyon tour offers unmatched scenery and fantastic lodging. It is a superb tour for all abilities ranging from intermediate to E.F.I. (every freaking inch) riders. Although the Redrock Canyons tour appears to be a big mileage tour, the mileage segments are determined by the distance between lodges in this remote landscape, as such we cater each day so that intermediate level riders enjoy themselves immensely. Yes, you can do this tour! We guarantee it!

There was a majesty of riding through or alongside the mountains/rivers/trails. There were times I just had to stop riding and look and take a picture. I kept thinking that riding through all (of this) on a bike was THE way to experience it as you get to “feel” surrounded by these amazing and majestic sights for a long time. – Ed

4-Day and 6-Day Versions!

Join Lizard Head Cycling for 4-days or 6-days on our Redrock Canyons Bike Tour. Jump to our tour dates below for potential departures.

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.

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

Read the Sunday New York Times Feature Story on the Redrock Canyons Tour

View the New York Times Slideshow with Audio

Noteworthy Links

☛ View client photos of this tour.

☛ USA Today: Listen to the Bears Ears and protect national treasures

Noteworthy Videos

Celebrate Bears Ears: Welcome to our New National Monument!

Canyonlands HD Scenic Flight

Lizard Head Cycling Guides: Redrock Canyons Tour

On each night of the Redrock Canyons cyclists relax in comfortable accommodations while enjoying delicious meals in the heart of Redrock Canyon Country. Highlights include: the 1980’s Coor’s Bicycle Classic “Tour of the Moon” stage through the Colorado National Monument, the stunning geology of Unaweep Canyon, world famous Monument Valley, terrain from Edward Abbey’s classic novel The Monkey Wrench Gang and the sandstone cliff encircled beauty of Lake Powell. These attractions are viewed while riding beneath the stunning peaks of the San Juan, Abajo, La Sal, and Henry mountains. The tour route meanders alongside and intersects many of desert southwest’s major rivers canyons including the Rio Gunnison, Rio Colorado, Rio Dolores, and Rio San Juan.

Although the Redrock Canyons Tour is best for fit cyclists who have some longer-distance cycling experience, intermediate riders love this tour. Days range from 35 to 65 with a 107-mile offering on Day 6 that descends 4,000-feet in the last 40 miles.

Cyclists can shorten each day by taking a “bump” in the support vehicle, this is a common practice on the Redrocks Tour. Cyclists who have ridden multi-day tours such as Cycle Oregon, Ride The Rockies or RAGBRAI will do fine on the Redrocks Tour. Many cyclists experience riding their first century on the Redrocks Tour.

PLEASE NOTE: Daily shuttle options between aid stations allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy the Redrock Canyons Tour. See How the Shuttle Works in Tour Beta below. Most cyclists worry they will not be able to “keep up” and end up doing fine on this tour. Click here to view a small map of the region.

Redrock Canyons Tour: Testimonials

Read what previous guests on our Redrock Canyons Bike Tour have been saying…\

The trip was a great success. Perfect, actually. Literally everyone in our group loved the trip and appreciated every aspect of how the trip was organized and executed. Leslie and Deanne were amazing. Talk about exceeding expectations… in every little way, they pulled out the stops and made the trip special. They are both truly great guides and wonderful people. – Rich

One word keeps coming to mind when I think about the trip and our two guides… EXCEPTIONAL. DeAnne and Leslie were absolutely great… Friendly, professional, knowledgeable, excellent cooks, flexible. I do not have any negatives, about our guides, routes and areas we rode, food, and the lodgings chosen. Even the weather was perfect. Hope to include Lizard Head in future plans – Ed

Lodging – All accommodations were excellent. Gateway was spectacular. Camp V was funky and very soothing. Bluff and Monument Valley were well done considering they’re in the middle of nowhere.

Food – Gateway’s food was superior to many throughout Colorado. BBQ and music at Camp V was a hit, we all enjoyed it and it was a perfect evening weather wise. Bluff and Monument Valley were crowded but their staff did their best to get us fed. The LH breakfasts and lunches were just right in terms of options and timing. The Camp V breakfast was a very nice touch.

Guides – DeAnne and Leslie bent over backwards to make us all happy. I enjoyed riding with both of them.

WELL DONE.

Jim

We had a great time on the latest version of the Redrock Canyons Tour. It was nice to spend 2 nights at Gateway Canyons Resort. The live music and catered dinner at Camp V was awesome. We loved our ride from lunch at Nucla over the back roads to Naturita with Leslie. Our guides Leslie and DeAnne were awesome. They cooked some yummy breakfasts which made it easier to be up and going at the crack of dawn! The Paradox Valley is absolutely spectacular. So glad that this route was included in the tour. – Denise and Jay

There is nothing like a Bike Tour to make one feel that all is right in the world. I am still buzzing from the convivial energy of my fellow participants: progressive, authentic, energetic lovers of all things bicycle and all things fair and democratic in this world. A real respite from the reality of everyday life in the larger population. DeAnne and Dave are terrific guides! Love their youthful energy and strength. The RedRocks tour is amazing. The landscape is gorgeous and the challenge for this flatlander was not without some difficulties. Accommodations were stellar. Beautiful hotels and environments. Thanks again for putting us all together on this awesome bike trip. – Jackie

Everything about the Redrock Canyons trip was awesome, I’d say it ties with the Big Bend road trip for the best Lizard Head trip ever. Non-stop gorgeous scenery, great roads, very little traffic, perfect routes, great hotels. DeAnne and Dave were really fabulous, absolutely the best guides I’ve had on my many trips with Lizard Head. – Kristi

Dave and DeAnne provided me and Adam with the best cycling experience we’ve ever had! Two delightful people, and they kept us all under control! Thank you so much. – Joe

That trip was great, an absolutely fantastic break out from the lockdowns. That part of the world really is exceptional. The small group of riders worked really well and was very congenial. Lots of laughter and good cheer over meals and such. Also, I can’t say enough about Leslie and DeAnne as a guide team, they were outstanding. – Jon

I had a great week with Scott and DeAnne and both are superb guides. They went out of their way to make sure everyone had a good time and were well taken care of. This was my second trip with Lizard Head and I loved both of them. I would not hesitate to ride with Lizard Head again in the future. Thanks for another week of awesome memories. – Kevin

The Redrocks Canyon Tour is beyond words, just fabulous. Each day brought new vistas that continued to delight and challenge me. There is not one I can call my favorite, but riding down from Monument Valley into Lake Powell was especially exhilarating. My husband could tell from the big smile on my picture, just how happy I was riding in through Colorado National Monument.

Honestly, I cannot think of a single recommendation to improve. The entire experience is so thoughtfully created. Thank you.

Alex and Leslie were wonderful. I especially appreciated the time taken by both the first day to give me, a first timer on a trip like this, instructions on how to descend and ride on my first road bike. They problem solved, They worked tirelessly to keep us fed, safe, and riding. I also appreciated the time you took to bring a seat post that fits and Leslie for lending me her bike. The food and the lodging were great. Staying at the animal shelter, having deer walk by during dinner was a special treat.

I should not have worried that I would be too slow. Though the slowest rider, starting the earliest made me feel still part of the group. I never would have imagined I could ride so much and so much elevation each day. I appreciate your encouragement when we spoke on the phone.

I felt very safe even though the tour occurred during Covid. The precautions and changes made were evidence based and obviously thoughtful and well thought out. Alex and Leslie were polite but effective, encouraging mask-wearing amongst the few who needed encouragement so that masks were never an issue.

I plan to do another tour in 2021 and will see if we can get a small starter group together. – Sonja

(Leslie and Alex) were awesome. Positive, hardworking, good cooks, etc. Loved the route. Loved the bike. Perfect. Fit like a glove. All that new bike feel. Loved the insistence on handwashing, and the fact that we ate outside. Given the state of the planet (with Covid) I got far more than I expected when I did this trip. L&A were awesome. Flexible. Made an awkward world situation AMAZING!! – Ken

Thank you David and Scott. The experience was epic, and as I emotionally stated earlier, it’s always more than cycling. We overcome mental and physical barriers, but most of all leave with shared memories and new friends. – Rodney

All of it including the adventurous weather. I can’t wait to try another Lizard Head ride. (David and Leslie) were the consummate host and hostess, a pleasure to be around on and off the road, attentive, unflappable, and turned the sag wagon into the best road food diner on the planet. (They) made a terrific experience all the more so. – Alfred

We’ve done 7 or 8 trips with Lizard Head and they’ve all been good. Red Rocks trip was our first. We saw the article in NY Times Sunday paper just after John started his company. Though it is a hard ride, one of my favorite days ever of riding was going down into Monument Valley. – Barb S.

(Redrock Canyons and Tour of the Gila) I would rate both tours 11/10 and would say there are more similarities than differences. The similarities are that you have a winning formula in terms of tour length, ride length, amount of climbing, food, accommodation, and slickness of organisation such that it runs smoothly all the time. Having said that, variety is built in and is what makes it so enjoyable. Your “model” is very adept at catering to big groups, small groups, different hopes and expectations, and flexibility in response to client requests. The guides (whether you and Dan or Deanne and Dave) operate exactly the same in reflecting your company values (a high level of internal consistency). The differences were that (Redrock Canyons) was high on “wow factor” scenery and that (Tour of the Gila) was good for long, arduous but non-punishing climbs. I very much enjoyed the layover in Silver City (NM) and the fact 5/5 clients didn’t ride (when one was an EFI type) showed that it was well appreciated. I think the same type of rider could enjoy both tours based on the timing of their holiday/tour and could be steered to either. Perhaps (Redrock Canyons) is more of a long-term hook for attracting new riders: it’s status as the “iconic (Lizard Head) tour” courtesy of the newspaper article gives it a certain prestige. – Craig B.

Redrock Canyons 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.

2025 Tour Dates

• April 27 to May 2, 2025 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED

• May 4 to 9, 2025 (Book Now!)
• May 11 to 16, 2025 (Book Now!)
• May 18 to 23, 2025 (Book Now!)
• May 26 to 31, 2025 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED 2 riders needed to make GO

• August 31 to September 5, 2025 (Book Now!)
  Week 1 of the Utah EPIC

• September 8 to 13, 2025 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED
  Monday to Saturday
• September 14 to 19, 2025 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED
• September 21 to 26, 2025 (Book Now!)
  Ride the “Mountains to Desert Classic” on Saturday September 20, 2025!
• September 28 to October 3, 2025 (Book Now!)

• October 5 to 10, 2025 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED
• October 12 to 17, 2025 (Book Now!)
• October 19 to 24, 2025 (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!

 

2025 Utah EPIC Tour Dates

Combined tours for two EPIC weeks of riding!

• August 31 to September 13, 2025 (Book Now!)
  Week 1: Redrock Canyons (Book!)
  Week 2: Boulder, Bryce & Zion (BBZ) (Book!)

Redrock Canyons Tour: Overview

This tour is offered with a 6-Day or a 4-Day itinerary and both versions of this tour can be run simultaneously. The 4-Day itinerary follows the first four days of the full 6-Day tour. See details below.

Tour Length: 6-Days Cycling/5-Nights Lodging (layover day option of rest day or ride) -or- 4-Days Cycling/3-Nights Lodging

Meeting & Ending Town: Grand Junction, Colorado – Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT). Riders on the 4-Day tour shuttle from Monticello, Utah back to Grand Junction, Colorado at the end of Day 4.

Total Miles: 315-miles standard tour distance. 420-to 500-miles E.F.I. distance (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Average Daily Mileage: 60 or 70-miles (E.F.I.)

Difficulty Level: Intermediate (2) to Advanced (3/4) 

6-Day Tour Cost: $3,520 per person with shared accommodations. Add $895 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (includes 5-Nights).

4-Day Tour Cost: $2,625 per person with shared accommodations. Add $450 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (3-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.

Early Bird 2025 Thanksgiving Discount - For 6-Day or longer tours take $150 off the tour cost. Discount applies to new registrations only made before December 5, 2024. 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: Guide service, lodging, all meals (except 1 dinner), taxes, 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
NOTE: If one desires to take the scenic flight on Day 6, there will be an additional charge. More information is under Day 6 in the Itinerary below.

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: (subject to availability)

Despite the name, the stay at CampV is in luxury cabins and not a campground.

• Night 1: Gateway Canyons Resort, Gateway, Colorado (Spectacular on the Dolores river!)
• Nights 2 & 3: Cabins at Vancorum (CampV), Vancorum, Colorado
• Night 4: Desert Rose Inn & Cabins, Bluff, Utah
• Night 5: The View Hotel, Monument Valley, Utah

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.

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: Intermediate to Advanced cyclists. A combination of quiet, car-free roads, easily assessable mileage options and plenty of climbing makes the Redrocks Tour well suited for intermediate to advanced cyclists. Intermediate riders have done the Redrocks tour since its inception and have loved it. We have built our business showcasing this tour. There are additional mileage options for E.F.I riders (every freaking inch) and overall it should be noted that the Redrocks is not as hard as the NY Times story makes it sound! Since the NY Times story was published we have added a day to the tour and adjusted the itinerary to make the Redrock Canyons bike tour more forgiving.

Non-Riding Activities on the Redrock Canyons Tour: If you have non-riding spouse who would like to join this tour, follow this link.

Do the Bump! Lizard Head Cycling provides daily mileage options that allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy our tours. One of our favorite options is to give cyclists a “bump” via the support vehicle. A bump is a 10 to 20 mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time. After the bump the rider is now “off the front” and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left behind the group. It allows riders to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. When the support vehicle arrives cyclists take another bump or continue riding.

Slow or Fast? (What Level Cyclist are You?)

• PLEASE don’t be scared away from this tour. The Redrocks Tour is not as hard as it sounds.
• Slow and Fast only exist as relative terms to other people.  Speed does not matter as long as one is moving on the bike.
• Please Note: “One is ready for a Lizard Head Cycling tour, when they finish a Lizard Head tour”.
• If you have questions about your ability to ride this tour, please contact our office (info@LizardHeadCyclingGuides.com or 970.728.5891).
• Our guest’s median age is in the mid-fifties.

Overall Route Map

Redrock Canyons 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.

Mileage Note: Exact mileage numbers will vary.

Day 1: Colorado National Monument and Unaweep Canyon
Morning Ride:
Colorado National Monument: 23-miles with up to 2,750 feet of climbing

Afternoon Ride:
Unaweep Canyon to Gateway (Standard): 18-miles with 2,800-feet of descending!

Unaweep Canyon to Gateway (Every Freaking Inch (EFI): 38 miles with up to 2,775 feet of climbing

Day One’s riding begins on Rim Rock Drive of the Colorado National Monument. The 23-mile drive follows the redrock rim nearly 2,000 feet up a series of canyons above the Rio Colorado. The entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places and was named by National Geographic as one of the country’s Top 10 Under-Appreciated Parks.

The detailed design for the road was developed in 1932 by the National Park Service for maximum scenic impact, using the National Park Service Rustic style. The road was constructed with almost entirely manual labor by the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, and represents one of the most significant Depression era public projects. Extensive drilling and blasting was required, and three tunnels were bored. Work was suspended by the Second World War from 1942 to 1948, and was finally completed in 1950. At its height, the project employed more than 800 men. Rim Rock Drive could not be constructed in the 21^st century, its expense and environmental consequences would be considered too high.

During the 1980s, Rim Rock Drive was host to a classic mountain stage of the now defunct Coors Classic Stage Race. The stage itself was dubbed The Tour of the Moon. Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond themselves battled it out on this scenic road.

Day One Continued…

After Day One’s morning tour through the Colorado National Monument cyclists head into the stunning confines of Unaweep Canyon. Unaweep Canyon is quite possibly the most spectacular road ride in Colorado, it is also one of the least known roads in the state. Geologically speaking, Unaweep was at one time a river channel of the Colorado River before the massive uplift of the Uncompahgre Plateau diverted the river’s course. This is mine expanding geology!

Today cyclists enjoy riding the road where the river once traveled. Although smaller in scale, the experience is akin to riding a bike through the Grand Canyon. The splendid resort of Gateway Canyons (opened in 2005 on the Dolores River) in Gateway, Colorado awaits us for dinner and lodging this evening. The beauty of Gateway Canyons Resort must be seen to be believed.

Day 2: Gateway to CampV
Gateway to Camp V (Standard): 49 miles with up to 2,335 feet of climbing
Gateway to Camp V (EFI): 57 miles with up to 2,845 feet of climbing

We consider the first 25-miles todays ride to be the most beautiful section of road on all of our tours. The route follows the dazzling scenery of Highway 141 southward. The first 25-miles from Gateway Canyons resort are beneath 1,500-foot Redrock Canyon walls and alongside the Rio Dolores. Many of our guests have called this section the “most beautiful ride” they have ever enjoyed.

YouTube – Lizard Head Cycling Guides: Dolores River Canyon (PT 1)

Views of the Hanging Flume are visible from Highway 141. The flume is an engineering feat of over 100 years ago and also one of the world’s most extraordinary monuments to human greed and folly. Its purpose was to deliver water to a placer gold mine. Construction started in 1889 and a million board feet of lumber was used. The mine went bankrupt in the early 1890s. Today travelers are awestruck at the lengths gone into the creation of this means to convey water.

YouTube – Lizard Head Cycling Guides: Dolores River Canyon (PT 2)

The road riding is high above the Dolores River and tight against vertical sandstone walls, it is stunning.  We finish our ride near Naturita, Colorado and check into our lodging at CampV.

Day 3: Layover Day: Cabins at CampV – Confluence Loop
32 Miles or 44 miles (EFI) with up to 1,710 feet of climbing

With a layover day at CampV, today’s ride is a big highlight to the confluence of the Rio San Miguel and Rio Dolores. From our cabins heading north on CO-141 and then diverting onto a section of smooth gravel road past the Hanging Flume.  At the wild confluence, located deep within a redrock canyon, the guides will set up a delicious lunch spread. Everyone is invited to jump in the water for a wild swim!

Post lunch we continue our journey south following the Dolores River into Paradox Valley until we reach State Highway 90 and then ride our final miles back to to our luxury cabins at CampV.

Day 4: Cabins at CampV to La Sal, Utah
32 miles or 43 miles (EFI) with up to 4,180 feet of climbing

Departing from CampV the route heads west beneath the cliffs of the Paradox Valley, then up and over Paradox Pass into Utah. The mighty La Sal Mountains will loom large to the northwest during today’s ride. The riding ends with lunch near Old La Sal, Utah. We then shuttle to Bluff, Utah to our lodging at the Desert Rose.

Day 5: Bluff, Utah to Monument Valley, Arizona
Standard option: 40 miles with up to 3,430 feet of climbing
E.F.I. Option: 57 miles with up to to 4,520 feet of climbing

From Bluff, we’ll roll out in the soft early morning light southwest towards Monument Valley along US Scenic 163. Ten miles into the day we’ll ride up and over the southern end of Comb Ridge, a 40-mile long geological feature of special interest. If you have been to Monument Valley before or this is your first time, the landscape is captivating. The mood of the red rock in this harsh landscape varies with the light to reveal both subtle and striking beauty.

We’ll cross the Rio San Juan at the town of Mexican Hat and continue southwest towards Arizona. Tonight’s lodging is on the Navajo Nation at either The View Hotel or Gouldings Lodge

Day 6: Monument Valley to (Lake Powell)
Standard Option: Moki Dugway to Lake Powell: 70 miles with 5,250 feet of descending

E.F.I. option #1: Monument Valley to Lake Powell, 107 miles with 7,660 feet of descending

E.F.I. Option #2: Not recommended 🙂 Monument Valley to Hanksville, 154 miles with 7,500 feet of climbing

Our final day of riding will be without a doubt memorable and much easier than anticipated. Since the ride loses 4,000-feet at a 1% to 2% grade over the final 50 miles, this will be the easiest 100-miles you have ever ridden. From Monument Valley cyclists roll back into Utah and re-cross the Rio San Juan at Mexican Hat where the route turns north following Route 261. Ten miles north of Mexican Hat Route 261 runs into headwall of the Moki Dugway. The Dugway is a 1,100 foot climb in 2.8 miles of packed earth road (with paved corners). There are switchbacks up the Dugway’s 8% t0 10% grade. From the top of the Dugway, the sublime views featuring the Goosenecks of the Rio San Juan, Monument Valley and the Valley of the Gods may be the very best in all of Utah.

Day 6 Continued…

Heading north and trending upward from the Moki Dugway on Route 261, the Abajo Mountains dominate the northern skyline while the Henry Mountains rise to the west. Intersecting Route 95 our route turns west. In writer Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang this is the road where the outlaw George Washington Hayduke walked for three days pulling survey stakes before the road was constructed. It is indeed hard to understand why this road was built since it does not lead to anything in particular. But since the road now exists and the drop dead gorgeous scenery, what better way to explore this region than on a bike? Abbey would probably approve.

Day 6 Continued…

The region around Route 95 is chock full of water springs and accompanying Anasazi Indian ruins such as Fry Canyon and Mule Canyon. We pass near the nation’s first National Monument, Colossal Bridges, designated by Teddy Roosevelt in the early 1900’s. Colossal Bridges was renamed Natural Bridges, but Colossal better describes these bridges and the indomitable figure of Teddy Roosevelt.

Day 6 Continued…

Edward Abbey’s Hayduke was fantasizing about blowing up Glen Canyon Dam while pulling survey stakes as he walked towards Glen Canyon Reservoir. If anyone in our group of cyclists upon reaching Glen Canyon Reservoir seeks to blow up the dam, they’ll be at the wrong end of the 186 mile long reservoir with nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline. Arriving at the north end of Glen Canyon Reservoir cyclists cross three impressive bridges over the Rio San Juan, Rio Colorado, and the Dirty Devil River. To end the tour a refreshing jump into the lake is highly recommended. Following the end of riding we shuttle back to Grand Junction with dinner at a quirky cowboy bar in Green River, Utah.

Well Done!

Optional Low-Level Scenic Flight: To end your Redrock Canyons Bike Tour, treat yourself to a spectacular low-level scenic flight across Canyonlands National Park with Redtail Aviation. The scenery is incredible and after the flight you will arrive back in Grand Junction at approximately 6:00 PM on Friday evening. Cost is $297 per person for 2024. We will need each person’s weight to make the reservation. Please note that carry-on luggage is limited to 25 lbs per person. The Lizard Head shuttle containing non-flying-riders, bikes, and luggage will arrive in Grand Junction around 9:00 PM.

Note: If your group has a private plane, the Hanksville, Utah airport allows pickup directly from the end of the Redrock Canyons tour.

Redrock Canyons Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Meeting Location: On Day 1 cyclists meet the guides and support vehicle at 8:00am at the Courtyard Marriott next to the airport in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Marriott has an airport shuttle and full hot breakfast.

Ending Location: The tour ends at the Marriott on Horizon Drive in Grand Junction, Colorado after Day 6’s stage to Lake Powell. Cyclists are shuttled from Lake Powell back to Grand Junction.

Pre- and Post-Tour Lodging: Riders are responsible for their own lodging for night preceding and following the tour.

Tour Size: 6 to 13 riders

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.

Bike Gearing: A low gear of 34×32 is sufficient on most days.

Tour Months: The Redrock Canyons Tour is offered during the months of May, June, September and October.

Weather and the Redrock Canyons Tour: The bike touring experience is about one’s attitude. In 2010, three of the Redrock Canyons Tours were run in near record heat, near record cold and “perfect weather.” The tours that were run under extreme conditions ended up being exceptionally memorable and fun. It is the “war stories” that are told around the Thanksgiving table five years down the road. Bonding occurs through adversity creating life long friendships. The weather will do what is does.

“There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.” (old Norwegian saying)

Spring Weather Synopsis: Spring in Canyon Country begins in earnest during the month of March with bright warm days and cool to cold nights. By April daytime highs reach the upper 70’s with lows in the 40s and 50s. In May, temperatures reach the mid to upper 80s and by the end of the month even low 90s. As the summer solstice approaches in June long days translate into temperatures that are regularly in the upper 80s to mid 90s with nighttime lows in 60s. Early morning roll-outs in early June make for memorable sunrises with early afternoon arrivals at the hotels.

Through the middle of May spring snow storms can still effect the high mountains above Redrock Canyon Country. The mountains rise 7,000 feet above the desert and as a result the effect of late season storms on sensible weather down in the canyons usually results in 8 to 16 hours of unsettled weather such as wind and thunderstorms. Spring is generally a windier and drier season then fall in the desert.

Fall Weather Synopsis: Temperatures in early September are no longer as hot as mid-summer, but can still feel quite warm with afternoon highs reaching as high as the low to mid-90s. By the end of September temperatures are averaging in the mid to low 80s. By the end of October temperatures are usually in the upper 60s to low 70s. (good weather for long rides). October sunlight is radiant as the slanted post autumnal equinox rays sustain brilliant light even at mid-day. In mid-October, the Cottonwood trees along the rivers burn yellow against the azure desert skies.

As for the threat of fall rain, from mid-September through October, low pressure systems will occasionally spin through the high mountains 6,000 to 8,000 feet above canyon country. These storms dust the high peaks with the first snows of the coming season. These weather systems translates into about 8 to 16 hours of unsettled weather down in Canyon Country. Weather events in the desert can best be described as brief and intense in nature.

Dining: Cyclists dine each evening and morning at uniquely local establishments chosen by Lizard Head Cycling. All meals are included with the costs of the tour.

Ride Difficulty: The Redrocks Tour is designed for “Intermediate to Advanced Cyclists. The tour is similar to riding Ride the Rockies or Cycle Oregon. The pace is considered moderate to difficult.

Tour Support: The tour is supported by a van and trailer which carries all luggage and equipment. The support vehicle, a 15-passenger van and trailer, provides a shuttle option from aid stations along the route.

The Daily Schedule: Cyclists ride at their own pace. Tour riders depart each morning as early as they choose and can use the support vehicle when they desire. The tour is designed to provide mileage options depending on cyclist’s fitness level and desire.

How the Shuttle and Mileage Options Work: The Redrock Canyons Tour is designed to offer cyclists a significant challenge while at the same time providing easily accessible mileage options for cyclists of varying fitness levels. This system works with a support vehicle that jumps ahead rather then “sags” to set up aid stations along the route. Cyclists customize their experience by choosing either to start each day’s ride from the hotel, at the stage’s first aid station or from the top of the day’s big hill.

This custom system works well for our guests. In the big picture very few people will ever have the pleasure of visiting these spectacularly remote areas of the American West.  Of those that do, 99.9% of them do so in a vehicle.  So if one pedals 300 of the 420-mile Redrocks Tour, they are in such a small minority that they should really celebrate!  On average only about 50% of the Redrock Canyon guests pedal every mile of the tour.

Flying to Grand Junction:

• United connects through Denver
• Delta connects through Salt Lake City
• Allegiant Air flies directly to Grand Junction from Los Angeles & Las Vegas for $159- roundtrip.
• American flies directly from Dallas/Fort Worth on a seasonal basis.

Redrock Canyon Tour Facts:

• The 15-passenger van that supports the tour allows for cyclists with varying fitness levels to enjoy the same tour. The van is available for shuttling each day from the aid stations.
• Elevations range from 4,100′ to 7,100′
• There is little traffic on these roads.
• Please contact us with your questions.

Related Links:

• The San Juan Canyonlands Proposed Wilderness Act
• Classic Road Rides in National Parks (the Colorado National Monument)
• Article by David Brower on restoring Glen Canyon

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