Just wondering if anyone that has done the COBDR in the past can let me know how you would rate the alpine loop section. I’ll be doing it early September on a fully loaded T7 with camping gear. For my experience level i’ve spent the last 10 years or so riding bikes around the world, but normally not going out of my way to find extra difficult dirt. Switzerland trail is easy for me, I’ve done 68J a few times and that was fine, as well as Rollins Pass but thats about all i’ve done in Colorado so far. Would you say the alpine loop section is much more difficult than 68J or Rollins pass? Just trying to see what i’ll be getting myself into. Unfortunately I work weekends usually so haven’t been able to make it to any of these group rides to ask people in person, but hopefully soon. Thanks for any info
Will let you know in about 10 days. Taking 15 guys out there starting next weekend for 5 days, starting in Lyons, doing the route down to Lake City, Alpine Loop and back.
It’s been getting more and more chewed up in the ~6yrs I’ve been riding in CO. It’s much, much longer than any of the stuff you mentioned here. If you’re doing it as a loop, recommend you consider setting up a basecamp and riding it as light a possible. That’s what we’re doing.
Thanks, i’m planning on doing the full BDR from Cortez up to WY so trying not to do a loop there, but if I hear that section is pretty gnarly then maybe I’d find somewhere to leave all my gear and come back for it after, but that seems like it’d add another day or 2 to my ride. I’ve ridden from Patagonia to Colombia, across Asia and across Australia and tons of other very very long rides so the distance i’m not worried about, as long as it doesn’t get me too far out of my comfort zone. I look forward to hearing about your ride.
It’s become very chewed up, loose, with deep holes from all of the SxS and 4 wheel traffic. Like anything, just be committed to getting up everything and don’t stop, for anything
I did the Alpine loop last summer, it was a little later in August, we had a lot of rain and had some interesting moments with lightning very close. I’d say the trail is tougher than 68j and Rollins, I rode that a couple of weeks back with a few others in the group.
I’m on a big bike, and was on a Tiger when I did the loop in 2024. Take that one gnarly part of 68J and make it a lot longer and more consistent. There is some chill float stuff, but also some steep rocky ascents. That area is getting pretty chewed up for sure. We were on Hagerman pass last week, the entry from the west was representative of what you’ll see on the Alpine loop. Lots of rocks, golf ball to basketball size, some embedded, others breaking loose. There are some ledges and “pucker spots” where there is steep drop and ascent on either side of you
I’m an intermediate rider, and I survived it on the Tiger, I am still pretty slow. Based on your stated experience, you’d probably be fine, but if solo, make sure you have tire repair stuff, lots of opportunities to catch a tire.
We did stage in Ouray and leave gear, just FYI.
Sounds like the Alpine Loop, like pretty much every other trail, is getting more chewed up year after year. It’s been two years since I rode the full loop, and based on that, I would still put going up the lower part of 68J as harder, but I seem to struggle more with steep-and-sandy vs steep-and-rocky. Engineer Pass is the exception, the steps on engineer are harder than anything else on the loop, but that is not part of the BDR route.
Like others have said, the weather makes a huge difference. I did section 2 (west to east) 3-4 years ago, fully loaded on a 1200 GS, but it was super dry, so other than keeping momentum over those baseball-to-basketball-sized rocks, it was all good. Two years ago, when I was there for a Dusty Lizard on my 690, there were active thunderstorms and rain all weekend, and traction was significantly reduced because of it.
Just to throw it out there, if unsure make this section a 2 nights stop. Drop your bags, get as lightweight as possible, then spend the day exploring the alpine loop and surrounding trials. The following day, load up, and take the alternative route.
Alpine Loop trail conditions report:
We did Engineer (from Lake City), California, Hurricane, Silverton, Animas Forks, Cinnamon back to Lake City. We did not do Engineer all the way down to Hwy 550, which is the much harder section of Engineer. We were either in light to heavy rain, or overcast / fog much of the day. Cold temps.
All manner of bikes: BMW 850, T7s, 790, 701, DR650. Unloaded, no camping gear. Our newer riders definitely expanded their envelope of “hard” and “epic” conditions, for sure.
The loop is definitely doable for a solid Intermediate rider on a big bike with camping gear. Doable but I dunno how “enjoyable” it would be. If it were me, I’ll be 100% on my game and riding at probably 60% of my ability so I have plenty of safety margin in reserve.
Personally, if I’m solo on unknown terrain that I know is challenging but which I’ve never personally experienced, I would want to either by on my 500 (zero concerns with this bike), or on my 990 but as light as possible and always riding with safety in mind. I did exactly this for my first times solo on the loop: 1st in 2018, solo on a Husaberg FE570, with basecamp in Silverton, and 2nd time in 2019 on KTM 500, with basecamp in Lake City.
So, short answer, if solo and camping: I’d recommend @Matt_Ewalt 's advice: setup a basecamp somewhere and ride the loop solo, so you can explore and enjoy it. Then load up and ride the alternate scenic ride to Lake City (which I believe now is the “official” BDR route, as conditions on the Alpine Loop have deteriorated beyond the original intent of the route).
I did this scenic route 2yrs ago after tweaking my right hamstring on Engineer coming down into Ouray. I punted and took the easy alternative. It’s a very easy, scenic ride, very enjoyable solo. Highly recommended.