Name: Carson Continental Divide Epic
Rating: 4.8

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Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Commonly Bikepacked · Views

Snow-bound in the winter. Usually clear by early June.

Overview

From the mountainous heights of Cumbres Pass to the high-desert canyons near Ghost Ranch, this mostly-singletrack through-ride takes in some of Northern New Mexico's finest scenery enjoyed along some of the state's most sublime riding.

Think alpine meadows, rocky ridges, crisp mountain creeks, horrible mud, dark, loamy forests and lots of unavoidable cow shit.

Need to Know

Beware of lightning in the summer months – long stretches of this trail provide little to no shelter from the storm.

Description

Developed camping accessible by car can be found every 20-25 miles making this a prime candidate for a 4-day shuttle-assisted slack-pack. Or saddle up and tackle it all in one grueling test of stamina.

That said, even for the most experienced, world-class rider, the varied terrain, unpredictable weather, water situation and remote access demand thoughtful planning, which can still result in dangerous scenarios.

History & Background

The Continental Divide Trail on the Carson National Forest has been completely re-routed and converted to singletrack over the better part of the last two decades. Huge thanks to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition and the Carson National Forest for having the foresight and perseverance to support this effort from conception to completion.