Desert Southwest (CO,AZ,UT,NM), Trip Reports » Tabeguache and Paradox Exploration

by kimberly

My love of bikepacking began a couple years ago with a simple overnight ride right out my back door. No fancy gear, just a bike packed with stuff to spend the night out. I was hooked. Then came the Coconino Loop (superb), the Colorado Trail (stunning), and lots of new and beautiful places both on my own and with good friends. Why do I love it? Look at what you get to see…

This past week my friend Philip and I explored a new area just a few hours from home. We started on the Uncompahgre Plateau and did a nice little circle back to the truck. 224 miles with loaded bikes and a few more miles of plateau exploration when our tour was done. Our route…

Divide Rd to Tabaguache trail via Columbine Pass.

Tabaguache trail to Gateway via the Niche Road.

Climb up John Brown Canyon to intersection with the Paradox trail. Paradox trail towards the La Sals.

Red Canyon to the Dolores River and Koski Traverse to Nucla.

Nucla to the GlenCoe Bench. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been on a bike.

End of the Paradox and back to the truck.

Singletrack scoping in the snow. Too much on the Roubideau. Definitely need to come back for more!