What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced MTB guides with extensive local knowledge of the area
  • 3 or 5 days of mountain biking depending on the itinerary
  • Freshly-cooked meals for the duration of the tour (including all non-alcoholic beverages)
  • Transportation during the adventure
  • Support vehicle for camping gear and personal equipment
  • Solar shower and washbasins

Mountain bike and helmet rentals are available for an added fee of $375.

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to Grand Junction, CO
  • Accommodations before and after the tour — if applicable
  • Mountain bike — can be rented during booking
  • Camping gear — can be rented during booking
  • Guide gratuities — optional (15-25% is the industry standard if you have enjoyed the tour)

To join these Kokopelli guided MTB trips, you have to be in excellent physical shape. You should have extensive experience in mountain biking and enough stamina for sustained climbs and for covering 20 miles (31 km) a day on average. That said, the 3-day tour is generally easier because it’s shorter. Over 3 days, riders cover around 60 miles (97 km) in total and on the toughest day, the elevation gain is 2,230 ft (680 m). The 5-day tour includes 100 miles (161 km) of riding in total, equally spread over 5 days.

Keep in mind that you will always have a guide by your side to assess your fitness, encourage you, monitor your technique and help you if you encounter any difficulties. You’ll also be followed by a support vehicle to make the experience safe and enjoyable even if you’re not able to finish a certain section.

To prepare, we suggest doing a lot of cardiovascular exercises and strength training in the weeks prior to the adventure. Needless to stay, you should also try spending your weekends in the saddle whenever possible, especially in hilly terrain and on singletracks.

To participate in these Kokopelli guided MTB adventures, you should have strong previous mountain biking experience. On these tours, you will encounter technical singletrack sections, 4wd doubletracks, high-elevation trails, uneven terrain, climbs, and obstacles like rocks and sand. If you lack strong technical mountain biking knowledge, you may be good to go if you have a strong level of fitness and adventurous spirit, but keep in mind that experience of riding on singletracks is still crucial.

That said, not all riding is going to be highly technical and you’ll always have a guide to prepare you for tougher sections. They will also keep everyone safe and make sure that the experience is as enjoyable as possible.

To prepare for the technical sections, we recommend practicing your technique in the weeks prior to the adventure.

Here’s what you’ll need for riding gear:

• • Mountain bike — can be rented
  • Helmet
  • Riding shoes (athletic shoes, lightweight hiking shoes, or trail running shoes with a sturdy sole work well)
  • Socks
  • Biking tights/equivalent — wool or polypropylene
  • Biking shorts
  • Riding gloves (bring long fingered gloves for cooler weather)
  • Riding jerseys/T-shirts
  • Windbreaker/light jacket
  • Hydration pack (with room to carry food and some gear
  • Bike repair tools including spare tubes, patch kit and small set of Allen wrenches

Camping and other gear:

• • Tent with good rain-fly – can be rented
  • Warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad — can be rented.
  • Camping pillow
  • Personal hygiene items (wet wipes, towel, biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, personal medications, etc.)
  • Head lamp and/or flashlight (bring spare batteries as well)
  • Daypack (if you don’t have a hydration pack)
  • Water bottles — at least 1 for around camp

Other clothing:

• • Extra pair of shoes
  • Sandals
  • Raincoat and waterproof pants
  • Warm jacket — for camp
  • Long pants/sweatpants
  • Long underwear
  • T-shirts (long and short-sleeved)
  • Shorts — for relaxing around camp
  • Warm hat
  • Long finger gloves/mittens
  • Visor/wide brimmed hat — for sun protection.
  • Swimsuit — optional

Miscellaneous:

• • Camera — optional (but recommended!)
  • Power bank (for charging your devices)
  • Insect repellent
  • Binoculars — optional
  • Your favorite beer or wine (non-alcoholic beverages included)
  • Ear plugs — optional
  • Sunscreen and chapstick

This is a general packing list that may be altered slightly depending on the season and other factors pertaining to the route. You’ll get a more definitive packing list from your guide upon booking. Keep in mind that the support vehicle carries a lot, including all the camping and most personal equipment, as well as supplies necessary to keep the bikes in top riding condition. Also, note that your guides double as bike mechanics and can usually fix just about any problem that arises.

If you don’t want to carry your own mountain bike, you can rent one! Your guiding service offers full-suspension Santa Cruz mountain bikes and the cost for the 5-day tour is $375. Choose from various sizes (XS, S, M, L, and XL), and if you’re unsure, provide your height and weight for expert guidance. If renting a bike and you use clipless pedals, please bring your pedals and shoes!

For those bringing their bikes, a pre-departure check by a reputable bike shop is strongly recommended. We highly recommend traveling with a spare derailleur hanger and other specialty items your bike may require for minor repairs. Bike insurance, priced at a flat rate of $15 covers parts/frame replacement up to $500.00 during the tour, excluding negligence, theft, or transport-related damages.

The camping gear package features top-tier brands—Sierra Designs, Black Diamond, Big Agnes—for tents, sleeping bags, and ground pads, ensuring a comfortable experience. The package costs $85 for one person (2-person tent) and $160 for two persons (3-person tent).

You’re in for a culinary delight! Expertly prepared meals in the mesmerizing backcountry setting showcase your guides’ love for good food. Fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation make each dish a highlight. Whether savoring a hot breakfast with diverse daily main dishes, enjoying trail-side lunches, or relishing the gastronomic pinnacle—dinner, crafted by skilled backcountry chefs—you’re in for a treat. All non-alcoholic beverages are included and you can also bring your own alcoholic beverages. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated when informed in advance (you can leave a note during booking).

These tours provide a deluxe camping experience! If renting the camping gear, you can expect inflatable mattresses, clean and cozy sleeping bags, and quality tents. The tent options include 2-person or 3-person configurations, with sleeping bags and pads included. If not renting, feel free to bring your own gear for safe transport. All participants get chairs, dry bags, and refreshing hot washcloths. The camps also feature solar showers and washbasins on each tour. Washbasins are available every day. Depending on the group size and weather, solar showers are usually available every other day.

Keep in mind that no camping experience is required for these tours! Your guides will be more than happy to assist you in setting up your personal tent and sleeping area on the first night, and until you are able to do it on your own. They also set up all other aspects of our base camp infrastructure, including camp chairs, kitchen, wash stations, etc. Your primary task, while in camp, will be to relax and enjoy the amazing views and the awesome gourmet meals.

Group sizes and prices:

• • The group size for these group tours are usually between 6 and 8 people.
  • It takes a minimum of 4 people for these tours to operate.

Mountain biking in the Kokopelli and Fruita areas or along the Kokopelli Trail can be arranged for private groups. Contact us prior to booking.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • That said, if you have an underage rider strong enough to handle sustained climbs (either riding or walking their bike) of hundreds of feet, and rough terrain, then they may be able to participate on a case-by-case basis.

If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Your adventure will begin in Grand Junction, CO. To get there, most people fly into Denver International Airport that is just over four hours away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. Another option is flying into Grand Junction Regional Airport.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will notify you about the exact meeting point and the meeting time. It is recommended that you arrive in Grand Junction the day before the tour starts to give yourself a chance to rest for challenges to come!

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the trail, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!