Situated in the Uncompahgre Valley, Ridgway emerges as one of the most scenic rural Colorado gravel bike destinations. Stunning natural beauty, relaxed small town feel, and gateway status to the San Juan Mountains make Ridgway a nexus point for gravel enthusiasts to explore the roads of Ouray and Montrose Counties.
Southwest Colorado’s landscape and western heritage inspired a number of film locations, including John Wayne classic True Grit (1969) and Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight (2015). This creative synergy with nature fuels the imagination of any gravel adventurer seeking to discover their next great place to ride gravel.
Route options range from fast and smooth gravel county roads to off-piste double track forest service roads, to the high desert plateau riding in the West End of Montrose County. The towns, terrain and landscape between Uncompahgre Valley and the Utah border will appeal to the imagination of many adventure cyclists.
Framed by the rugged San Juan Mountains, any given vista on a ride will reveal why this part of the state calls to endurance athletes of all skill levels. It challenges and rewards cyclists seeking to explore the region’s alpine peaks and public lands, including the Uncompahgre National Forest.
The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce invites the gravel community to discover the mixed terrain of the Western San Juan Mountain region. Ride here and be captivated by our majestic alpine setting, laid-back friendly Old West spirit, and small town hospitality.
An exciting element to this guidebook is the chance to introduce adventure cyclists to the gravel riding in the West End of Montrose County. Composed of Nucla, Naturita, Bedrock, Redvale, Paradox, and Norwood, you’ll appreciate the many towns, one community attitude of this tightly knit collection of towns eager to attract dirt-curious cyclists.
Along with partners in Montrose County, we encourage everyone to visit and create unique gravel memories. With a number of lodging and dining options available, the routes featured here support curated loop rides that both start/end in each town, and offer backcountry excursions into the mountains, mesa, and desert.
Come and see for yourself why Ridgway is the gateway to an exceptional gravel adventure in the Western San Juan Mountains.
More text, images and routes from the Ridgway/West End/Montrose Gravel Adventure Field Guide coming soon!
Details
Guides & Routes
Editor In-Chief/Co-Founder: Juan DelaRoca
Creative Director/Co-Founder: Stephen Beneski
Design Associate: Ryan Exner
Route Planning & Gravel Road Beta: Tim Tait, Jim Clark, Nathan Miller, Juan DelaRoca, Andy Persio, and Tom Kavanaugh
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office: Matthew Nunez
