Great Divide Mountain Bike Route

The ideal time to bike the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is typically from late June through September. This period offers the most favorable weather conditions, minimizing snow at higher elevations and providing warmer temperatures. However, be prepared for rapidly changing weather, including potential afternoon thunderstorms and cold nights, even in summer.

Generally, no specific permits are required to bike the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. However, you should always check for any local regulations or fees if you plan to camp in specific areas, especially within national parks or designated wilderness areas that the route passes near or through. Some sections might require permits for overnight stays or specific activities.

While there are no general entrance fees for Routt National Forest itself, specific regulations apply to activities within the forest. These can include rules for dispersed camping, campfires, and food storage to protect wildlife. Always check the official U.S. Forest Service website for the most current information regarding any permits or regulations for the specific areas you plan to visit within Routt National Forest.

Bringing dogs on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route can be challenging due to the route's length, remoteness, and varied terrain. While some sections may allow dogs, national parks and certain wilderness areas along the route have strict regulations, often prohibiting dogs or requiring them to be on a leash. Additionally, the presence of wildlife, including bears, means extra precautions are necessary. It's best to research specific sections thoroughly if you plan to bring a dog.

The terrain is predominantly unpaved, with about 90% consisting of high-quality dirt and gravel roads. You'll encounter county, Forest Service, and BLM roads, which can vary from smooth to rocky and washboarded. There are also some four-wheel-drive tracks, short unmaintained sections, and a small percentage of singletrack trails, mainly in Montana and Canada. Paved roads make up the remaining portion.

The route is considered a significant challenge, rated around 5.5 out of 10 in difficulty, emphasizing endurance over highly technical mountain biking skills. Intermediate off-road mountain biking skills are generally sufficient. The main challenge comes from its extensive length, over 200,000 feet of climbing, and the need to be self-sufficient in remote areas.

The route offers spectacular and diverse scenery. Notable highlights include the Flathead Valley in Alberta, Grand Teton National Park, the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming, and the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Specific points of interest you might encounter include Sand Mountain view, Meaden Pass Summit (9900 ft/3020m), and the Eastern descent from Meaden Pass.

The route traverses diverse ecosystems, offering opportunities to see a variety of wildlife. You might encounter bears (including grizzly bears in Montana, where bear spray is recommended), deer, wild horses, pronghorn antelope, and eagles. Always maintain a safe distance and be aware of your surroundings, especially in remote areas.

Completing the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which spans approximately 2,700 to 2,800 miles (4,339 to 4,500 km), typically takes riders anywhere from 30 days for very fast, experienced bikepackers to 60-90 days for those taking a more leisurely pace. The annual Tour Divide race participants often finish in under 20 days, but this requires extreme endurance and minimal rest.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is notable for several reasons: it's widely considered the birthplace of bikepacking, it's the world's longest and most recognized off-pavement cycling route, and it serves as the course for the annual self-supported Tour Divide race. Its defining characteristic is its remoteness, offering deep immersion into diverse natural landscapes and a profound sense of adventure across the Rocky Mountains.

Yes, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route often shares sections or crosses paths with other trails and roads. For instance, parts of the route utilize Meaden Peak Road, Sand Mountain Road, and Slater Park Road, among others, as it traverses its extensive length.