Rocky Mountain Adventure Ride

Duration: 5-day tour Price: $4,195 Food: Food/Lodging: Included Difficulty:

Moderate

🏍 Need a Motorcycle?

RAWHYDE maintains a fleet of professionally maintained BMW adventure motorcycles that can be reserved for our training programs and guided tours. Whether you’re joining us for your first class or a multi-day adventure, we’ve got you covered.
Please Note: Our motorcycles are available exclusively for RAWHYDE training programs and guided tours. We do not offer stand-alone motorcycle rentals.

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.

The RMA, as we call it, is a five day hub and spoke training-tour designed to immerse riders in Colorado’s history, scenery, and high alpine terrain while continuing to build real world riding skills. Over the course of the week, riders explore everything from the Continental Divide to some of the highest mountain roads and byways in North America, all while receiving on-trail coaching and guidance from Rawhyde instructors.

The hub and spoke format means we stay at Rawhyde each night and head out on purposeful day rides to experience the sights, passes, and vistas that make Colorado such an exceptional place to ride. This structure allows riders to apply techniques daily without the fatigue of packing and moving camp, and gives coaches the opportunity to reinforce skills, review lessons, and prepare riders for the next day’s terrain.

One of the highlights of the week is a ride to the summit of Pikes Peak, where Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write “America the Beautiful” in 1895. Throughout the tour, coaches make intentional stops before terrain changes to review body positioning, line choice, braking strategy, and gear selection, helping riders confidently navigate both dirt and pavement.

This training-tour is approximately 60 percent dirt roads and trails and 40 percent paved roads, offering a balanced mix of surfaces and conditions. It is an exceptional way to experience Colorado while building confidence, repetition, and skill in a supportive and inspiring environment.

The Rocky Mountain Adventure Ride schedule

Day 1 The Boreas Pass Loop

The Boreas Pass

From camp, we begin the day with a short run to Hartsel for fuel before transitioning onto a beautiful stretch of dirt riding toward Tarryall Reservoir. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, instructors use these early sections to reinforce fundamentals - body positioning, throttle control, and line selection - while riders settle into the terrain. Keep an eye out for wildlife along this section, as it’s not uncommon to see animals moving through the area. From Tarryall, we connect to a winding paved section that carries us toward the base of Guanella Pass. After a quick stop for a snack and photos, we descend into historic Georgetown, then climb back up and over Loveland Pass, working through elevation changes and tight mountain turns with continued instruction on cornering technique, braking, and visual scanning. We pass by Arapahoe Basin and continue through Keystone into Breckenridge before transitioning back to dirt for the climb over Boreas Pass. At the summit, instructors take a moment to regroup and review line choice and descent strategy before dropping down into Como. From there, it’s a fast, flowing ride on wide-open dirt roads back to camp - a perfect finish to a full day of varied terrain, skill development, and classic Colorado riding within the RAWHYDE training-tour format.

Day 2 The Monarch and Marshall pass loop.

Salida, Colorado

Today’s 150 mile ride takes us south from Rawhyde on an unpaved country road toward Salida, Colorado. After fueling up in Salida, we begin the climb toward the Continental Divide at the top of Marshall Pass. Marshall Pass is absolutely stunning, with dense aspen forests, wide mountain vistas, and dramatic high alpine scenery in every direction. Words can’t truly capture how impressive this region is. It is one of Colorado’s great mountain passes. Before we begin the ascent, Rawhyde coaches review high altitude riding techniques, including traction management, proper body positioning, and safe line choice for narrow and changing mountain surfaces. Riders then apply these skills throughout the climb and descent, gaining confidence as the terrain demands real world technique. We continue down the western slope of Marshall Pass and into the rustic one horse town of Sargents before climbing back to the Continental Divide once again over historic Old Monarch Pass. This section provides another perfect opportunity for riders to refine momentum control and braking strategy on mixed dirt and rock surfaces. From Monarch, we drop into the rough and tumble town of Buena Vista for fuel before returning to camp for the evening. It is a beautiful and engaging day of riding, blending high alpine scenery with purposeful skill development across some of the finest mountain terrain in Colorado.

Day 3 America the Beautiful personified.

Pikes Peak

Today we head west toward Colorado Springs and the incredible Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is home to the second oldest mountain climbing race in the United States and is one of the highest points you can ride a motorcycle to in the entire country. Before we begin the ascent, Rawhyde coaches review high altitude pavement techniques, including cornering posture, smooth throttle management, braking strategy, and visual scanning for steep and continuously winding mountain roads. At over 14,000 feet, Pikes Peak holds a special place in American history. It was here that Katharine Lee Bates wrote the iconic words to “America the Beautiful” in 1895. From the summit, the meaning becomes clear. The views truly capture spacious skies, purple mountain majesty, and the amber plains stretching eastward. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Kansas and the wheat fields referenced in the song. The experience is nothing short of awe inspiring. After descending Pikes Peak, we ride through Colorado Springs and continue toward the historic mining town of Cripple Creek. This is another window into Colorado’s turbulent mining era. Cripple Creek is a shadow of its former self, but rich in history, and we stop for a tour of the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine. Riders board an unusual air powered train and travel deep into the mountain for a firsthand look at life inside an 1890s gold mine. After the tour, we follow a series of scenic dirt roads back to camp. Coaches use this final stretch to reinforce dirt riding fundamentals and give riders a chance to apply skills in relaxed, varied terrain. It is an unforgettable day filled with history, high altitude landscapes, and meaningful real world training.

Day 4 Aspen via Weston and Independence Pass

Aspen, CO

Today’s ride takes us toward Aspen by way of two very different, but equally memorable Colorado mountain passes: Weston Pass and Independence Pass. We begin by riding toward Leadville, America’s highest incorporated city, sitting at more than 10,000 feet with deep mining history and classic high-country character. From this area, we make our way over Weston Pass, a beautiful and approachable dirt route that crosses the Continental Divide and gives riders a chance to apply real-world adventure riding skills in a high alpine environment. Before the climb, RAWHYDE instructors review key techniques for loose surfaces, traction management, body position, line choice, and staying smooth and controlled on changing terrain. Weston Pass offers the perfect mix of scenery and skill-building, with forested sections, open views, rocky stretches, and the kind of elevation changes that make Colorado riding so rewarding. From there, we continue toward Aspen, one of the most iconic mountain towns in the country. After time in Aspen, the route brings us back via Independence Pass, the highest paved road over the Continental Divide in Colorado. This dramatic stretch of pavement delivers sweeping views, tight corners, exposed sections, and continuous elevation changes. Before riding Independence Pass, RAWHYDE instructors reinforce proper cornering posture, braking strategy, lane positioning, scanning, and smooth throttle control for narrow mountain roads. This ride to Aspen and back blends dirt, pavement, alpine scenery, and practical rider development into one of the most dynamic and visually spectacular days of the Rocky Mountain Adventure.

Day 5 The Highest road in America.

Six Pass Loop

From camp, we kick things off with an incredible dirt back-road ride into Salida, setting the tone for a full day of varied terrain. As with all RAWHYDE training-tours, instructors use these opening miles to reinforce core fundamentals - body positioning, throttle control, and line selection - while riders settle into the rhythm of the day. From Salida, we climb up Monarch Pass to Monarch Ski Area, where we leave the pavement behind and transition onto the dirt route over Old Monarch Pass. This is where the ride really comes alive. Old Monarch, Black Sage, and Wanita Pass deliver continuous dirt riding through high alpine terrain, giving instructors multiple opportunities to stop, coach, and prepare riders for changing conditions and elevation. We roll into Pitkin for a well-earned lunch break before continuing on to Cumberland Pass and into the historic town of Tincup, eventually reaching Taylor Park. Each segment offers a new mix of terrain, allowing riders to apply skills in real time while building confidence across different surfaces. If smooth pavement and mountain twisties are your thing, Cottonwood Pass delivers in a big way. Instructors continue to guide riders through cornering technique, braking, and visual scanning as we climb and descend this iconic stretch. After a full day of elevation changes and terrain variety, we make our way back through Buena Vista before finishing with a final dirt section into camp. The Six Pass Loop is a perfect example of the RAWHYDE training-tour format - nonstop scenery, diverse riding, and structured instruction woven into every mile.

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...

Read All Reviews

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