Colorado Backcountry Discovery

Duration: 6 days Price: $4,195 Food: Food/Lodging: Included Difficulty:

Moderate

Route Flexibility Notice (All Colorado Tours)

Due to the dynamic nature of riding in the Rocky Mountains, all routes are subject to change based on weather, trail conditions, seasonal closures, and other unforeseen factors. As part of the RAWHYDE training-tour format, instructors will adjust routes as needed to ensure rider safety, maintain the quality of the experience, and make the most of current conditions.

There is simply no place in North America, or the world, that offers such an incredible concentration of adventure riding opportunities as Colorado, well – maybe Idaho which will become a focus of Rawhyde soon! Several years ago, Rawhyde chose Park County, Colorado as the home for our newest training and touring center. With thousands of miles of unpaved roads and trails, high mountain passes, massive aspen forests, and historic mining towns, Colorado delivers everything an adventure rider could ever want.

As a training company first, Rawhyde uses Colorado’s varied terrain as a natural classroom. Riders receive real time coaching before major terrain transitions, learning proper body positioning, traction management, momentum control, and safe techniques for climbing, descending, and navigating high alpine passes. The result is a riding environment that is not only breathtaking but also ideal for skill development.

We offer a wide range of opportunities for adventure motorcyclists in Colorado, and we are excited to include the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route as part of our lineup of inspiring training-tours. Welcome to Rawhyde’s version of the COBDR. This six day journey begins and ends at our Rocky Mountain facility and stands as one of the most adventurous and stunning rides available anywhere in North America, blending world class terrain with continuous skill building and expert coaching along the way.

Rawhyde's Colorado Backcountry Discovery Itinerary

Arrival Sunday

Hartsel, Colorado

Whether you’re flying to Colorado, or riding your own motorcycle we need to have you plan for an arrival in Hartsel, Colorado about 5 PM on the day before your trip commences.

Day 1 - 300 miles

RAWHYDE Colorado to Cortez (via Salida and Wolf Creek Pass)

The day begins at RAWHYDE Colorado with a scenic dirt ride toward Salida, easing riders into the terrain with flowing sections that allow instructors to reinforce core fundamentals - body positioning, throttle control, braking, and line selection. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, these early miles are intentionally used to build confidence and dial in technique before the terrain evolves. From there, we head deeper into the mountains, making our way over the iconic Wolf Creek Pass. This portion of the route introduces more elevation, sweeping views, and a mix of terrain that gives instructors opportunities to stop and provide guidance ahead of key sections - a hallmark of the training-tour format. We continue along a beautiful, sweeping dirt section that carries us into a small mountain town where we break for lunch. It’s the perfect reset before the final leg of the day. In the afternoon, we press on toward Cortez, arriving in time to settle in for the evening. Day 1 sets the tone for the trip - combining incredible scenery with purposeful instruction to prepare riders for the days ahead.

Day 2 - 124 miles

Cortez to Ouray (via Telluride and Last Dollar Road)

We depart Cortez and transition quickly onto dirt, beginning our climb high into the Rockies. This is where the training-tour format really comes into play, with instructors guiding the group through evolving terrain while reinforcing key off-road fundamentals - body position, momentum management, line choice, and controlled braking as elevation and difficulty increase. By late morning, we roll into Telluride for fuel and a well-earned lunch break. Riders have time to walk through town, take in the scenery, and do a bit of shopping before we get back on the bikes. From Telluride, we head toward Ridgway via the iconic Last Dollar Road, one of the most scenic stretches in Colorado. With sweeping views of Wilson Peak, this section offers a mix of terrain that allows instructors to continue coaching in real time while riders apply what they’ve learned throughout the day. We finish the ride with a short push into Ouray, where we settle in for the evening. Day 2 delivers a perfect combination of high-alpine riding, technical progression, and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Rockies.

Day 3 - 186 miles

Ouray to Rawhyde Colorado

Today is nothing short of extraordinary. We’ll cross at least nine high-altitude mountain passes, with five topping 12,000 feet and two pushing above 13,000. Along the way, we cross the Continental Divide multiple times and pass through historic mining towns like Pitkin and Tincup, where remnants of Colorado’s rugged mining past still dot the landscape. It’s one of the most diverse and visually stunning days of riding anywhere in the Rockies. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, instructors make intentional stops before major climbs and descents to walk riders through high-alpine techniques - momentum management, traction control on loose rock, body positioning at elevation, and precise line choice on narrow mountain passes. Riders then immediately apply these skills in real-world conditions across some of the most dramatic terrain in the state. We cross the Continental Divide again at Cottonwood Pass before transitioning to pavement and rolling into Buena Vista for fuel. From there, the ride opens up into smooth, fast dirt roads winding through shimmering aspen groves as we make our way back toward RAWHYDE Colorado. Day 3 is the culmination of the entire experience - a full day of skill application, nonstop scenery, and the kind of high-alpine riding that defines Colorado and the RAWHYDE training-tour experience.

Day 4 - 180 miles

Rawhyde Colorado to Eagle

We depart RAWHYDE Colorado early and begin the day with a climb over Weston Pass, a beautiful high-altitude dirt section that sets the tone for the day. As part of the RAWHYDE training-tour format, instructors use this opening climb to reinforce key fundamentals - body positioning, throttle control, line selection, and traction management - before riders tackle the ascent and descent. From there, we transition to pavement and make our way over the iconic Independence Pass, one of the most scenic paved rides in the state. With tight turns and dramatic elevation changes, instructors continue to provide guidance on cornering technique, visual scanning, and smooth braking as we wind through the high alpine environment. We drop down into Aspen and continue on to Basalt before turning onto the stunning Fryingpan Road. This section follows the river through a picturesque valley and offers a relaxed but engaging ride where riders can continue refining their technique in a lower-pressure environment. The final leg of the day transitions back to dirt as we make our way into Eagle. With a mix of terrain and scenery throughout, Day 4 delivers another well-rounded training-tour experience - blending high mountain passes, flowing pavement, and scenic dirt while continuing to build rider confidence and skill.

Day 5 - 173 miles

Gypsum to Steamboat Springs (via the Continental Divide Trail)

Today we make our way toward Steamboat Springs along sections of the Continental Divide Trail. This portion of the route runs at lower elevations than the previous days, topping out just above 9,000 feet, and offers a more relaxed but equally beautiful riding experience. Expect a mix of terrain - deep water crossings, classic Colorado aspen forests, wide open vistas, and long, peaceful stretches through some of the most scenic backcountry in the Rockies. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, instructors provide guidance before key terrain features, with a particular focus on water crossings and changing surface conditions in the forested sections. Riders receive real-time instruction on approach angles, body positioning, throttle control, and visual scanning, then immediately apply those techniques as the terrain unfolds. The lower altitude and flowing nature of this section make it an ideal day to refine fundamentals, build confidence, and enjoy a more fluid riding rhythm while still benefiting from the structure and support of the RAWHYDE training-tour format.

Day 6 - 190 miles

Steamboat Springs to Rawhyde Colorado

We borrow a page from our Continental Divide training-tour to bring the journey full circle. Departing Steamboat Springs, we climb up to Rabbit Ears Pass along the Continental Divide. At elevation, instructors pause to review high-altitude riding techniques - line choice, momentum management, and body positioning - before we transition back onto dirt and continue south along the Continental Divide Trail. From there, the route leads us into Kremmling for fuel and a short reset before the next off-road section. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, instructors use these transitions to reinforce fundamentals and prepare riders for the terrain ahead. We continue south toward Breckenridge, crossing the historic Boreas Pass and returning once again to the Continental Divide. This section offers classic high-country riding - flowing dirt roads, expansive views, and the perfect opportunity to apply everything learned over the course of the tour. From Boreas Pass, it’s roughly an hour ride back to RAWHYDE Colorado, where the journey comes to a close. Day 6 is a fitting finale - a scenic, skill-driven ride that ties together the entire training-tour experience across some of Colorado’s most iconic terrain.

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Reviews from our riders

Jeff Camacho

"I was lucky enough to work with this amazing team." It was a great event. So many talented riders from all over the US came to RawHyde Adventures fo...

Daniel Schneider

"I'll be back!" Thank you all for the awesome Intro Course last weekend. Great bunch of instructors and staff. I'll be back! I also want to thank you...

David Haydock | Cambria, CA

"BMW motorcycles and Rawhyde go hand in hand!" Anyone that asks about my bike or talks about getting an adventure bike, I say two things... Get a BMW...

Mats Ceder | Chicago, IL

"Show up Friday, put away my car keys and my wallet, and enjoy the weekend!" I have attended several training classes and events at RawHyde. It remin...

Bill Bergman

"Simply the best experience thus far on my bike." RAWHYDE Off Road... Simply the best experience thus far on my bike. Why? Here are a few reasons. ...

Kimiko Krekel | Austin, TX

"I truly enjoyed being off road and felt the confidence I had been missing. What an amazing experience!" I came into the Rawhyde training with a bi...

Tony Goble | Tracy, CA

"The time with Rawhyde exceeded our expectations! " Rawhyde is a wonderful place to begin, or advance your adventure riding skills! The instructors a...

Gideon Weinberger

"I had an absolute blast!" I had an absolute blast! I wish I had known how much fun this would be years ago. The scenery was breathtaking, the bikes ...

Gary Isaac

"Great places to ride and train" Jim, It was a wonderful class, It was fun, helpful and challenging at the same time. I had an absolute blast. I tol...

Nigel Thompson | Aspen, CO

"Best Day Ever on a Motorcycle!" We had an amazing Next-Step (level 2 training group) thi, nobody was the best, nobody was the worst. Everybody rocke...

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