Mountain Biking: Guided Tours & Full Service Outfitting

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The Big Bend area contains plenty of challenging terrain for mountain bike enthusiasts.

There are miles of jeep roads and trails to ride in the surrounding mountains and desert, ranging from easy to difficult, from an morning outing to a multi-day adventure excursion.

Desert Sports can put together a trip custom made for you and your party, whatever your riding style or fitness level. From the dirt roads of the national park to the singeltrack of the Lajitas or the Contrabando Trail Systems, the options are many. All our guided trips include great food, informative and experienced guides, and unique itineraries. Any of the following trips can be scheduled from October through the end of April on dates that will accommodate your schedule—minimum of four on a multi-day, minimum of two people on a day trip. Any of our trips can be run with tandem bikes. We can also put together combination bike and river (pedal and paddle) trips.

Can’t make the minimum number for booking a trip? Check the sidebar for Trip postings or contact us with your dates and we will try and put you together with other folks to meet the minimum booking requirements.

Bring your own bike or rent ours. Tour rates do not include bikes, but we offer special rates for bikes rented to go on one of our tours. Rental of a Kona front suspension bike includes a pump, helmet and patch kit. Desert Sports provides full mechanical support, including support and gear (SAG) vehicles on multi-day itineraries. An onsite bike maintenance facility with an experienced bike mechanic is available.

Various Locations One-Day Rides

If you’re short on time, join one of our guided day rides. Riding time is 4-6 hours with opportunities for side hiking and exploring. Challenge yourself or take a relaxing ride with one of our experienced, informative guides.

Big Bend Ranch State Park Solitario Solemente

Beginning the ride at Sauceda, the old ranch headquarters, our route takes us through rolling high Chihuahuan desert and up and over the rim of the Solitario. Our camp is inside the ancient caldera and day two is spent circumnavigating the interior loop of this geologically majestic setting. It ends with a ride back up and out of the caldera. Our most popular ride in the state park also makes a great off-road tandem bike trip.

Big Bend National Park Old Ore Road/Langford Hot Springs

Traverse the historic route to Boquillas along the western flank of the Dead Horse Mountains. The road descends from a high alluvial plain near Dagger Flats and runs alongside Tornillo Creek, past ruins of early ranching settlements and the dramatic Alto Relex cliffs to our overnight camp near Ernst Basin. Our trip ends at the old ruins of Langford Hot Springs with a muscle-soothing soak in the springs before the drive back to Panther Junction. This is another excellent itinerary for off-road tandem bikes.

Big Bend Ranch State Park Fresno Canyon/Sauceda Loop

This route is one of our most challenging Mountain Bike tours. This ride starts off on the Contrabando Trail System and out past the Whitroy/Buena Suerte mine ruins. Dropping into the Fresno Canyon, we’ll skirt the edge of the famous flatirons of the Solitario caldera and up past La Posta Mountain on our way to our evening’s destination near Sauceda. Day two begins with the climb up Madrid Hill toward Chorro Vista and then drops us down past the Madrid House and back into Fresno Creek.