One of the very first trips we took was to run the original Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) in July 2017. In fact, we attempted a segment of the route in May on our way home from a trip to Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, but lingering snow and dozens of down trees made progress painfully slow. We enjoyed it so much that every year since, we've picked another BDR to tick off the list.
This year, Colorado is the name of the game, and it's one I've been looking forward to for quite some time.
The route begins at Four Corners - where CO, AZ, NM and UT meet - on Navajo Nation. It then winds its way 745 miles north - much of the route above 10,000 feet as it climbs and falls through the San Juans and Rocky Mountains - to the Wyoming border. Along the way, high mountain passes, expansive views, numerous mines, and extended water crossings add a bit of excitement.
Stage 1: Four Corners to Telluride | 131 miles
Stage 2: Telluride to Lake City | 123 miles
Stage 3: Lake City to Buena Vista | 144 miles
Stage 4: Buena Vista to Gypsum | 143 miles
Stage 5: Gypsum to Steamboat Springs | 122 miles
Stage 6: Steamboat Springs to Wyoming | 81 miles
As usual, BDR routes can be found on the RideBDR web site. I always find there's a little work to get them into tip-top shape, but that just gets you a little more familiar with the route before you embark yourself!
Four Corners to Telluride - Oh No, Smoke! | COBDR Stage 1 - One of the very first trips we took was to run the original Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) in July 2017. In fact, we attempted a segment of the route in May on our way home from a trip to Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, but lingering snow and dozens of down trees made progress painfully slow. We enjoyed it so much that every year since, we've picked another BDR to tick off the list. This year, Colorado is the name of the game, and it's one I've been looking forward to for quite some time. The route begins at…
Telluride to Lake City - The Alpine Loop | COBDR Stage 2 - We headed out of Telluride just after 1:00pm, and I was worried. We'd finished the entire first stage of the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (COBDR) in half a day, and I knew that if we didn't slow down a bit, we'd find ourselves all the way through Stage 2 - and the Alpine Loop - before sunset. And that would be terrible, because I already knew where I wanted to camp for the night, and it wasn't past the Alpine Loop. In fact, it was only about halfway through! Luckily, speed is something I could control. Well, that and we could…
Lake City to Buena Vista - Skipping the Good Stuff | COBDR Stage 3 - One of the things we've learned about running a Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) is that trying to time a stage to a day - where the day ends at the designated end (and thus beginning) of a stage - is a bad idea, at least when you're trying to camp. This is obvious once it's realized, and it makes total sense for the dual-sport bikes that BDRs are designed for, since they often use towns as places to find a roof for the night, but for a truck - where the sleeping arrangements are in the bed - it's better…
Buena Vista to Gypsum - Fall is Coming to the Mosquito Mountains | COBDR Stage 4 - Having finally reached the summit of Mt. Antero - a place so accessible and yet not included on the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) - we were headed into Buena Vista just before 11:00am in search of something to eat. We'd learned our lesson the previous morning - having arrived in Lake City before the traditional lunch hour, opting to skip lunch, and later regretting it - and @mrs.turbodb was working the airwaves to find a good spot to stop for lunch. Half a day later - having added a highlight that every BDR adventurer should enjoy as part of…
Gypsum to Steamboat Springs and WY - Pavement and Private Land | COBDR Stage 5 and 6 - After grabbing lunch in Eagle, we hopped on the freeway - a slightly embarrassing experience, given that we were aired down and travelling rather slowly - for the six-mile stint back to Gypsum and the start of Stage 5. In fact, we'd be splitting off from the main route, which follows the highway for a stretch, opting instead to run the 15-mile "Harder Alternate," rejoining the main route at the Colorado Canyon Gorge. "No Jimmy, the fish wasn't 'this big,' it was only four fingers long." Gypsum, keeping it real. Stage 5 - Gypsum to Steamboat Springs North of Gypsum…
Never in the Middle of Nowhere | COBDR Epilogue - After completing the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route, we're up to nine BDRs since we started running them in 2016. Through the running of each one, @mrs.turbodb and I are - as you can imagine - regularly comparing the current BDR to the past ones. Now that I've been writing down these thoughts for the last five or so, it seems like a good tradition to continue into the future. TL;DR - The Colorado BDR - especially the northern half - is a fast BDR with plenty of varied terrain, though none of it feels all that remote, largely because Coloradans…
I was there July 2025 and it was a bummer that Imogene and Black Bear were closed. Imogene on the Telluride side (can drive in from Ouray to summit) and Black Bear as a whole. Engineer was fun, and continuing to Mineral Pass got a bit more squirrely if you go that route! Looking forward to this one.
Hey Zac, nice Offroad trailer! It’Sa bit of a bummer that the passes are closed, but as afar as I can tell, the COBDR route doesn’t traverse any of the closed passes. Were you just trying to explore more of the Alpine Loop while you were in the area?
It’s definitely a fun loop - i fan Black Bear and Imogene a few years ago and then Mineral Springs after completing the NMBDR. Loved all of it!
We were there mid July this year and Black Bear was open, except the few times it was closed to remove a wreck at the steps.
Nice! Black Bear isn't on the actual BDR route - the route (as you may know) goes up and over Ophir, Corckscrew, Hurricane, California, and Cinnamon Passes - but Black Bear is a fun drive for sure!
Actually, the "normal route" now skips the Alpine Loop entirely in an effort to appeal to a broader range of riders. Personally, I think the "Alternate Expert" option - what was the main route previously, should be the only option. How can you go through Colorado and not actually visit the loop? Craziness.
I was just mentioning that it's actually open this year, unlike last year. I commissioned a custom sign that looks like the metal summit elevation signs. Mine says - Black Bear Pass / Is It Open Yet?
lol, gotcha. I don't really follow the open status of the passes down there (unless I'm headed that direction). Definitely saw tons of people pouring down the switchbacks when we passed through Telluride.
We were on that trail between BV and Telluride 3 weeks ago.. Did it from Buena Vista to Telluride...AFTER swapping out a fuel pump in a friend's 2003 Tacoma in a BV City Market parking lot on a Sunday lol.
Went on to La Sal mtns from there...then to WY BDR
Looking forward to your trip pics
Awesome, we just missed you then! In fact, we were in the Buena Vista City Market parking lot as well three weeks ago - on a Tuesday - but for a half gallon of milk, lol!
Sounds like you had a great route there; we really enjoyed the WYBDR, it is still one of our favorites!