Great Rift Dirt Tour
Region: Idaho
Season:Late April – Late June and September – October
Miles: 558 | Elevation: 10,000’
Days Out: 4-6 | Tire Size: ≥ 2.2″
Difficulty: 8/10 Physical | 4/10 Technical
Connecting rugged doubletrack and backcountry roads, The Great Rift Dirt Tour highlights the vast terrain of the Sagebrush Steppe on the Columbia Plateau. Over 283 miles, the route skirts expansive lava flows among nearby mountains and traveling deep into the remote high desert of the Snake River Plain. This Idaho bikepacking route is truly a remote, soul-searching odyssey!
Queen’s Ransom
Region: Arizona
Season: Mid-October to Mid-April
Miles: 225 | Elevation: 17,000’
Days Out: 4-6 | Tire Size: 2.4-3.0″
Difficulty: 8/10 Physical | 8/10 Technical
The Queen’s Ransom is a 227-mile bikepacking route around the greater East Valley of metro Phoenix, Arizona. It weaves together many of the area’s popular singletrack trail systems, regional parks, and the Arizona National Scenic Trail amid stunning topography, rolling dirt roads, and challenging terrain.
The Grand Loop
Region: Utah and Colorado
Season: Late spring to late fall
Miles: 364 | Elevation: 39,000′
Days Out: 4-6 | Tire Size: ≥ 2.4″
Difficulty: 8/10 Physical | 7/10 Technical
The Grand Loop – one of the oldest bikepacking routes out there and arguably the original bikepacking race route, linking some of the earliest established long-distance mountain bike routes in the country. The Grand Loop is almost entirely dirt, but there’s very little singletrack or gravel along the way.
Toiyabe Crest Trail Loop
Region: Nevada
Season: Summer to fall
Miles: 70 | Elevation: 10,500′
Days Out: 2 | Tire Size: ≥ 2.3″
Difficulty: 8/10 Physical | 7/10 Technical
The northern half of the Toiyabe Crest Trail (TCT) is open to bikes, and it’s a must-ride for anyone who loves remote singletrack traversals along the spine of a towering mountain range. This loop begins with a *steep* 4×4 road climb up Ophir Canyon to reach the TCT, followed by 35 miles of mostly singletrack on the TCT.
New Mexico’s Western Highlands Loop
Region: New Mexico
Season: Spring to fall
Miles: 285 | Elevation: 20,000′
Days Out: 4-6 | Tire Size: ≥ 1.75″;
Difficulty: 5/10 Physical | 4/10 Technical
The New Mexico’s Western Highlands Loop! This 280-mile-long rough “gravel” bikepacking route meanders through the Black, Mogollon, San Francisco, and Gallo Mountains of western NM and the gorgeous Blue River Canyon in easternmost AZ. The loop takes riders on very, very quiet roads (~80% dirt, 20% paved) through almost entirely public lands, linking small communities, passing widely scattered ranches, and traversing a landscape where wolves still roam. Most of the loop is above 7,000 feet in elevation, making it a cool shoulder season ride or a relatively comfortable summer ride passing through beautiful ponderosa pine forests, high grasslands, and aspen glades.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Bikepacking Tour
Region: Arizona
Season: Winter
Miles: 125/190 | Elevation: 5,000/12,000′
Days Out: 3-5 | Tire Size: ≥ 2.4″
Difficulty: 5/10 Physical | 5/10 Technical
This delightful desert tour is on 100% dirt, 100% public lands, through stunning mountains, and with reliable water sources – it’s a fantastic 3- to 5-day winter bikepacking trip! The long version of the route includes 2-3 opportunities to scramble up desert peaks and hike into deep canyons along the way, and the shorter version bypasses those side adventures.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument High Plateaus Loop
Region: Utah
Season: Late spring to late fall
Miles: 170 | Elevation: 13,000′
Days Out: 3-5 | Tire Size: ≥ 2.4″
Difficulty: 6/10 Physical | 5/10 Technical
This 170-mile loop follows the most seldom-traveled and arguably most scenic backcountry roads through Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument through beautiful and remote Colorado Plateau country. Best ridden in late spring or autumn, this loop offers 3+ days of 4×4 riding and solitude.