Trip 21 and Trip 22 are scheduled so they may be biked sequentially. On the July trip you may elect to bike only Trip 21 or only Trip 22 or both back to back, depending on your time constraints. The May trip does not connect with Trip 21.

Those cyclists participating in both trips will have an option day in Durango on Sunday July 9. Four suggested options to choose from in Durango are:

1. Shopping or sightseeing in Durango
2. Whitewater rafting (peak of whitewater season)
3. Narrow gauge round-trip train ride to Silverton
4. Horseback riding

The first days of this trip are spent in the San Juan Mountains with their scenic passes and snow-capped 14,000 feet high peaks. The San Juans are the largest mountain range in Colorado. You can soak in a hot mineral springs the evening of your first day of biking. Included is a day at Mesa Verde National Park visiting the largest collection of the most well-preserved ancient cliff dwellings in the U.S.

The last two days are in an arid or semi-arid desert region, although along the rivers you will see trees and green grassy areas. You will ride through ancient dry riverbeds and their canyons including the ancient dry canyons of the Dolores River and the San Miguel River. You will peddle the unique Million Dollar Highway with its three high passes. A unique feature of the Red Mountain Pass Highway are the snowsheds which were constructed over the highways to keep avalanches from blocking the roads. The desert portion of this trip offers plenty of scenic variety as you pedal up and down the red and orange deep sandstone arroyos.

The major climbs of this trip are Coal Bank Pass at 10,500 feet, Molas Pass at 10,700 feet, Red Mountain Pass at 11,008 feet (highest point on this trip), Dallas Divide at 8,970 feet, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222 feet, Unaweep Divide at 7,048 feet and Gypsum Gap at 6,100 feet.