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3 choices: 100-mile loop, 84-mile loop, 50-mile one-way
- For 2008, gather at Centennial Shopping Center, 305 S. Camino Del Rio, Durango (K-Bob’s). Sunday morning; start time is 7:00AM sharp.
- Ride southeast on Camino Del Rio 2 miles to River Road (at Home Depot), cross the new bridge, and ride south on CR213 along the Animas River. Six miles of this road were just paved, making this rideable for the first time ever (about 2.5 miles remain improved magnesium-chloride road, but riding is good). The road intersects Hwy550 at Bondad.
- Turn south on Hwy 550.
- At Cedar Hill NM, turn right on Ruins Road (south, parallel to Hwy 550, following the Animas River) to Aztec, then get back onto Hwy 516 south. The first rest stop is at the turn onto Ruins Road, about 25 miles into the ride.
- (An alternative 84-mile loop turns west at Aztec on Hwy 574 to La Plata Hwy, then north where it joins the 100-mile tour.)
- At Aztec, continue south on the Hwy 516 to Pinon Hills Road (at the north end of Farmington immediately past Ziem's Ford).
- Ride west on Pinon Hills to La Plata Hwy (Hwy 170 and 140) and turn north. The end of the 50-mile one-way is at the Farmington Sport Complex at the intersection of Pinon Hills Road and La Plata Hwy. This is also the second rest stop.
- The third rest stop is at the town of La Plata in the old Red Schoolhouse; this is at about 64 miles into the ride. This is also where the 84-mile loop joins back up with the 100-mile loop.
- Ride north across State Line through Red Mesa to County Road 100 to Marvel and turn right. Proceed to Marvel, then turn left (north) and continue until you are back on the La Plata Hwy. The fourth rest stop is in Marvel (80-miles into ride), a lovely community with a modest population of ~24, most of whom will be at the rest stop helping you fill your water-bottles and peal your bananas!
- Ride north to Breen, then turn east down Wildcat Canyon until it ends at Hwy 160 and turn east toward Durango.
- Continue east to finish at Centennial Shopping Center and have some lunch.
- Total distance and cumulative vertical gain are 100 miles and 4091'.
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