tour divide grand depart

The Radavist

Reset Lightbox

Hide Thumbnails

Image gallery for:

Top fives along the great divide route: bike touring distilled.

By: Mitchell Connell May 14, 2023

As riders prepare for the 2023 Tour Divide Grand Depart, Mitchell Connell reflects on his time riding a section of the Divide with Baker Donahue and Will Reynolds, who were headed north from Antelope Wells, NM to Banff, Alberta. In this clever piece, Mitchell intersperses his retelling of the trip with the riders’ “top five” responses to a variety of prompts and, in doing so, distills down the meaningful aspects of a lengthy bike tour. What top five questions would you ask?

Do you ever read Thrasher ? Sometime last year, I was leafing through an issue from my friend’s coffee table when I came across an article on Breana Geering . The author asked her to list her top five answers to a variety of questions (top five things to worry about, pieces of advice you’d give to the 13-year-old you, etc.) and it stuck with me.

A year or so later, I was thinking about that article while riding along Grassy Lake Road on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. I was trying to keep up with Baker Donahue and Will Reynolds, who were both in better shape than I was. While that’s not unusual (both Will and Baker are typically super fit), it was particularly remarkable on this day because I’d started my ride in Jackson, Wyoming, some 40 miles earlier, and they both started in Antelope Wells, New Mexico and had covered about 1,700 miles before meeting up with me.

“Top five albums to descend to?”

• Sunami/Gulch Split , Sunami
• Come Away with ESG , ESG
• That new Maggie Rogers single on repeat
• Afrique Victime , Mdou Moctar
• IV , Led Zeppelin

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route probably needs no introduction, but for those who are unfamiliar, it’s a 2,700-mile mostly-dirt route that travels along the Continental Divide from Banff, Canada to the border between Mexico and the U.S. Traditionally, the route is ridden north to south, but for a variety of reasons Will and Baker decided to ride the route backward.

“Top five reasons to ride northbound?”

• You get to see all the racers heading south
• You get to finish in Banff
• The weather is better in New Mexico earlier in the season
• You can avoid most of the snow in the north
• The riding is less technical at the beginning, so you’re less likely to get worked early on

As we rode along Grassy Lake Road, a few racers gave us a wave as they passed by. There were dozens of down trees, so we tried to move a few off the road but gave up after the first two or three. We hauled our bikes over each one like everyone else.

We ended our first day riding together just west of the Snake River. We were excited to see some pelicans hanging out near our campsite, but we were less excited about the horrendous mosquitos. The bugs were bad enough that we all headed into our tents to read as we patiently waited for the sun to go down so that we could go to sleep.

“Top five towns you’ve visited so far along the divide?”

• Chama, New Mexico
• Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• Sargents, Colorado
• Reserve, New Mexico (reroute because of wildfires)
• Pinedale, Wyoming

In the morning, we made instant coffee, packed up camp, and got an early start. We headed north towards Big Springs and a mix of trees and vegetation gave us shelter from the heat. As we rode, the forest service road transitioned into a narrow snowmobile path. We passed an old train tunnel that confirmed my suspicion that the trail must have been a railroad line at some point.

“Top five things lost on trail?”

• All the feeling in my fingers, often
• Neck warmer to keep the chills off
• Titanium mug to keep the coffee warm
• Small mirror attached to Will’s handlebars

After I listened to The Two Towers audiobook for a few hours we decide to call it and look for camp. The only flat spot we could find involved a pretty full-on hike down a steep hill. A few racers passed by up on the trail as we set up camp, but we went to bed early.

“Top five things found on trail?”

• Taillight to replace the lost one
• Nice fork (food kind, not bike)
• Cool yellow purist bottle
• Flashlight (very bright)
• Miscellaneous cow bones

The weather began to turn on our third day together. For the first two days, it was toasty warm and dry, but even as we went to sleep on the second night we could see clouds rolling in. We woke up and put on our jackets for the first time since we’d met up in Jackson. The forested roads and railroad beds faded away as we gained elevation. The landscape transitioned into wide open basins with big fields of flowers and bigger fields of cattle.

“Top five reasons to stop riding for a minute?”

• Potential bike friends
• Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches
• Session-able feature (jump, skinny, etc)
• Good potential photo spot
• Any semblance of shade in New Mexico

We rolled into a small mountain town as the more severe weather began to hit. We decided to post up in the local dive bar to wait out the worst of the rain. The weather passed, we closed our tabs, and headed out to catch a few bonus miles in the evening. We found a group of campsites with plenty of availability, and we set up camp in the drizzling rain.

“Top five gas station foods?”

• Barbecue Frito Twists
• Peanut butter M&Ms
• Wasabi almonds
• Slushes/any frozen beverage
• Snickers (ice cream or traditional)

On our fourth day of riding, we all doubled up on our gloves. The weather along the continental divide is unpredictable, but to have the daily high temperature go from 91 to 45 overnight surprised me. The shelter of the trees in the morning quickly gave way to expansive basins and heavy headwinds. The rain began again and turned to hail.

The attitude of the racers changed noticeably as the weather worsened. During our first two days of warm weather, each racer would ride by with a smile and a wave, often tucked in an aero position. On our third and fourth days with chilly temperatures and a mix of rain and hail, nearly every racer stopped to chat for a bit. I think everyone was looking for an excuse to stop for a few minutes. Each time the conversation ended, we headed north with a little more knowledge of the route ahead.

“Top five things sent home?”

• Finished book ( Dawn of Everything )
• Adjustable wrench
• Puffy jacket after Colorado

After half a day of riding on my last day, I started looking for cell phone service. I needed to coordinate with my friend, Jesse, about getting to the airport that evening. I ended up hitching a ride to Idaho Falls with a father and daughter who were headed home from an endurance dirt bike race. We hit it off and chatted for the hour-and-a-half drive back to Idaho Falls. They dropped me off at the edge of town.

Jesse brought me my bike box, and it was 2 am before I had my bike packed up for the flight home. I struggled to sleep for a few hours before I had to catch my red eye.

I wasn’t expecting the 200 miles of trail to feel so nostalgic. When I was in college, I rode the GDMBR with my brother, Spencer, and my friends, Robert and Lane. I still can’t believe how many little details I remembered. Although my trips are shorter these days, I’m still so thankful that I can get out there, especially with friends.

“Top five metrics to add to Wahoo Elemnt?”

• Snacks left in frame bag
• Times wrecked
• Longest wheelie
• Clothing saturation level (when riding through the rain)
• Distance between mechanicals

Do you have any Top 5’s you want to ask two folks touring The Divide? Drop your top five list in the comments, and I’ll try to convince Will and Baker to respond.

Halfway Anywhere

The Tour Divide: What, Where, Why, and How?

The Tour Divide is an annual 2,700-mile (4,300 km) self-supported bikepacking race following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). Most of the route follows dirt and gravel roads with a few sections of pavement or singletrack sprinkled in for good measure (along with the occasional hike-a-bike section).

Cursory internet sleuthing tells me that the current iteration of the Tour Divide began in 2008. However, the first individual time trial of the route was in 2005, and people have been riding the GDMBR since as early as 1997 when the Adventure Cycling Association first mapped it.

Speaking of websites, the current Tour Divide website hasn’t been updated since 2014 and leaves much to be desired. Or perhaps the state of the website is instead part of the Tour Divide’s charm? Mystique? Neato-ness?

You may already have more questions than answers if you’ve encountered this with zero knowledge of the Tour Divide or the GDMBR. Fear not; they will be addressed. Also, know that I will likely have many of the same questions. I intend to answer said questions by participating in (and hopefully completing) this year’s Tour Divide.

That said, I’ve been doing my research (and investing heavily in bikepacking gear).

What Is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route?

The northern terminus of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is in Jasper (it was in Banff – the start of the Tour Divide – until 2018), a resort town in Alberta, Canada. It then heads south for over 3,000 mi / 4,800 km to its southern terminus at the US-Mexico Border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It can be ridden in either direction, but it’s traditionally ridden southbound.

Along with the Arizona Trail and the Colorado Trail, it comprises the most significant leg of bikepacking’s Triple Crown; similar to the thru-hiking Triple Crown comprised of the Pacific Crest Trail , Continental Divide Trail , and Appalachian Trail .

The route is almost entirely along dirt and gravel roads and is, for the most part, not a technical ride (i.e., you don’t need to be an expert-level mountain biker to navigate the GDMBR). Yes, there are a few short sections of singletrack, but overall, this route is suited for gravel or mountain bikes (but certainly not road bikes).

The GDMBR is approximately 3,000 mi / 4,800 km long and has over 133,000 ft / 40,500 m of climbing and an equal amount of descent. It passes through seven states/provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Despite beginning in Canada (as in riders must pass immigration at a border crossing), the route does not enter Mexico; it ends (or begins) at the US-Mexico Border.

The Difference Between the Tour Divide and the GDMBR

You may be asking yourself, as I have, what’s the difference between the Tour Divide and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route? The answer? Nothing. Kind of.

The Tour Divide is the name of the annual self-supported race of the GDMBR . Put another way, the Tour Divide follows the GDMBR. However, it begins in Banff instead of Jasper; Banff was the northern terminus of the GDMBR until 2018, when it was moved to Jasper. At least, that’s all you need to know if you’re not racing and/or riding the Tour Divide. What’s self-supported? It means that racers are only afforded resources available to everyone else participating.

For example, staying at a hotel? Perfectly fine. Staying at a friend’s house? Not okay.

When you drill down to the details, there are a few sections where the Tour Divide diverges from the GDMBR. But for all intents and purposes, they’re the same; again, unless you’re concerned about racing the Tour Dviide, then there are a few spots you need to take note of.

Every year, people bikepack all or part of the GDMBR on their own (in both directions). These people can take as much or as little time as they like – many presumably even enjoy their experience. Meanwhile, others decide to race the Tour Divide beginning on the second Friday of June at the northern terminus in Banff, Alberta (in Canada). The latter group’s enjoyment often falls more heavily into the Type II (or even Type III) fun category.

The GDMBR Versus the Continental Divide Trail

When I first hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), I met one person in Island Park, Idaho, who was riding the Divide; I had no idea what they were doing, what the Tour Divide was, or what the GDMBR was. The cyclist was stoked to see me and my CDT hiking buddy, but we thought ourselves cooler than him because what could be cooler than hiking the CDT?

How things have changed. I apologize for not greeting you with the enthusiasm you deserved, anonymous 2017 Tour Divide racer.

Despite the CDT following a lot of dirt and gravel roads – that would be suitable for bikepacking – there’s actually very little overlap between the two routes. Yes, there will be opportunities for northbound CDT thru-hikers to see Tour Divide riders, but many will pass like ships in the night.

The Tour Divide starts too early for southbound CDT hikers to catch any riders, but they could still encounter northbound GDMBR riders during their thru-hikes. Remember, play nice if/when you see each other out there. We’re all out there doing awesome things in nature. There’s no need to perpetuate a bikepacker-backpacker divide (on the Divide).

How to Participate in the Tour Divide

The community that has made the Tour Divide what it is today doesn’t exist as an official organization or entity. Instead, it’s willed into being by the yearly riding crop’s cohesion, carrying on traditions from and iterating upon actions of previous years’ cyclists.

There’s no sign-up form, no entry fee, no website (at least not a website updated in the last decade), and no organized event at the starting line in Banff (or at the finish line at Antelope Wells, New Mexico).

Most of the organization appears to come from Facebook groups (typically some of the most toxic online cesspools, but in rare cases, useful information corners). Every year, participants who provide tracking information (using a device such as a Garmin inReach Mini 2 ) to trackleaders can be watched online as they move down the course.

You show up in Banff, start riding south on the second Friday in June, tell anyone who asks that you’re riding the Tour Divide, and BOOM! you’re officially racing the Tour Divide. I’ve heard that in recent years that the community attempts to organize waves of riders (based on estimated finishing time) to ease impacts and congestion on/along the start of the race. Don’t want the local government to come in and try to shut down the unofficial race, after all.

Maybe one day, the magic of this unofficial, unorganized, organized, official bikepacking race will wane as permits, regulations, and rules are imposed with increasing popularity and awareness of the event. Maybe someone will write a best-selling book about the Tour Divide and blow it up like a certain unnamed book did to a certain unnamed trail in the Western United States.

Apparently, you’re supposed to send in a letter of intent to a random email address that I suspect is maintained by the crew at Bikepacking.com , but the letters of intent used to be posted to the Tour Divide website (which seems like it was a fun tradition that’s now sadly gone as of 2010).

For now, you only need to get on your bike and ride.

The Tour Divide is the unofficial orrifical self-supported race of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, with a few changes to the route. Simple enough, right?

It’s an incredible test of physical and mental endurance, with many riders forgoing sleep to put in more hours on the bike (how many hours I sleep every night is something I’m interested in seeing).

According to DotWatcher , since the Tour Divide’s conception in 2008, only 716 riders have completed the race (this number is likely not 100% accurate, but it’s about as good as we can do). Hopefully, after this year’s race, I will be able to count myself among the fewer than 1,000 total finishers.

For now, it’s time to go and ride my bike .

Similar Posts

I Got a Grand Canyon River Permit – Now What?

At the end of 2019, I found myself in Tennessee visiting with friends from the Continental Divide Trail. They had just returned from a 23-day…

Arizona Trail (AZT) Bikepacking Gear List

The gear required to bikepack the Arizona Trail is somewhat familiar to me – that is, anything that doesn’t specifically have to do with the…

Bikepacking the Arizona Trail (AZT)

The Arizona Trail (AZT) spans 800 mi / 1,287 km from the US-Mexico Border (in Arizona) to the Arizona-Utah border. It’s one of the few…

The Sierra High Route (+ the Southern SHR)

I’ve spent a lot of time in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains – hiking through them twice on the Pacific Crest Trail (in both snow-free and…

The Ultimate Everest Base Camp Plan

NOTE: Since writing this post I have returned from Everest Base camp and answered all the questions I had here in the post, Everest Base…

The Pacific Crest Trail: Two Months Out

According to what can loosely be defined as my “plan”, in precisely two months (that’s May 15, 2013) I will begin a 2,660 mi /…

Tour Divide 2023 Live Tracker

Follow on smart phones with BlueDot App!

Previous / Next / View all

About the Tracker

TOUR DIVIDE GUIDE - BIKEPACKING

YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE TOUR DIVIDE.

For more information on the Tour Divide visit our TD Resource page . »

Deciding to do the Tour Divide comes with a lot of questions and concerns.  I can tell you they’re not as scary as they seem. If you start with a plan and break down the process your worries will change into confidence. Your biggest issue is finding the proper information.

This page is meant to be a simple overview of the Tour Divide.  During my own Tour Divide I realized there was a need for a guide covering the route just for bikepackers. This page is broken down into simple sections so you can easily get a feel for the route.  It’s also part of a larger all inclusive guide, so you can focus on riding your bike instead of searching the internet for hours on end.

Where do you start?  This Tour Divide Guide is a great starting point but if you want to know more, checkout the “TD Resources” button below.  You’ll find information on resupply, transportation, gear and more.

Do you find this page valuable?

Shopping with our affiliates helps fund the development of content like this.

Share this entry

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share by Mail

Tour Divide Rider Survey

The Project conducts an ongoing rider survey to help new riders try to figure out what gear to use on the Tour Divide. Undertaking a ride/adventure like can be very intimidating and the planning can be overwhelming. It’s our hope this survey will help new riders with their planning and execution of their Tour Divide ride, as well as help ensure riders are more properly prepared for their adventure.

If you haven’t taken the Tour Divide Rider Survey yet and would like to you can at the links below.

***Please pay attention to the examples for the questions where you have to type in your answer. If answers are not entered EXACTLY like the example I have to go in and correct them and it also throws off the results. Thanks in advance!

Covers: bikes, suspension, tires & wheels, drivetrain, and Components.

Covers: navigation planning, camping, logistic/travel, clothes, and more.

2745 Miles (4418km)

DIFFICULTY (1-10)

Elevation gain.

200,000 Feet (60,960m)

HIGHEST POINT

11,913 Feet (3631m)

TIME REQUIRED

% singletrack, time of year.

June to October

2nd Friday of June

Closest Towns to Start/Finish

Banff, AB and Lordsburg, NM

Race Record

Male Mike Hall (2016) 13:22:51 Female Lael Wilcox (2015) 15:10:59

The Tour Divide is an 2745 mile route that stretches from Banff, AB to Antelope Wells, NM.  The route is roughly 70% off road, consisting of gravel roads, jeep track, and a very small percentage of single track.  Traveling through the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, the trails covers a wide range of landscapes.

The route is based off the GDMBR* (Great Divide Mountain Bike Route) from the Adventure Cycling Association , and took four years to map and was released by  in 1998.  The first ITT of the route was in 2005, while the first Grand Depart was in 2008 (usually held on the second Friday in June).  Only a handful of riders attended the first Grand Depart but today close to 200 brave men and women toe the line to test themselves against each other, the route, Mother Nature and most importantly, themselves.

Starting in Banff, AB the Tour Divide winds its way through the Canadian Rockies along glacial rivers and grizzly country.  As it travels south the route samples many different types of landscape.  In Montana and Colorado you’ll experience mountain wilderness, Idaho and Wyoming offer up grasslands and endless rolling hills, while New Mexico and southern Colorado have high desert.  Near the border you are treated one last time with time spent in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Don’t let the fact that the route is mostly dirt roads and lacks technical single track fool you. The attrition rate is 60%.  Exhaustion, hypothermia, boredom, and mechanicals are common place on this, the longest bikepacking route in the world.

*The Project doesn’t have a separate resource for the GDMBR but we do off planning aids. You can find them here .

Elevation profiles provided by John Schilling.  Support John’s effort by purchasing prints, sticks and mugs of these profiles.

2024 TOUR DIVIDE COUNT DOWN

June 14, 2024

TOUR DIVIDE RACING

TOUR DIVIDE 

The Tour Divide is not an sanctioned or organized race in any way. Consequently it’s regarded as large group ride that follows a fixed route, a set time, a set of simple rules and that’s all. Those who partake should understand this and obey the gentleman’s agreement to “race” fairly and follow the rules. There are no checkpoints, race organizers, aid stations or aid of any kind. You’re solely responsible for your own welfare.

The TD starts in the Banff on the 2nd Friday of June. The start is now broken down in waves to help not over crowd the local trail system in Banff. There is usually a neutral roll out and the racing starts when you hit the dirt road just south of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Suggested Start Date:

2nd Friday of June  (staggered start)

Registration:

Send a letter of intent after winter solstice to [email protected].

Bikepack racing is generally not organized, no entry fees are collected or prizes given out, but there are a general set of guidelines all bikepacking races follow. As a result the rules are designed to create a level playing field for all who decide to participate.

*Note these rules are the general rules for bikepack racing and each event may have their own specific rules and they also change from time to time. With that said it’s important you read and understand the official rules which can be found at the link below.

1. Racers must completely cover the route under their own power.

2. No outside support is allowed.

3. Food/supply caching on the trail is not allowed ahead of time (but one can ship items to a Post Office).

4. Motorized transportation or hitch-hiking, EXCEPT for travel to hospital/medical care, is NOT allowed at anytime.

The following are allowed, but not encouraged. Please use sparingly.

5. Unintended assistance from fellow racers is ACCEPTABLE.

6. Trail magic is OK – but please, no begging or fishing (hinting).

7. Mailing resupplies to Post Offices is ACCEPTABLE.

For full rules visit TourDivide.org .

No entry fee, no prizes, absolutely no support 

IMPORTANT RACE INFORMATION

Registration: Send letters of intent after the winter solstice to [email protected].

The GPX file can be found TopoFusion.com , and usually is updated about a week before the start.

In-Race Updates called “Rained Out” are used to update racers of any route changes/detours. Links will be emailed to you (via text message or email for non-US phones).

A Bear Spray discount (15%) is usually arranged in the months leading up to the start. Keep a watch on the Facebook pages for details.

Salsa stem caps are usually available at the start in Banff.  You can get yourself a free piece of pie when you get to Pie Town, NM.

SPOT TRACKING 

Racers and those touring the Tour Divide are encouraged to carry a Spot tracker, though they are not mandatory.  Due to the remoteness and sheer difficulty of the trail I personal believe you’d be crazy not to.  Racers can sign up at Trackleaders.com one month before the race if they choose to.

You can rent a Spot from Trackleaders.com around one month before the start of the race (You’ll receive information to your email you used when signing up).  Check Trackleaders or Bikepacking.net forums for information at that time.

SUPPORT THE ACA 

The Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) has no ties to the race but they did build the route, have created amazing maps and their a great resource .  It’s because of them we have this amazing route to race/ride.  Please consider joining the ACA.  Membership is only $45 and as a member you get all kinds of discounts and other perks, most noteworthy a discount on maps.

Tour Divide Planning Aids

Being that I’m also a Triple Crown thru-hiker I’m used to quality planning tools. After finishing the Bikepacking Triple Crown I realized bikepacking didn’t have quality planning tools available. The Project’s Planning Aids and Resources are our answer to this.

After 100’s of hours of research, 1000’s of keystrokes, more emails and phone calls than I can recall the One of Seven Project’s Tour Divide Planning Aids are done. They’re the ultimate planning resources for the Tour Divide. They contain everything you need to plan and execute your ride/ride of the Tour Divide and most of the GDMBR. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in these then it’s probably in our Tour Divide Resources .

Craig, I wanted to let you know that your bikepacking guides are incredibly well done and useful.

Small Bundles:

Big bundles:.

One package including our two most popular planning aids:

One package with all our planning aids:

• Mileage Chart
• Elevation Gain Chart

Available in both SOBO and NOBO versions and US Standard and Metric units.

Small Bundle – $40.00 + tax (CO only) *You save $10 when you bundle!

Big Bundle – $60.00 + tax (CO only) *You save $20 when you bundle!

Data Sheets and Town Lists

Data sheets:, town lists:.

The NOBO Data Sheets are ONLY available as part of the Small or Big Bundles.

All versions of the Town Lists are ONLY available as part of the Small or Big Bundles.

• Elevation / Pop of POI.
• Mileage numbers.
• Distance to next.
• Elevation +/-.
• Max & Min. elevation between POI.
• Pavement sections.
• Key water sources.
• Shows bike shops.
• Resupply options.
• Important notes.
• Elevation profile.
• Finish Target Times.
• Distance on/off trail.
• Important notes about POI.
• Cumulative distances to up coming POI.
• Elevation Gain to reach up coming POI.
• Finish Target Times added.

The SOBO Data Sheets are available in BOTH US Standard and Metric units.

Data Sheet – $25 + Tax (CO only)

Example of Data Sheet

Example of Town List

DATA SHEET and TOWN LIST DIFFERENCES

The Data Sheet has the most info. It gives the distance, elevation +/-, average grade, maximum and minimum elevations, pavement sections, references ACA maps, bike shops, resupply options, and has key notes between two POI. Example: A and B, then B to C, and so on.

The Town List gives cumulative distances between POI. Example: A to B, A to C, A to D. The next section would be B to C, B to D, B to E, and so on. The Town List has distance, elevation +/-, resupply options, bike shops and key notes.

The Town List helps with not having to do the math to figure out how far away things are if they’re not the next POI.

Mileage Charts and Elevation Gain Charts

Mileage charts:, elevation gain charts:.

Quickly find the total mileage between any two POI along the route.

• Works for both directions.

Quickly find the total elevation gain between any two POI along the route.

• Easy to read format.

The Mileage and Elevation Gain Charts are ONLY available as part of the Big Bundle.

GDMBR / ACA ROUTE

GDMBR Data Sheets have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids, as seen in the examples above but are for the GDMBR from the ACA.

GDMBR Bundles have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids, as seen in the examples above but are for the GDMBR from the ACA.

Available in both SOBO and NOBO versions and in US Standard and Metric units.

Data Sheet – $25 + tax (CO only)

• The diversity of the route has to be one of the biggest highlights of them all.  From the Canadian Rockies, to the Great Basin, to the Rocky Mountains, and finally the deserts of New Mexico you see it all.
• The support from the communities you go through is pretty amazing.  Don’t pass up on their hospitality and remember to be polite.
• Some of the top highlights have to be the Flathead Valley in Alberta, Grand Teton National Park and the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming, Boreas and Indiana Pass (the routes highest point at 11,913′) in Colorado, Polvadera Mesa, and the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.
• The long days and hours in the saddle can get boring.  As a result they will test you both mentally and physically.  Be ready to be inside your head a lot.
• Limiting your time in town gets harder as you move further along the route.  Fighting that voice that say’s “Just one more soda!” or “Just a few more minutes rest.”, can be hard to silence.
• The weather is unpredictable due to the route’s nature.  Be ready for all types of weather from rain, snow, hail, wind, lightening and heat.
• There are some segments between towns that are longer than most but none are unmanageable if you have the right bag set up.
• The only two places where water was an issue was the Great Basin and Beaverhead area in NM.
• Camping along the Tour Divide is not hard to find.  There are plenty of primitive and developed options for camping, hotels, or lodges on the route.
• There are no areas that require special permits but do be careful to respect no trespassing signs along the route.
• Those touring want to checkout Warmshowers.com .

DANGERS & PITFALLS 

• Extreme weather.
• Bears (Grizzly and Black)
• Remoteness of route.
• Lack of water.
• Strenuous terrain.
• Costs can add up.
• Hypothermia
• Riding on roads at night.
• Mental & physical fatigue.
• International border crossing.

PHOTOS OF THE TOUR DIVIDE

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

• BIKEPACKING.NET
• BIKEPACKING.COM
• TOURDIVIDE.ORG
• TRACKLEADERS.COM
• BIKEPACKING.NET FORUM
• FACEBOOK GROUP – Gear, Advice, Tips, Pics, Chat, Training
• FACEBOOK GROUP – 2024 Tour Divide Training & Preparation
• FACEBOOK GROUP – Crazy Larry’s Questions and Answers Session
• FACEBOOK GROUP – Great Divide Mountain Bike Route – Trail Info & Rider Stories
• MTBCAST.COM

MAPS / BOOKS / APPS 

• ACA Maps (These maps differ slightly from the official race route, follow your GPS)
• Temporary Closures
• Book – Just Ride
• Book – Cycling the Great Divide
• Book – A Dream Worth Living
• Video – Ride the Divide
• Book – Eat, Sleep, Ride
• Book – Dividing the Great

More Helpful TD Resources

Everything you need to plan a bikepacking trip on the Tour Divide.

Slide Title

Tour divide guide bikepacking.

Your ultimate bikepacking guide to the Tour Divide.

MY PROVEN GEAR LISTS FROM THE TRIPLE CROWN

Tour divide.

A detailed look at what I used on the Tour Divide, what worked and what didn’t.

“ IF I RODE… ” SERIES

In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide again.

Gear Review - If I Rode The Tour Divide Again

Tour Divide Planning Guide

Tour Divide Transportation Guide

Tour Divide Resupply Guide

Tour Divide Rider Survey Results

Checkout our bikepacking resource page for more planning help., checkout all our guides.

Support the Project

Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project.

Or checkout our Deals page to save big!

Our Thoughts on Getting Outside

Leave no trace principles, recreate responsibly.

SORT CONTENT BY LOCATION

CLICK TO DRILL DOWN BY COUNTRY/PROVINCE

Your browser is ancient! Upgrade to a different browser or install Google Chrome Frame to experience this site.

Inspiration

• Bikepacking 101
• Join/Support

• View Latest/All
• Bikepacking Videos
• Your Stories
• Rider's Lens
• Field Trips

Popular Tags

• #bikerafting
• #Tour-Divide
• #family-bikepacking
• #winter-bikepacking
• #1Q5V (1 Question 5 Voices)

Gear/Reviews

• Bikepacking Bags
• Camping Gear
• Accessories
• #Editors-Dozen (Our Favorite Gear)
• #Gear-of-the-Year
• #MYOBG (DIY)
• #Decade-in-Review (Best of All Time)

The Gear Index

Latest indexes.

• Mini Panniers
• Saddlebags & Top Openers
• Cargo Cages & Anything Bags
• Gravel Bars
• Drop Bar 29ers

Bikepacking Bikes

• Rigid & Plus Bikes
• Drop-bar & Gravel
• Full Suspension

Rigs & Roundups

• Rider & Rig
• Race/Event Rig Roundups
• Worthy Builds
• Handbuilt Bikes
• #29+ (29-plus)
• #vintage-mountain-bikes
• #cargo-bikes
• Readers' Rigs (Dispatch)
• New Bikes (Dispatch)

Plan Your Trip

• Bikepacking Guides
• Bikepacking Food
• Gear & Pack Lists
• Bike Photography

Essential Reading

• Leave No Trace (for Bikepackers)
• Guide To Bikepacking Bags
• Bikepacking Gear That Lasts
• #Bikepacking-Awards
• Power Of An Overnighter
• Advice For New Bikepackers
• Our Favorite Bikepacking Routes
•     

Where to Begin

We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries.

Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography.

By Location

• The United States
• Latin America
• Middle East

By Length (days)

• Overnighters & S24O
• Weekend Routes (2-4)
• Week-long Routes (5-10)
• Odyssey Routes (11-30)
• "Freakouts" (31+)

Local Overnighters

The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the world—by locals, in their own backyards.

The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format.

The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you won’t want to miss! It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more...

Issue 09 takes readers on trips through time—one to the early days of bicycles—and offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way...

For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives we’ve long been eager to share...

• Bikepacking Races

2021 Tour Divide

June 11, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - july 1, 2021 @ 12:00 pm,  alberta, canada    2745mi (4,418km).

Next Event Sat Dec 23, 2017

Next Event:

Frontier 300 (2021)

After a year hiatus, the 2021 Tour Divide is on, albeit slightly different. This year’s event follows the length of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route for ~2,450 miles from the Canada border to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Follow the race on the tracker map here.

Start: June 11, 2021 @ 12:00 pm

End: July 1, 2021 @ 12:00 pm

Event Website

Tour Divide Grand Depart

Banff , Alberta Canada

With regional COVID-19 restrictions changing every day and the border closure between the US and Canada extended, there was official announcement on what this year’s Tour Divide will look like. In short, the 2021 Tour Divide will start from Eureka, Montana at the Canada border and run for nearly 2,500 miles to the traditional southern terminus at Antelope Wells on the Mexican border. Read more here. Also, you can follow this years ~100 grand depart participants on the Trackleaders map below.

The Tour Divide roughly follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is the most recognized and important off-pavement cycling route in the United States, if not the world. The route crisscrosses the Continental Divide from north to south starting in Banff, Alberta, Canada and finishing at the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico.

Time-trial season on the GDMBR begins annually with Grand Départ, occurring on the second Friday in June from both termini of the Route; the main Depart takes place in Bannf, Alberta. The Tour Divide see hundreds of riders each year, with the goal of these Solstice common starts is for athletes to challenge the Route in situ, under similar weather conditions and maximum daylight. If one cannot make a grand départ, there is a season-long ITT-Divide format to contend. Tour Divide requires no entry fee or formal registration. There are no prizes for finishing. Riders who carry SPOT GPS Messengers are tracked via the Live tracker.

For more on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, check out our guide, here . Also, find the Rigs of the 2019 Tour Divide here , and check out #tour-divide for many more articles and resources.

Registration: Send a letter of intent after winter solstice to [email protected] .

Event image by Matt & Brett, A View From Two Wheels. 

Rad Companies that Support Bikepacking

You need to be logged in to use these features. Click here to login , or start an account if you’re not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective…

Free Walking Tour Moscow

Pick a Date!

Latest reviews

Highlights of your trip, best free tours in moscow, highlights of a free tour in moscow, things to do in moscow, free tours in your language.

Free Walking Tour › Moscow

Free Tours in More Cities

Tour Calendar

Free tours moscow.

Free Tour - What Does it Mean?

Your guides in moscow.

• Ground Reports
• 50-Word Edit
• National Interest
• Campus Voice
• Security Code
• Off The Cuff
• Democracy Wall
• Around Town
• PastForward
• In Pictures
• Last Laughs
• ThePrint Essential

New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Recognising market demand, the Moscow City Tourism Committee organized a conference for representatives of the Indian MICE industry, to introduce them to the tourism strengths of the Russian capital.

MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, and is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually plan things well in advance.

The event took place on April 19 in Delhi and brought together over 100 participants from MICE agencies of both countries, corporate customers, representatives of the travel industry in Moscow, Aeroflot and the Indian branches of Sberbank.

Business tourism is one of the most promising directions for Moscow.

In 2023, the capital was visited by 3.7 million business tourists – 7 per cent more than in 2022. And India remains one of the leaders among visitors from non-CIS countries in terms of the number of business travellers.

“The Russian capital as a centre of business tourism and corporate events is already an established and a strong brand in the international arena,” commented Anastasia Popova, Deputy General Director for International and Industry Cooperation of Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality in Moscow.

“Now our task is to demonstrate to our Indian partners all the possibilities of organizing high-value MICE events in Moscow in combination with already proven tourist programs,” said Popova.

At the Shaping MICE Future Conference, industry experts from Russia and India pronounced statements and speeches on the future of MICE events in these two countries, a presentation of the MICE potential of Moscow was showcased, and an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India was presented to the visitors.

During the panel discussion, participants assessed the current status and interaction peculiarities with the MICE market in India and developed recommendations for the MICE industry in Moscow during the general brainstorming session.

Representatives of the Indian MICE industry participated in B2B negotiations to find new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and among representatives of the hospitality industry.

Representatives of the MICE industry took part in the event from Moscow.

Among them were DMC (Grand Rus, Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, Mellenium Group) as well as representatives of other partners interested in the development of MICE cooperation between Russia and India: Global transfers provider i’way and hotels Edge Seligerskaya and Edge Vinogradovo Moscow by Rotana.

“In 2024, we have witnessed a significant surge (more than quadruple) in the demand for transfers by Russians visiting India, both for business and leisure purposes. Muscovites are leading the trend, with 80 per cent of transfer bookings originating from the capital since the beginning of the year. Additionally, we observe a growing interest from Indian tourism agencies in exploring Russia, resulting in a substantial increase in our collaboration,” commented Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of Global Transfer Provider i’way.

The Shaping MICE Future conference allowed the Moscow City Tourism Committee to form a pool of MICE industry representatives in Moscow to prioritize incoming requests for events and clarify India’s requirements for business and corporate events to build mutually effective work. Indian colleagues received up-to-date information about Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination and were able to find potential partners among representatives of the MICE industry of the Russian capital and were able to present the MICE market in India.

“The event served as a remarkable platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the tourism industry. The event provided us with invaluable opportunities to engage with key stakeholders from the tourism department, as well as tour operators and service providers. The insights gained during the event underscored the Moscow City Tourism Committee’s keen interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the promising prospects for Moscow as a destination, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. We firmly believe that with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists,” said Mudit Mathur, director of Tours Delite India, representing Academ Service – Russia in India.

The conference also assessed the solutions to foreign demand for non-standard venues and elements in MICE programs, such as museums, parks, theaters and others. Holding MICE events at offbeat locations, such as the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Planetarium and Khudozhestvenny Cinema, is becoming popular.

This helps to attract conference organizers and creates a unique experience for the participants. Working in this format, many visitors who come to Moscow on a business trip want to return with their families and spend time as regular tourists. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube , Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here .

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Most Popular

Rahul gandhi breached decorum of india bloc by criticising pinarayi — cpi(m) candidate kk shailaja, climate change doesn’t just affect poor people, farmers. cities and banks aren’t safe either, deepening insecurity has led the world into a mindless arms race. don’t forget past wars.

Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2024 Printline Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

• the Route (description)
• The Challenge
• Grand Départ

Rider Resources

• News & Notes (blog)
• News & Notes
• `11 Race Updates
• `11 Rider Call-Ins
• `11 ITTD Updates
• `10 Race Updates
• `10 ITTD Updates
• `09 Race Updates
• `09 ITTD Updates
• `08 Race Updates
• About Start List
• `11 TD Start List
• `11 ITT-D Start List
• `11 Letters of Intent
• `10 TD Start List
• `10 Letters of Intent
• Start List & LOI Archive
• Start/Finish Travel Info
• Route Weather Info
• Bikepacking

Library of GDMBR writings (mostly racing)

• `09 Media coverage
• `09 Race Blog coverage
• Blog> Race Updates Archive
• Blog> Divide News & Notes
• Divide Watch
• Like-Minded Links