Crested Butte > Moab > Fruita Loop

[MozMTB]

Hey everybody! we're starting to plan a loop starting in CB to Moab to Fruita and back to CB.  Does anyone have any insight as to good routes between any of these destinations.  The plan would be to camp 2-3 days in each place riding the single track, so dirt roads, double track, etc. would be cool as connector routes.  - Thanks

[ScottM]

Let's see, there's the Gunny spur of the CT.  From Gunny you can hook over to Los Pinos pass on dirt roads and join the CT detour to Cinnamon Pass, Silverton and finally full blown CT to Durango.  The San Juan hut-to-hut route would get you from there to Moab:

http://sanjuanhuts.com/mountain_bike_adventures/durango_to_moab/

Moab to Fruita is a no brainer -- Kokopelli's Trail:

http://www.bikepacking.net/routes/kokopellis-trail/

Tabeguache trail would take you to Montrose (or just take the Divide Road on the Uncompahgre Plateau, paralleling it).  From there I'm not sure, but I'll bet there are enough dirt roads to get you back to Aspen and eventually CB.

[MozMTB]

OK, so I realized that I'm pretty much describing the 'grand loop' with CB thrown in there for schlitz and giggles. 

I'm starting to think of just skipping CB and either doing the traditional grand loop, or maybe starting from telluride or durango to incorporate the hut-to-hut route. Hmmmm...

Any thoughts on paradox vs. hut-to hut?

[ScottM]

CB to Durango or Telluride will keep you busy right there.  I was going to say that just getting to Moab might tire you out for unloaded riding.  Could be a long trip!

I have not ridden the Hut-to-Hut, but I know several people who have.  There are some more aggressive alternates, but the main route is non-technical and pretty easy for loaded riding.  The Paradox trail is definitely higher on the adventure scale.  Less marked, more vague, hike-a-bikes, that sort of thing.  Still doable with a load, but it depends on what you're after.

[MozMTB]

One last question-

Is there anywhere to obtain info on the hut-to-hut route so you can do it independently?  I would rather just tent camp and provide my own food/water.  So far I can only find general info from the sponsored tour company etc.  i.e., is there a good Forest Service map or resource clearly showing the route that I can get?  Would the lat 40 maps do the trick?

This site is awesome by the way!

[ScottM]

Glad you like the site.

I've never seen any online description of the hut-to-hut route.  AFAIK, you get the maps and description once you pay up. 

I would love to have a GPS track of it, since I'm not really sure what the route is.  I bet the Lat 40 maps would get you most of the way there, filling in details from trip reports and the website itself maybe?

[Rob]

One last question-

Is there anywhere to obtain info on the hut-to-hut route so you can do it independently?  I would rather just tent camp and provide my own food/water.  So far I can only find general info from the sponsored tour company etc.  i.e., is there a good Forest Service map or resource clearly showing the route that I can get?  Would the lat 40 maps do the trick?

This site is awesome by the way!

I found this picture on a Crazyguyonabike.com journal.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/1766


 

[frejwilk]

Falcon publishes a guidebook for the Telluride to Moab route.

[MozMTB]

Sweet - thanks for the info fellas