The White Horse Loop is a gnarly bike route starting and ending in De Beque, Colorado. De Beque is a tiny community 20 miles east of Grand Junction along Interstate 70. With only a few buildings making up its town, we were delighted to see that one of them was a bike shop (+ coffee shop).
This route is ultimately the tale of two halves. The Amazing. The Brutal.
Disclaimer: my husband and I are roadies. We ride ~90% of the time on the road with an occasional gravel ride here and there.
The Amazing
The first half of this route was amazing. Good gravel, great scenery and no vehicles (with a small, gradual incline) on the 20 mile ride “out of town”. At the 20 mile mark you reach the epic rock formations that make this adventure worth it. It reminded me of the Painted Mines yet had an entirely different feeling being all alone. It felt like we were on another planet. Again, epic!
Disclaimer: if you do this, turn around here and retrace your steps. We should have done this. Period.
The Brutal
The second half was brutal and I don’t think a mountain bike would’ve helped after a while. The terrain was tough, the speed was super low and it felt like it wasn’t going to end. It was way more than we bargained for and I don’t know how we didn’t crash or ruin our bikes.
Disclaimer: we made it, we went the right way, it just took way too long and we were exhausted.
Good to Know
Distance: 46 mile loop
Trails: n/a
Elevation Gain: 3,700 ft
Terrain: Lovely gravel for the first half then rocky, sandy and step for the second half
Parking: Available at Roan Creek Bikeworks & Coffee
Facilities: Available at Roan Creek Bikeworks & Coffee
Fun Fact: if you try this ride,, turn around at the 20 mile mark and retrace your steps. We should have done this. Period.
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