The Intermountain Connectors

The Intermountain Connectors link the Western Wildlands Route (WWR) and the Great Divide MTB Route (GDMBR).

Since the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) released the GDMBR in 1998 it has inspired thousands of bikepackers and the creation of the WWR itself. As soon as Bikepacking Roots (BPR) released the WWR in 2017 riders asked for links between the routes for loop trips. We created these connectors in collaboration with the ACA, and we're excited to share them with the bikepacking world.

The Connectors are non-technical riding that is mostly off-pavement, created with wide-tired mountain bikes rather than skinnier-tired gravel bikes in mind. The northern Connectors are relatively short links, while the southern Connectors are notably longer and can offer grand adventures in and of themselves. Several of these also allow for easy access to major public transit hubs in Salt Lake City, Denver, and Tucson.

This route route was developed in partnership with

and with support for the Chihuahuan Connector from

The waypoints included here are a small subset of the full waypoint dataset available with the route guidebook and in the route app.

Get the Route Resources

Guidebook and GPS waypoints from Bikepacking Roots

Smartphone App from the Adventure Cycling Association

Route Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

• What kind of bike should I ride? All these routes are designed with mountain bikes in mind. In this guide, we suggest a recommended tire size for each route. In general, we would not recommend riding gravel bikes on these routes.

• Can I ride the routes in either direction? Yes, most certainly so. The route guide is only written west-to-east for consistency.

• What’s the ideal times of year to ride these Intermountain Connectors? See specific sections for more details.

• How long will the routes take to ride? Plan on roughly 40-75 miles per day depending on your riding style and goals. See specific sections for more details.

• Is there much water out there? Yes, generally there’s enough. See the guidebook for more specifics.

• How far apart are resupplies and towns? Generally, resupply options are spaced 2 to 3 days apart depending on daily mileage.

• How do I follow the route? These routes are not marked on the ground in any way. We recommend that riders utilize the GPS data downloadable from the Bikepacking Roots website and a GPS such as the Garmin eTrex series. The GPS-enabled Bicycle Routes Navigator mobile app from Adventure Cycling Association also includes the Intermountain Connectors. If riders want to carry paper maps, the best option for a network of this size is to photocopy pages from the Utah state gazetteers from DeLorme or Benchmark.

• Is it easy to find places to camp? With long sections of these routes on public lands, dispersed/wild camping is often relatively easy to find, but some routes also include some lengthy sections of private lands. The GPS data and guidebook chapters for each route include more information about public land boundaries, campgrounds, and sections where dispersed camping may be tougher to find.

• What do you mean by “impassable mud”? Long stretches of these routes can become absolutely impassable when wet – a bike’s wheels will not spin once clogged with this clay-rich mud. We try to clearly highlight those sections in the route resources. Unimproved roads in this region are generally not negotiable during or immediately after wet weather. Pay close attention to weather forecasts and carry extra food in case waiting for a road to dry out becomes necessary.

• Will there be bears? Yes, most of these route traverse black bear country, and the northern Intermountain Connectors also traverse grizzly bear country. See the guidebook for more specifics.

• Do I need any special permits? No permits are needed for riding on these routes. An Arizona State Land Department Recreation Permit is required for camping on State lands in Arizona along the Chihuahuan Connector.

• Why didn’t you include x road/area in these routes? There are infinite possibilities for creating routes and adventures through any of these regions. Our route choices include a broad range of considerations after extensive scouting of different potential options and aims for the most enjoyable riding experience possible.

• Are you going to organize races on any of these routes? We are not, and we do not encourage any sort of racing on these routes.

Connector Descriptions

The Lolo Connector

Superior, MT to Seeley Lake, MT
143 miles and 13,000' elevation gain eastbound or 11,000' elevation gain westbound
2-3 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
4-5/10 physical difficulty and 3-4/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 75% natural surfaces and 98% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Salish, Ktunaxa, and Coeur d’Alene

Heading eastbound, the route climbs over the tall Ninemile Divide, drops into the Clark Fork Valley, and then climbs over the southern end of the scenic Rattlesnake Mountains before descending to the Clearwater River at Seeley Lake. Most of the riding is on forested gravel roads with sections of rougher 4x4 tracks, a bit of singletrack, and some overgrown old logging tracks in the more rugged terrain between Missoula and Seeley Lake.

Highlights include:

Cresting the Ninemile Divide, a full 4,000’ above the Clark Fork River
Visiting Adventure Cycling Association’s headquarters in Missoula
The rugged and wild traverse of the southern Rattlesnake Range (so long as one expects the miles to be slower and a overgrown at times)

The Bitterroot Connector

Darby, MT to Wise River, MT
128 miles and 8,800' elevation gain eastbound or 7,000' elevation gain westbound
2-3 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
5/10 physical difficulty and 4/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 40% natural surfaces and 100% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Salish and Shoshone Bannock

The Bitterroot Connector links the WWR at Darby, Montana to the GDMBR at Wise River, Montana by way of stunning Sapphire Mountains, Georgetown Lake, and the small mining town of Anaconda. The riding on this route is fast, following well-maintained gravel roads and quiet pavement.

Highlights include:

Riding through the scenic Sapphire Mountains
A stop at Georgetown Lake below the Anaconda Mountains

The Teton Connector

Blackfoot, ID to Flagg Ranch, WY
156 miles and 13,000' elevation gain eastbound or 12,000' elevation gain westbound
2-4 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
5/10 physical difficulty and 4-6/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 75% natural surfaces and 98% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Eastern Shoshone and Shoshone Bannock

The Teton Connector links the WWR east of Blackfoot, Idaho to the GDMBR at the western end of the Ashton-Flag Ranch Road. The route leaves the Snake River Plain via a mix of agricultural lands and shallow canyons, passes several hot springs, and climbs over the rugged Big Hole Mountains. Dropping into Teton Valley, the Teton Mountains loom impressively to the east above more farmland and the community of Driggs. At Driggs, the route turns north and mostly gravel roads and the Ashton-Tetonia Rail Trail to the GDMBR. Most of the riding on this route is on well-maintained dirt and gravel roads or quiet pavement, but the roads over the Big Hole Mountains are rough, loose, and steep by comparison.

Highlights Include:

Climbing away from the arid Snake River Plain and into the forested highlands to the east
A stop at Heise or Green Canyon Hot Springs
Views of the towering and craggy peaks of the Tetons
Quiet miles on the Ashton-Tetonia Rail Trail

The Pony Express Route

Salt Lake and Park City, UT to Atlantic City, WY
259 miles and 10,300' elevation gain eastbound or 8,800' elevation gain westbound
4-6 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
5/10 physical difficulty and 4-5/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 65% natural surfaces and 98% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Ute, Cheyanne, Eastern Shoshone and Crow

The Pony Express Bikepacking Route connects the GDMBR to the WWR through the northern edge of the high-altitude (7,300') Red Desert in southern Wyoming. Along the route, riders will pass through vast changes in scenery in a short period of time. The vast, seemingly endless uplift that is South Pass is sure to feed a perception of true isolation. Traveling over a mix of wide, well-graded roads and sandy, rocky desert two-track between Atlantic City and Henefer, Utah, riders will face limited water and resupply options, incredibly dark night skies, and vast views. From Atlantic City to just outside of Lyman, riders will find ample opportunities for dispersed camping on public lands. Between Fort Bridger and Coalville, camping and lodging options are limited. Evanston, Wyoming makes for great lodging and resupply options for riders looking for shorter days in the saddle.

This de facto connector is not included in guidebook. You can find it on the Pony Express Route Page.

Highlights Include:

Church Butte and the northern boundary of the high-elevation red desert sagebrush steppe in Wyoming
Piedmont kilns and ghost town in Wyoming
Pristine gravel through the foothills of the Uintah Mountains
Awe-inspiring views of the Wind River Range
Union Pacific Rail Trail around Echo Reservoir
Expansive views of the west desert from atop Big mountain Summit

The Trans Rockies Connector

Salt Lake City, UT to Denver, CO
947 miles and 77,000' elevation gain eastbound or 76,100' elevation gain westbound
14-22 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season

The Trans Rockies Connector links the WWR from high on Utah’s Wasatch Plateau to the GDMBR 550 miles to the east at Salida, Colorado via the iconic mountain bike destinations of Moab and Crested Butte. This route is a stunning and diverse one with Colorado Plateau badlands and slickrock landscapes, desert mountains, redrock canyons, and the inspiring peaks of the majestic Rocky Mountains. This link also extends west to Salt Lake City and east to Denver, creating a 950-mile-long route stretching from the Great Basin to the Great Plains with convenient access to public transportation options on either end. The riding on this route is a mix of smooth gravel, rougher 4x4 tracks, short sections of singletrack, quiet pavement, and urban recreation paths. This route is a bit rougher, more remote, and more physically demanding than average miles on the GDMBR and WWR, and long sections of the route can become absolutely impassable when wet and quite hot during mid-summer months.

We've divided it into three segments, detailed below:

Trans Rockies Segment 1 Details:

Salt Lake City, UT to the Wasatch Plateau, UT
237 miles and 23,900' elevation gain eastbound or 17,600' elevation gain westbound
4-6 days recommended ride time
6/10 physical difficulty and 5/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 60% natural surfaces and 98% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, Eastern Shoshone, Great Sioux Nation, Arapahoe, and Cheyenne

Trans Rockies Segment 1 Highlights:

Climbing out of the Great Basin and over the Wasatch Range
Reaching treeline in mountains high above Strawberry Reservoir
Skyline Drive, the rugged dirt road that takes riders to nearly 11,000 feet and follows the scenic crest of the Wasatch Plateau for 40+ miles

Trans-Rockies Segment 2 Details:

Wasatch Plateau, UT to Salida, CO
547 miles and 40,000' elevation gain eastbound or 43,500' elevation gain westbound
7-12 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
6/10 physical difficulty and 5/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 70% natural surfaces and 98% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, Eastern Shoshone, Great Sioux Nation, Arapahoe, and Cheyenne

Trans-Rockies Segment 2 Highlights:

The long descent off (or climb onto) the forested and subalpine Wasatch Plateau
Views into the otherworldly San Rafael Swell landscape
Crossing the Green and Colorado Rivers - main arteries of the Colorado Plateau
The cool island peaks of the La Sal Mountains
Riding among the colorful summits of the Elk Mountains and the jagged peaks of the Wasatch Range
The numerous small communities along the route and each one’s unique atmosphere

Trans-Rockies Segment 3 Details:

Salida, CO to Denver, CO
163 miles and 13,100' elevation gain eastbound or 15,000' westbound
3-4 days recommended ride time
Summer to early fall riding season
Approximately 60% natural surfaces and 99% rideable
6/10 physical difficulty and 5/10 technical difficulty
On the traditional lands of the Ute, Goshute, Eastern Shoshone, Great Sioux Nation, Arapahoe, and Cheyenne

Trans-Rockies Segment 3 Highlights:

The high-elevation riding across the southern edge of South Park
Riding past the granite domes and peaks of the Tarryall Mountains and
Meandering along the South Platte River
Descending out of the Rocky Mountains and onto the edge of the Great Plains just south of Denver

The Mogollon Connector

Forest Lakes and Young, AZ to Truth or Consequences, NM
356 miles (277 from WWR-GDMBR) miles and 22,500' (19,200' WWR-GDMBR) elevation gain eastbound or 25,800' (22,000 WWR-GDMBR) westbound
5-7 (4-6 WWR-GDMBR) days recommended ride time
Late spring to fall riding season
6/10 physical difficulty and 5-6/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 60% natural surfaces (70% WWR-GDMBR) and 99% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Western Apache, White Mountain Apache, Chiricahua Apache, Hohokam, Zuni, and Hopi

The Mogollon Connector links the WWR near Forest Lakes and Young, Arizona to the GDMBR at the Beaverhead Work Center, New Mexico with an eastward extension to Truth or Consequences. This route traverses rugged, remote, dry, and stunning Arizona high country from the Mogollon Rim, through the Springerville Volcanic Field, past the White Mountains, and along the Blue River. Into New Mexico, the riding becomes rockier in the volcanic landscape between the community of Reserve and Beaverhead, but then to the east, quiet paved roads continue on to Truth or Consequences. Resupply options and water sources are widely but regularly spaced along this route, and the riding tends to be slower, rougher, and more demanding than on most of the WWR and GDMBR. Nearly the entirety of this route is absolutely impassable when wet. The western 277 miles of this route serve as a connector between the WWR and GDMBR, and the eastward extension to Truth or Consequences is an additional 79 miles in length.

Highlights Include:

Miles and miles of ponderosa pine forest riding with big views off the Mogollon Rim
Riding among the meadows and lakes below the White Mountains
Pedaling along the Blue River in its deep canyon along the Arizona-New Mexico border
The remote riding through easternmost Arizona and western New Mexico with the small communities along the way

The Chihuahuan Connector

Tombstone, AZ to Hachita, New Mexico
283 miles (154 WWR - GDMBR) and 13,800' (7,500 WWR-GDMBR) elevation gain eastbound or 11,800' (7,400 WWR-GDMBR) westbound
4-6 (2-4 WWR-GDMBR) days recommended ride time
Spring to early summer or fall riding season
4-5/10 physical difficulty and 4/10 technical difficulty
Approximately 55% natural surfaces (45% WWR-GDMBR) and 100% rideable
On the traditional lands of the Hohokam, Tohono O'odham, O'odham Jeweḍ, Chiricahua Apache, and Sobaipuri.

The Chihuahuan Desert Connector links the WWR at Tombstone, Arizona to the GDMBR at Hachita, New Mexico, 154 miles to the east. The high desert riding is a mix of broad valleys, tall mountains, grasslands, and forests. This connector also includes a 130-mile-long western extension to Tucson that follows the WWR, providing GDMBR riders access to the city’s public transportation options. East of Tombstone, the route climbs past the ramparts of the Dragoon Mountains and Cochise Stronghold, crosses the sprawling Sulfur Springs Valley, and ascends into the Chiricahua Mountains. The stone pillars and Arizona cypress forests of Chiricahua National Monument are worth a stop along the way, and the flowing waters on the opposite side of the range near Portal are a desert oasis. To the east, the route is entirely paved to Animas and then Hachita, following a low-traffic road across the San Simon, Animas, Playas, and Hachita Valleys. Riding on this route tends to be fast on well-maintained dirt and gravel roads and pavement with just a few short rougher sections.

Highlights Include:

The rolling grasslands around Reddington Pass above Tucson
Riding through the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area south of Benson
Looking up into Cochise Stronghold while climbing into the Dragoon Mountains
The Arizona cypress forests and hoodoo rock formations in Chiricahua National Monument
Cave Creek and the canyon at Portal on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains - an idyllic oasis

This route was created by Kurt Refsnider with contributions by Nat Cobb. Craig Swetel has created another route from the WWR to GDMBR, which offer even more scenic options. You can find it, and other great Arizona gravel routes at azgravelrides.com

This section was made possible with generous support from our friends at Campfire Cycling

They believe that connecting with the great outdoors is essential to our humanity.
They're cyclists who love the outdoors and are building a business to support others to do the same.