Course Map

Raghorn Loop

52mi, 36mi tarmac, 16 dirt. 3300’

The Raghorn Loop is another classic Gunnison Country route. Riders will leave the Start/Finish area at the Crested Butte town park at 9am Sunday. If you don’t have 135 mi in you but you want to challenge yourself to a beautiful track with a great hard gravel climb, smooth pavement and incredible views this is for you.

Start by following the wide shoulders dropping 1400’ over 21mi. Then turn onto the first dirt section of flat road through ranchland to Ohio pass road. This road is known for its beauty at all times of the year but especially in the fall. Now you begin to climb. Just enough so you can feel it. At 33mi the tarmac will give way to packed dirt and begin to climb steeply over Ohio Pass to 10,100’ encountering grades of 15% on gravel. Now you can wait for your mates on the top of Kebler pass or spin down the pavement of Kebler pass road to the finish party at the town park encountering 3 more miles of hard packed dirt. Receive a finishers medal, food, beer, wooly socks, custom grocery bag and a West Elk water bottle!

Elevation & Profile Maps

GPS Download Files

Raghorn Loop - GPX
Download the GPX file ( right click and save link as to download )
Raghorn Loop - KML
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West Elk Bicycle Classic

135 mile point to point gran fondo

The West Elk Bicycle Classic is a mass start, point-to-point ride from Gunnison to Crested Butte. It has truly become a classic over the years in the “never say quit” mentality that riders must bring to this challenging and inspiring course.

Starting at 7 am from Western Colorado University, the pack leaves town with police escort, wild anticipation and excitement of the many grueling miles ahead. Heading west along the Gunnison river as the sun rises, the cool morning air begins to warm, and riders settle into their saddles, cadence and finding people to work with for the first 100 miles or so, before the “fun” starts.

Slowly, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison deepens. First as Blue Mesa reservoir, then onto the north rim of the Black Canyon, where amazing views, foggy morning mist, broken sunbeams and even rainbows encourage each and every pedal stroke. One of the most scenic and delightfully twisty roads anywhere eventually drops several thousand feet to the farms and orchards of the North Fork valley, as riders visit Crawford and Paonia.

Stop at the Crawford Aid station and chat with Sharon and her kids, we are proud to be supporting them again through this year’s West Elk Bicycle Classic! Then onto Paonia, where fresh fruit abounds and cyclists will surely enjoy their stop at the Paonia aide station…before the real challenge begins, as if a century isn’t enough.

Finally, riders will climb, climb, and climb some more; into the alpine forests of Kebler pass…all on dirt roads! Even the fastest riders will suffer here…so keep those pedals turning until reaching the summit! Then coast down to Crested Butte, you have just completed the West Elk Bicycle Classic course! Spin out those legs and then recover with some grub, suds and music while sharing stories with your crew and the new friends you made along the way. Chapeau, you rock!