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Santa Fe to Aspen Bike Tour: Highlights

This 12-day Santa Fe to Aspen Bike Tour focuses on the vertical landscapes and mountain town culture of New Mexico into the southern Colorado Rockies. This is a mountain tour that crosses the continental divide on four occasions, meanders along verdant river valleys and seeks out the eclectic lodging, food and the natural hot springs that this region is well known for.

Santa Fe to Aspen 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

2027 Tour Dates

• June 20 to 30, 2027 (Book Now!)

• July 11 to 22, 2027 (Book Now!)
• July 25 to August 4, 2027 (Book Now!)

• September 6 to 17, 2027 (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 we can commit to that date.

When you OPEN a date, you get to pick your preferred departure 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 the rider minimum. Don't wait. Just do it!

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.

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

Santa Fe to Aspen Bike Tour: Overview

Tour Length: 12-Days/12-Nights. 6-Day, 8-Day, and 10-Day tours are also available, please inquire.

Meeting Town: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ending Town: Carbondale, Colorado

Total Miles: 450-675 miles: additional mileage options available. (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Ability Level: Upper-Intermediate (3) to Advanced

Tour Cost: $4,995 per person with shared accommodations. Add $1,220 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (11-Nights). Deposit is $1,500 per person.

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: 12-Days guide service, 11-Nights lodging, all meals (except 3 dinners, 2 breakfast, 1 lunch), entry 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. Drivers of personal vehicles are responsible for their own park entrance passes when needed. We cover park entrance fees for cyclists. 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. Non-riders should plan to explore each day.

Lodging for 11 Nights: (subject to change based on availability)

• Night 1: Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
• Nights 2: Casa Benavides, Taos, NM
• Night 3: Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, Ojo Caliente, NM
• Night 4: Chama Trails Motel, Chama, NM
• Nights 5 & 6: The Springs Resort & Spa, Pagosa Springs, CO
• Night 7: Wolf Creek Lodge, South Fork, CO
• Night 8: Backcountry Cabins and Alpine Village Cabins, Lake City, CO
• Night 9: Pitkin Hotel, Pitkin, CO
• Night 10: The Inn, Buena Vista, CO
• Night 11: Inn at Aspen, Aspen, CO

Road Bike Rentals

The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs or have any questions about our 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 (34x34 gearing is an available option for our climbing tours), 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)

Road E-Bike Rentals

Click Here for more information on our Road E-Bike Rentals, including pricing. E-Bike rental availability is limited, so please reserve early. Although E-Bikes are great, our tours were originally designed to be ridden without motorized assistance. We keep our cyclists together with a variety of techniques, including staggered starts and "bumps" along the road.

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

☛ Learn more about our Rental Bikes and Equipment

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 guides preparing 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 someone who loves it all – we will keep you well-fed during the tour!

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepare 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.

Overall Route Map

Below is an example of the daily routes for this tour, which are subject to change based on season, available accommodations, road closures, and other factors. The actual routes will be made available to registered participants before their tour, so please view these routes as a general outline of what to expect.

Santa Fe to Aspen 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 of what to expect while on this tour.

Day 1: A Pilgrimage to the High Road to Taos – El Santuario de Chimayo to Taos
45 miles with up to 4,830 feet of climbing

A highlight ride of Northern New Mexico! The riding commences at the historic El Santuario de Chimayo and then follows the scenic High Road amongst the southernmost peaks of the Sierra Sangre de Cristo range. At this location a tiny shrine that is built on the site of what many believe to be a miracle associated with the crucifix of “Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas” (Our Lord of Esquipulas). El Santuario de Chimayo is also the site of “el pocito” the small pit of Holy Dirt which many people attribute as possessing remarkable curative powers.

The High Road ends at a special place, the San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church, a historical church in the old village of Rancho de Taos. This destination ride includes pine forests, cottonwood valleys and plenty of climbing. Praying that you can make it is encouraged as there are 5 mission churches along this pilgrimage.

Day 2: The Enchanted Circle or a Layover in Taos, New Mexico
Highlights-Only Option: 39 miles with up to 2,925 feet of climbing
Standard Route: 61 miles with up to 4,447 feet of climbing
EFI Option: 79 miles with up to 4,602 feet of climbing

Today’s ride is a showcase ride of Northern New Mexico. The route follows a loop around the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway showcasing the Sierra Sangre De Cristo. Cyclists enjoy big mountain views that display the topography of Norte de Nuevo bordered by the majestic presence of the dark and mysterious Rio Grande Gorge.

From Taos we shuttle to the Palo Flechado Pass above the Eagle’s Nest Valley and then ride over 9,820-foot Bobcat Pass to the small ski town of Red River. From the town of Red River we descend to Questa, New Mexico and the The Wild Rivers Recreation Area and part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Check out the powerful images of this region at Shots from Above.

Day 3: Taos, New Mexico to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

From Ojo we head east across the Rio Grande Rift Valley to view into the chasm beneath the Gorge Bridge. From the Gorge Bridge we backtrack a little before heading West to our accomodations for the night. We stay in Ojo Caliente, where there are ancient hot springs, mud baths and saunas. If hot springs are not your thing, there is a short hike to Anasazi Indian ruin behind the hot springs. Ojo is a special destination.

Day 4: Tres Piedras, New Mexico to Chama, New Mexico

From Ojo Caliente we shuttle 30 minutes north to Tres Piedras (three rocks) before beginning our spectacular route up into the Brazos Range of the San Juan Mountains. This is a quiet route that climbs to 10,000-feet through aspens and conifer trees. Once over the crest of the Brazos, we descend to Tierra Amarilla (yellow earth) and then turn north to the town of Chama, where we are right across from the terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway.

Day 5: Chama, New Mexico to Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Our route takes us into Colorado for the first time, passing by the small town of Chromo before descedning into Pagosa Springs for the next two nights. Our lodging tonight is in Pagosa Springs, named after its system of sulfur springs, which includes the world’s deepend geothermal hot spring. Yes, we will be relaxing and rejuvenating in hot water along the Rio San Juans for two nights.

Day 6: Layover in Pagosa Springs

Enjoy a layover day in Pagosa Springs. Rest day rides are available around Pagosa Springs.

Day 7: Pagosa Springs, Colorado to South Fork, Colorado

From Pagosa Springs the route turns northeast to climb the continental divide for the first time over Wolf Creek Pass! Our destination today is South Fork, the entrance to the Rio Grande National Forest, and the confluence of the Rio Grande and South Fork Rivers.

Day 8: South Fork, Colorado to Lake City, Colorado

From South Fork the route follows the Rio Grande upstream into the remote mountain headswaters region of the Rio Grande. Once at the headwaters, we climb into the Cols, climbing Spring Creek (10,898′)and Slumgullion Pass (11,530′) cols to the continental divide for the 2nd and 3rd time of the Santa Fe to Aspen tour. Slumgullion is a spectacular climb near the 14,000-foot peaks of Red Cloud and Handies.

Day 9: Lake City, Colorado to Pitkin, Colorado

Today’s route travels from the San Juan Mountains to the Sawatch Mountain Range . After departing Lake City we ride the spectacular Silver Thread Scenic Byway to Gunnison, Colorado for an aid station at Double Shot Cyclery. From Gunnison, the route continues on Highway 50 (the loneliest road in America) and ends in the historic mining town of Pitkin, CO.

Day 10: Pitkin, Colorado to Buena Vista, Colorado

After breakfast, we have a special new route that travels north over Cumberland Pass, then through the ghost town of Tin Cup. We pass by the Taylor Park Reservoir, filled with fresh mountain streamwater and snowmelt, before tackling our second pass for the day. Cottonwood Pass sits at 12,126 feet with great mountain vistas. Climbing up Cottonwood Pass, the western side was freshly paved in 2021, so expect a solid road surface for climbing. Similar to Independence Pass, Cottonwood is a beyond category (HC) ascent to Colorado’s above tree-line landscape!

Day 11: Buena Vista, Colorado to Aspen, Colorado

Today serves up what we consider the most beautiful col climb in Colorado. The curvy climb to Independence Pass at 12,095 feet presents a magnificent challenge. Starting from Buena Vista we ascend with big mountain views all around. After reaching the 12,000-foot summit and the continental divide, the descent of Independence Pass begins in earnest! Be sure to stop on the descent to take in the the Roaring Fork River, and the magnificent vistas that inspired John Denver Colorado Rocky Mountain High! What a beautiful day of riding!

Day 12: Shuttle to Maroon Creek Trailhead and Ride Maroon Bells Out and Back. Shuttle back to Carbondale
Standard: 30-Miles with 2,000 of climbing
EFI: Ride an additional local’s loop from the Inn at Aspen (approximately 20-miles)

On Day 12’s cool-down ride we ride up on a road closed to vehicles to the jaw dropping gorgeous Maroon Bells, where we take time to take in all the beauty and summer glory of this iconic Colorado location. These are Colorado’s most photographed mountains and offer a true Rocky Mountain High. On this climb we have seen Lance Armstrong and other Aspen socialites out for their daily rides. From the Bell’s visitor center it is downhill back to the Inn at Aspen.

Santa Fe to Aspen 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.

Tour Support
A 15-passenger van and trailer that carries luggage, food and equipment will support this 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