Continental Divide Southbound

All US-based Rawhyde training tours include private accommodations by default. Double occupancy is available upon request.

Imagine a route stretching more than 2,500 miles from the northern Rockies of Montana to the high desert of New Mexico, following the spine of North America southbound along the Continental Divide. Beginning in Helena, Montana and ending in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this journey crosses Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico, with elevations ranging from roughly 4,000 feet to nearly 13,000 feet. Please note that the specific route may be adjusted depending on weather, snowpack, wildfires, and National Forest or BLM restrictions. The Divide is a single dominant geologic feature that shapes weather, divides watersheds, defines ecosystems, and delivers some of the most expansive views in North America. This is the legendary Continental Divide, often called the Great Divide.

Riding the Divide southbound is remote, immersive, and deeply rewarding, and on a Rawhyde training-tour it becomes an opportunity to apply real skills across constantly changing terrain. Over ten unforgettable days, riders move from cool mountain air and alpine forests into open basins, historic towns, and eventually the striking high desert landscapes of the Southwest. Coaches provide targeted instruction throughout the journey, offering guidance on body positioning, line choice, traction management, and safe climbing and descending techniques before major terrain transitions. Nights are spent under star-filled skies or in carefully selected lodges, while each day delivers long miles of dynamic backcountry riding.

Rawhyde’s history on the Continental Divide dates back to our first expedition in 2009, when we spent nearly two weeks exploring the route with a diverse group of riders. That original journey covered more than 2,500 miles of backcountry terrain and revealed just how vast and unspoiled much of the American West remains. Riding such distances while remaining immersed in remote, pristine environments is a rare experience and one that leaves a lasting impression on every rider.

Traveling southbound from Helena, riders experience the rugged beauty of Montana’s wilderness, the huge views and open spaces of Wyoming, the high alpine terrain of Colorado, and the dramatic transition into the deserts of New Mexico. Along the way are narrow dirt tracks, historic routes, mountain passes, forest corridors, and wide open plains that seem to stretch forever. With coaching at key sections, riders develop confidence and adaptability, making each day not only a journey but a real-world training environment.

We consider this ride America’s Ultimate Adventure for three reasons. First is the extraordinary diversity of terrain, offering rapid transitions from alpine mountains to desert environments. Second is the isolation, with long stretches far from population centers that feel truly removed from everyday life. Third is the unpredictability of the route, where summer storms, shifting conditions, and rugged landscapes require attention and solid riding fundamentals. These elements are exactly why our training-tour approach adds so much value to this journey.

This southbound Continental Divide experience is difficult to capture fully with words. It must be ridden to be understood. It is a remarkable passage through the heart of the American backcountry, combining skill development, adventure, and unforgettable scenery in a way that stays with you long after the final mile.