Forbidden Bikepacking into The Ute Mtn. Ute Tribal Park: Ride Bikes & Explore Cliff Dwellings (Autumn Tour)
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Ute Mountain Ute Tribal park Trip Overview
PLEASE NOTE: As of April 26, 2024, the Tribal Park changed where we are allowed to camp. So the nights you stay at the Ranch and the start and finish points for this trip have been altered to reflect that.
Four Corners Guides has the exclusive permit to take bikepacking trips into the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park from our base camp, Scullbinder Ranch, which lies on the border of the Tribal Park.
Our long-weekend, 60-mile journey begins at the Mancos Brewing Company the night before the tour into the park starts. From there, we will ride 11 miles down Weber Canyon to Scullbinder Ranch (we shuttle your gear). There, we’ll prepare for the trip, eat a delicious homemade dinner with friends and get settled into comfortable accommodations. Sip a fireside cocktail on our lodge deck, overlooking Mesa Verde National Park.
Day 1 includes a short shuttle to your start point at Cherry Creek. You’ll ride 36 miles into the Tribal Park through its East Gate, and then down to your camp on the Mancos River.
Day 2, you’ll meet your Tribal Park Guide at camp and take a short shuttle up to Lion Canyon, where you’ll explore the Eagle Nest House and four other stunning cliff dwellings.
On day 3, we ride 14 miles back to Mancos to complete our trip, spending hours hiking and exploring various ruins along the way.
We recommend you stay Sunday night, as you’ll be getting in late afternoon. And we’ll have dinner, shower and a sauna waiting for you. Tours run Thursday night-Sunday. But it does cost an additional $100 for your dinner, breakfast and lodging Sunday night.
Email us about our two-day option. We don’t have any on the schedule for this year, but you may schedule a tour for you and 1 or more people.
Price: $1195
A 50% deposit is required to secure your space. If you are registering inside of the 30 day window, the remaining balance is due immediately.
Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.
What's Included
Includes two nights at Scullbinder Ranch in a shared glamping tent (private glamping tent, cabin or RV are also available), all meals for the duration of the trip. All camping, permits and bike bags (if you need them).
what's not included
A bicycle in good working condition, camping gear.
Instructors
Steve Fassbinder
Steve, aka “Doom,” is one of the country’s first Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructors. And he will be a certified International Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO) and IRF Whitewater Packraft Guide late April. Steve is also certified in Advanced Swiftwater Safety and Wilderness First Responder. An early adopter of packrafting, he has guided or instructed bike-packrafting to kids and adults for over a decade. And he has done remote packrafting expeditions around the world for over a dozen years.
Thad Ferrell
Thad is a Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructor. He additionally has advanced Swiftwater Safety training and he is a certified Wilderness First Responder. An early adopter of packrafting and life-long cyclist and bikepacker, Thad has accomplished some ground-breaking, multi-week climb-bike-packraft adventures in the desert Southwest. He is also an expert fly fishing guide.
Prerequisites
You must know how to ride a bicycle and be comfortable riding a loaded bike 30+ miles a day. You must have backcountry camping skills.
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