Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GREAT DIVIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is the longest off-pavement bicycle route in
the world, running 2,754 miles from Banff, Canada, down to Antelope Wells, New
Mexico. Developed by the Adventure Cycling Association, the trail is roughly 90
percent unpaved and crosses the Continental Divide as many as 30 times. The el-
evation gains and losses are equivalent to 200,000 vertical feet, which compares to
riding up Mount Everest nearly seven times.
One stretch of the trail in southern Wyoming from South Pass City near Lander
to Rawlins cuts through an area known as the Great Basin, since the water in this
area does not drain into the Atlantic or Pacific but rather stays in the playa lakes here
or evaporates in the heat. In fact, the Continental Divide splits and is on both sides
of the Great Basin. It's the only portion of the route where the terrain is consistently
level. But that doesn't make it easy. Riders will need to carry plenty of water on
the 131-mile stretch and will likely have to deal with significant wind. Temperatures
in this high desert can plummet quickly, and rainstorms can make the double-track
nearly impassable. Possible wildlife encounters in this stretch of the trail can include
prairie dogs, antelope, coyotes, and even wild horses.
The Great Basin is a starkly picturesque place that will appeal to those who
love wide, open spaces. For maps and detailed route information, start online at
There are 15 federally designated wilderness areas in Wyoming and 15 in Montana. These
are roadless and closed to mechanized use, including mountain bikes. Wilderness areas gen-
erally offer solitude and amazing scenery, although some areas may be more heavily used
than remote non-wilderness areas. Some wilderness areas may fall under Native American
jurisdiction, so make sure you have the necessary permits before hiking, hunting, or fishing
in these locations.
The rest of the public land falls under management of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), which offers everything from camping and boating to caving and backcountry scen-
