The Heart of Colorado

This tour will allow you to discover the heart of Colorado, not only because it is in the center of the state but because it will allow you to explore the many different attributes that makes Colorado so special.   You will explore the many natural wonders and rich history of the region.
Starting in Manitou Springs, in the shadow of 14,110-foot Pikes Peak, the route will travel through the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument with evidence that the area was once covered by oceans.   Overnight in Canon City, home of the Royal Gorge, a dramatic crevasse spanned by North America’s highest suspension bridge.

The route continues along the Arkansas River, the most commercially rafted river in America to Salida, full of history, outdoor adventure, art and a welcoming downtown.   Although gold-seekers first settled here, it was farmers and ranchers who made Salida a lasting community.
Day 3 will head towards the mountain town of Crested Butte. After climbing Monarch Pass you will descend into wide valleys as you head into Gunnison with stunning views of the Collegiate Mountains. The final leg of the day, on the bike or in the van, will end in Crested Butte, a town surrounded in summer by so many blooming meadows that the Colorado legislature dubbed it the Wildflower Capital of Colorado.

Many of the roads in Colorado are packed dirt such as Kebler Pass outside of Crested Butte on the way to Aspen.  After Kebler Pass  the route will meander through the farm towns leading into Carbondale, one of the gateways to Aspen.  Nestled in the heart of the White River National Forest and surrounded by the peaks of the Elk Mountains, Aspen is well known as a ski destination, but the town’s history and offerings go much deeper.