Bikepacking
BIKEPACKING ACTIVITIES
Bikepacking trips are generally overnight trips in backcountry settings. Travel is on maintained and unmaintained roads, as well as trails approved for bike travel. Parties may make off-trail excursions, by bike or foot, as long as the party follows Leave No Trace principles and the route does not expose any party member to terrain that is unreasonably hazardous to cross given their skills and experience. Avalanche terrain will be avoided whenever possible during snow-traveling biking activities.
Day bikepacking trips can be offered for specific purposes such as “shake-down” rides, “gear check/testing,” training rides, and clinics. The intent of day trips is to prepare participants for longer or harder overnight trips and help them develop skills, confidence, and fitness.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS
The difficulty of a bikepacking route is rated using the tables below as a general guide. Bikepacking trips are classified either as Gravel or MTB (Mountain Bike), based on the predominant terrain traveled. Trip rating, distance and elevation gain, type of bike, gear, and skills requirements will be determined by the trip leader and posted in the activity listing, as well as communicated to participants in pre-trip communications.
Bikepacking Gravel
- Travel predominantly on unpaved, maintained, and unmaintained roads or doubletrack trails.
- Gravel biking experience required. Necessary skills depend on route difficulty.
- A gravel bike required; minimum tire size depends on route (please check within each route rating). Note that even for Gravel I/beginner rides, minimum tire size is 38mm.
| Rating | Miles (per day) |
Elevation Gain (feet per day) | Physical Difficulty | Technical Difficulty |
| Gravel I | < 20 | < 1,500 | Relatively level riding; gentle graded hills; 2-4 hours/day (excluding stops). | Smooth riding surface with few obstacles on mostly hard-packed trails with mostly good gravel (i.e. "Champagne gravel"). The routes are generally devoid of obstacles such as rocks and roots but may occasionally feature some coarse gravel, potholes, or wooden debris that can be avoided by paying close attention to the trail surface (e.g. graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for beginner gravel riders. Tires 38+ mm ok. |
| Gravel II | 20-40 | 1,500 - 2,500 | Moderately hilly terrain with climbs up to 20 min each; 3-5 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Occasional obstacles and/or steep sections (e.g. maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); any technical features can be rolled over or avoided; suitable for gravel riders with beginner mountain bike skills. Tires size 38-42mm ok. |
| Gravel III |
40-60 | 2,500 - 3,500 | Hilly terrain with frequent long hard climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting; loose and steep descents; up to 6 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | A mix of smooth and rocky, loose terrain with periodic rock features, roots, and other obstacles that can often be avoided or maneuvered around with some mountain bike skills. Some sections of the route may feature rocky, loose, and/or steep ascents and descents (e.g. 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain). Hike-a-Bike sections possible based on skills and weight of bike/gear; suitable for intermediate mountain bikers or intermediate gravel riders who are able to choose lines and focus on navigating obstacles. |
| Gravel IV | 60-80 | 3,500 - 5,000 | Very hilly terrain with abundant climbing; some steep and loose climbs, some very steep and unrideable (hike-a-bike required); 6+ hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Significant sections of the route include narrow (singletrack) trails with frequent obstacles such as drops up to 10 inches; steep and loose climbs and descents; (e.g. unmaintained forest roads, 4×4 roads, or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain); suitable for riders with intermediate to advanced mountain bike skills. |
| Gravel V | up to 100 | > 5,000 | Extremely hilly terrain with very steep loose climbs, some requiring bike-pushing (hike-a-bike) and/or carrying. Frequent long climbs lasting 30 min-2 hours; up to 10 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Very challenging route with large obstacles (such as rocks, roots, and drops over 10in), exposure, very steep and loose climbs and descents (e.g. unmaintained forest roads, 4×4 roads, or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain); suitable for riders with advanced mountain bike skills. |
Bikepacking Mountain Bike (MTB)
- Travel dominantly on singletrack mountain bike trails. Mountain bike skills required. Necessary skills depend on route difficulty.
- A mountain bike with front suspension required; tire size minimum is 2.2 inches. Wider (>2.2in) and knobbier tires recommended for intermediate-advanced routes; streamlined minimalistic bikepacking bags required for more technical (intermediate to advanced) routes.
| Rating | Miles (per day) |
Elevation Gain (feet per day) | Physical Difficulty | Technical Difficulty |
| MTB I | up to 20 | < 1,500 | Short climbs of low to moderate grade; 2–4 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Avoidable and unavoidable obstacles. Low grade, wide, consistent surface texture with minimal features. A few unavoidable obstacles such as rocks and roots (2‑inches or shorter), which are small enough for mountain bike tires to simply roll over. Suitable to riders new to mountain biking. |
| MTB II | up to 30 | 1,500 - 3,000 | Some steep climbs: some sections may require hike-a-bike based on rider's skills and weight of bike; 3 to 5 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Narrow single-track trails, unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks, and drops that are up to 8‑inches tall. Solid understanding of the fundamentals of mountain biking required, including body positions, powerful braking, cornering, riding on varied terrain, and experience riding trails that require line choice. Significant hike-a-bike sections if not able to negotiate obstacles. |
| MTB III | 30 - 50 | 3,000 - 5,000 | Hard, long, steep climbs; some unrideable and hike-a-bike sections; some lifting of bike over obstructions; 5-6 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). | Steep trails of varied surfaces. Steep, loose climbs and descents; unavoidable obstacles such as ledges, drops up to a 1 foot, rock gardens, steep loose descents, off-camber; continuous singletrack requiring focus and fast reactions developed from extensive mountain bike experience; falls can have severe consequences. |
| MTB IV | > 50 | > 5,000 | Hard, long, steep climbs; significant sections of the route include narrow trail with frequent obstacles, steep and loose climbs and descents; (e.g. unmaintained forest roads, 4×4 roads, or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain). | Steep trails of varied surfaces. Steep, loose climbs and descents; unavoidable obstacles such as drops up to a 1 foot, rock gardens, steep loose descents, off-camber; continuous singletrack requiring focus and fast reactions developed from extensive mountain bike experience; falls can have severe consequences. |
Regroup
In most situations during bikepacking trips, the group stays together or within short visual or shouting/whistle distance. However, in complex terrain, it may be difficult for each member of the group to remain in ear shot. Frequent regroups are recommended to avoid splitting the group. However, riding too close to one another creates an unnecessary risk and should be avoided. On longer-mileage, faster-paced trips or in the case of larger groups, the group may split if deemed appropriate and safe by the trip leader and if a sufficient number of assistant leaders are present and/or a sufficient number of riders are proficient in navigation, first aid, and able to fix minor mechanical problems.
Repairs
All participants must carry the equipment necessary to fix a flat (tube, patch kit, pump). Trip leaders are not responsible for mechanical problems, but should be capable of fixing most trail maintenance issues. Mechanical failures beyond the capability of the team to repair should be considered emergency situations.
LEADER RATING
In addition to the route classification above, a Leader Rating is specified for each activity. This provides the leader with a way to modify the baseline route difficulty based on specifics of how they will lead the trip. Within the activity summary or Leaders Notes of the trip posting, trip leaders will specify the distance and elevation gain for the route as well as their planned pace, any special technical challenges and gear, skills, and conditioning requirements.
- Casual: Easy pace on mostly flat terrain, with 1-day overnight gear, no technical challenges or special skills needed.
- Easy: Easy pace on rolling hills, with up to 2-days overnight gear, some technical challenges or special skills needed.
- Moderate: Easy to moderate pace with some hills or hilly terrain, with up to 2 or more days of overnight gear, minor technical challenges or special skills needed (e.g. on-trail bike maintenance, rough trail, singletrack, steep climb, log crossings, steep terrain).
- Challenging: Moderate to strenuous pace on hilly terrain with up to 4 or more days of overnight gear, some major route challenges (e.g. very rugged terrain/trail, singletrack, steep terrain, log crossings, bear canister requirement, carrying water to a dry camp, possible on-trail bike maintenance).