DISTANCE
2745 Miles (4418km)
For more information on the Tour Divide visit our TD Resource page. »
Deciding to do the Tour Divide comes with a lot of questions and concerns. I can tell you they’re not as scary as they seem. If you start with a plan and break down the process your worries will change into confidence. Your biggest issue is finding the proper information.
This page is meant to be a simple overview of the Tour Divide. During my own Tour Divide I realized there was a need for a guide covering the route just for bikepackers. This page is broken down into simple sections so you can easily get a feel for the route. It’s also part of a larger all inclusive guide, so you can focus on riding your bike instead of searching the internet for hours on end.
Where do you start? This Tour Divide Guide is a great starting point but if you want to know more, checkout the “TD Resources” button below. You’ll find information on resupply, transportation, gear and more.
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2745 Miles (4418km)
5-6
200,000 Feet (60,960m)
11,913 Feet (3631m)
13—40 Days
<1%
70%
June to October
June 11, 2021 ????
Banff, AB and Lordsburg, NM
Male Mike Hall (2016) 13:22:51
Female Lael Wilcox (2015) 15:10:59
The Tour Divide is an 2745 mile route that stretches from Banff, AB to Antelope Wells, NM. The route is roughly 70% off road, consisting of gravel roads, jeep track, and a very small percentage of single track. Traveling through the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, the trails covers a wide range of landscapes.
The route is based off the GDMBR* (Great Divide Mountain Bike Route) from the Adventure Cycling Association, and took four years to map and was released by in 1998. The first ITT of the route was in 2005, while the first Grand Depart was in 2008 (usually held on the second Friday in June). Only a handful of riders attended the first Grand Depart but today close to 200 brave men and women toe the line to test themselves against each other, the route, Mother Nature and most importantly, themselves.
Starting in Banff, AB the Tour Divide winds its way through the Canadian Rockies along glacial rivers and grizzly country. As it travels south the route samples many different types of landscape. In Montana and Colorado you’ll experience mountain wilderness, Idaho and Wyoming offer up grasslands and endless rolling hills, while New Mexico and southern Colorado have high desert. Near the border you are treated one last time with time spent in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Don’t let the fact that the route is mostly dirt roads and lacks technical single track fool you. The attrition rate is 60%. Exhaustion, hypothermia, boredom, and mechanicals are common place on this, the longest bikepacking route in the world.
*The Project doesn’t have a separate resource for the GDMBR but we do off planning aids. You can find them here.
Elevation profiles provided by John Schilling. Support John’s effort by purchasing prints, sticks and mugs of these profiles.
TOUR DIVIDE
The Tour Divide is not an sanctioned or organized race in any way. Consequently it’s regarded as large group ride that follows a fixed route, a set time, a set of simple rules and that’s all. Those who partake should understand this and obey the gentleman’s agreement to “race” fairly and follow the rules. There are no checkpoints, race organizers, aid stations or aid of any kind. You’re solely responsible for your own welfare.
The TD starts in the Banff, AB at 8 am at the YMCA. There is usually a neutral roll out and the racing starts when you hit the dirt road just south of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Friday, June 9th, 2023 (staggered start)
Send a letter of intent after winter solstice to tourdivide@gmail.com.
RULES
Bikepack racing is generally not organized, no entry fees are collected or prizes given out, but there are a general set of guidelines all bikepacking races follow. As a result the rules are designed to create a level playing field for all who decide to participate.
*Note these rules are the general rules for bikepack racing and each event may have their own specific rules and they also change from time to time. With that said it’s important you read and understand the official rules which can be found at the link below.
1. Racers must completely cover the route under their own power.
2. No outside support is allowed.
3. Food/supply caching on the trail is not allowed ahead of time (but one can ship items to a Post Office).
4. Motorized transportation or hitch-hiking, EXCEPT for travel to hospital/medical care, is NOT allowed at anytime.
The following are allowed, but not encouraged. Please use sparingly.
5. Unintended assistance from fellow racers is ACCEPTABLE.
6. Trail magic is OK – but please, no begging or fishing (hinting).
7. Mailing resupplies to Post Offices is ACCEPTABLE.
For full rules visit TourDivide.org.
No entry fee, no prizes, absolutely no support
IMPORTANT RACE INFORMATION
Registration: Send letters of intent after the winter solstice to tourdivide@gmail.com.
The input form for 2021 starters is located in Google Docs.
You can also see who’s already signed up on the unofficial starters list for 2020.
The 2023 GPX file will be posted on TopoFusion.com a few weeks before the start.
In-Race Updates called “Rained Out” are used to update racers of any route changes/detours. Links will be emailed to you and also posted here (via text message or email for non-US phones).
A Bear Spray discount (15%) is usually arranged in the months leading up to the start. Keep a watch on the Facebook pages.
Salsa stem caps are usually available at the start in Banff. You can get yourself a free piece of pie when you get to Pie Town, NM.
SPOT TRACKING
Racers and those touring the Tour Divide are encouraged to carry a Spot tracker, though they are not mandatory. Due to the remoteness and sheer difficulty of the trail I personal believe you’d be crazy not to. Racers can sign up at Trackleaders.com one month before the race if they choose to.
SPOT HIRE
You can rent a Gen3 Spot from Trackleaders.com around one month before the start of the race (You’ll receive information to your email you used when signing up). Check Trackleaders or Bikepacking.net forums for information at that time.
SUPPORT THE ACA
The Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) has no ties to the race but they did build the route, have created amazing maps and their a great resource . It’s because of them we have this amazing route to race/ride. Please consider joining the ACA. Membership is only $45 and as a member you get all kinds of discounts and other perks, most noteworthy a discount on maps.
Being that I’m also a Triple Crown thru-hiker I’m used to quality planning tools. After finishing the Bikepacking Triple Crown I realized bikepacking didn’t have quality planning tools available. The Project’s Planning Aids and Resources are our answer to this.
After 100’s of hours of research, 1000’s of keystrokes, more emails and phone calls than I can recall the One of Seven Project’s Tour Divide Planning Aids are done. They’re the ultimate planning resources for the Tour Divide. They contain everything you need to plan and execute your ride/ride of the Tour Divide and most of the GDMBR. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in these then it’s probably in our Tour Divide Resources.
New for 2023 –
New for 2023 –
TOUR DIVIDE
$25.00 + tax, Purchase SOBO here.
Metric SOBO version only available as part of our Small or Big Bundles. See Below.
Metric NOBO version only available as part of our Small Bundle. See Below.
Example of Data Sheet
Example of Town List
DATA SHEET and TOWN LIST DIFFERENCES
The Data Sheet has the most info. It gives the distance, elevation +/-, average grade, maximum and minimum elevations, pavement sections, references ACA maps, bike shops, resupply options, and has key notes between two POI. Example: A and B, then B to C, and so on.
The Town List gives cumulative distances between POI. Example: A to B, A to C, A to D. The next section would be B to C, B to D, B to E, and so on. The Town List has distance, elevation +/-, resupply options, bike shops and key notes.
The Town List helps with not having to do the math to figure out how far away things are if they’re not the next POI.
New for 2023 – Due to low sales of this item by itself, I have decided to make it only available through the purchase of the Big Bundle.
Quickly find the total mileage between any two POI along the route.
New for 2023 – Due to low sales of this item by itself, I have decided to make it only available through the purchase of the Big Bundle.
Quickly find the total elevation gain between any two POI along the route.
***ALL versions of the Mileage and Elevation Gain Charts can ONLY be purchased as part of the Big Bundle***
One package including our two most popular planning aids:
One package with all our planning aids:
Formerly the Tour Divide Classic planning aid, the NEW GDMBR / ACA Route planning aid covers the entire ACA route from Jasper, AB to Antelope Wells, NM. This is not the Tour Divide route.
GDMBR planning aids have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids.
Formerly the Tour Divide Classic planning aid, the NEW GDMBR / ACA Route planning aid covers the entire ACA route from Antelope Wells, NM to Jasper, AB. This is not the Tour Divide route.
GDMBR planning aids have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids.
WEBSITES
MAPS / BOOKS / APPS
Everything you need to plan a bikepacking trip on the Tour Divide.
Your ultimate bikepacking guide to the Tour Divide.
A detailed look at what I used on the Tour Divide, what worked and what didn’t.
In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide again.
Cool threads and more!
Throwing out of bounds sucks!
Celebrate your thru-hiking class with the Class of ___ T-shirt!
It’s June. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race.
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