Chiricahua Gravel
Discover the undiscovered
Discover the undiscovered.
A new mixed terrain itinerary is coming in 2025: This Arizona/New Mexico trip features gravel and pavement riding around the spectacular Chiricahua Mountains, the largest Sky Island mountain ranges. After searching far and wide for a unique gravel destination, we discovered this magical place with an incredibly diverse ecosystem and fascinating geology. The Chiricahua mountains are home to the only recent sighing of a Jaguar in the United States. If you love gravel, this trip is for you!
We will be based at a private resort in Rodeo, New Mexico, but ride mainly in Arizona. The itinerary is gravel-focused but includes a few quiet paved roads—notably an epic paved climb surrounded by the spectacular rocky spires of Chiricahua National Monument.
The routes extend to the Mexico border and reach almost 8,000 feet. We will enjoy a pristine setting off the bike at the Painted Pony Resort. In typical Cycling House fashion, we will have chef-prepared meals and unparalleled ride support.
Highlights
- Four days of supported, guided rides along the area’s best paved and gravel cycling routes
- Airport hotel pickups in Tucson (TUS)
- The all-inclusive trip covers accommodations, ride support, meals, and bike mechanics.
- Healthy, delicious, home-cooked meals
- A relaxed environment in laid-back, comfortable accommodations
- Multi-sport elements (optional): trail runs, hikes, swimming, yoga, core work, and nature walks
- Skills discussions to learn—or reinforce—group riding, nutrition, bike handling, cornering, and descending
Food
Using locally sourced ingredients, we create clean and delicious meals to fuel your week of riding. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included. Each meal is inventive and diverse—often inspired by our chefs’ global travels—and focuses on lean proteins, leafy greens, and root vegetables. We focus on food specifically for endurance athletes and accommodate all dietary preferences and restrictions.
Accommodations
The Painted Pony Resort in Rodeo, New Mexico, offers the opportunity to relax and recover in a spacious, private setting. Enjoy yoga on the patio, share stories during a hot tub soak, or finish a ride by jumping in the 20×40-foot swimming pool. This comfortable environment lends itself perfectly to nightly skills discussions over appetizers. Need a quick bike fix? Our garage’s workbench and collection of tools rival most bike shops. Our home has ten bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms. Limited en-suite bathrooms; most bathrooms are shared between two bedrooms.
We can also accommodate campers, as this location has full hookups. Inquire about special pricing for campers.
Single room: +$700 *limited availability*
ITINERARIES
Arizona Chiricahua Gravel - 4 Nights
Welcome to the Chiricahua Mountains - Arrival Day
Guests will arrive in Tucson, and our staff will do Tucson Airport (TUS) and hotel pickups. We encourage guests to come early.
You can arrive in Tucson on the arrival day; we ask that you arrive by 11 AM.
Please email us your arrival/departure plans, including flight numbers.
Once everyone has arrived, we will depart by van for the Chiricahua Mountains. Since the shuttle is longer (two and a half hours), we will stop for a bathroom break midway. Once we arrive, we will get everyone settled in at the Painted Pony Resort and have lunch. After lunch, we will fit guests on rental bikes and build bikes. We will do an afternoon arrival day spin and introduce everyone to the region.
Today’s Ride: Arrival Spin
20-30 miles & 1,000 – 2,000′
Surfaces: Gravel & Pavement
Paradise Loop
Today, we ride directly from the Painted Pony Resort toward Portal, Arizona. Our route takes us into the foothills and, ultimately, a gradual climb to Paradise, Arizona, a small ghost town.
After Paradise, we ride around Silver Peak before heading deep into the Chiricahua mountains. Here, you realize why it’s called Portal as you pedal into what many call “baby Yosemite.” The canyon narrows, and here the magic begins as the granite peaks surround you, and the tree canopy transports you into one of Arizona’s most beautiful places to ride. Guests can choose their desired distance with an option to gain altitude and perspective. If you are feeling content, you can dive right into the Chef prepared lunch and take in the scenery.
Anyone looking to do a longer hike will have the opportunity, and we will have a van that heads home directly after lunch. Do you prefer to pedal? No worries, it’s just over 10 miles home.
Today’s Ride: Paradise Loop
35-45 miles & 2,500′ – 3,300′
Surfaces: Gravel & Pavement
Leslie Canyon
Pack your overnight bag; we will be staying overnight at the Historic Gadsen Hotel in Douglas, Arizona.
We will start the morning with a 25-minute shuttle toward the Mexico border. Our ride will take us to the southern edge of the Chiricahua Mountains. We will gradually climb for 13 miles before topping out near Limestone Mountain. At the summit, you will enjoy views of the surrounding mountains to the North and Mexico to the South.
Over the next 40 miles, we will lose 2,500 feet and ride through Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge. At the summit, we will have a picnic lunch, and guests can continue by bike or shuttle. The final 10 miles are pavement, and we head directly south towards the Mexico border. The ride finishes in Douglas, Arizona, on the border, at the Gadsen Hotel.
We will have time to relax and explore Douglas before we enjoy a fun dinner at the Gadsen.
Today’s Ride: Leslie Canyon
40 – 50 miles & 2,500′
Surfaces: Gravel & Pavement
*Overnight at the Gadsen Hotel*
Geronimo Trail
We start the morning with breakfast and coffee at the Gadsen. Guests can pedal from the Gadsen or take the shuttle to Slaughter Ranch; John Slaughter was a famous lawman during the early 1900s. The first 20 miles follow the United States-Mexico border.
Guests looking for fewer miles will shuttle to the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge. From here, the route gradually climbs towards Outlaw Mountain and the Whitmire Canyon Wilderness Study Area. The route is remote and beautiful, and it is the perfect way to finish an epic week of gravel riding in Southern Arizona/New Mexico. The ride will finish with a picnic lunch before we shuttle back to Painted Pony Ranch for fiesta night.
Today’s Ride: Geronimo Trail
40 – 50 miles & 2,500 – 3,400′
Surfaces: Gravel & Pavement
Adiós - Departure Day
We will have two shuttles to Tucson. One will leave at 6-7 a.m., and the second will leave around 8-9 a.m. It’s a 2.5-hour shuttle to the Tucson airport.
Please get in touch with us if you have questions about departure or arrival. Once you have your travel plans, please email them to us.
Today’s Plan: Departure Day
Checkout by 10 a.m.
DATES & PRICES
- 2025
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Mar 19 - 23 Gravel - 5 Day$2,945 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
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Mar 26 - 30 Gravel - 5 Day$2,945 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
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Apr 2 - 6 Gravel - 5 Day$2,945 / Person Almost Full!
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Apr 9 - 13 Gravel - 5 Day$2,945 / Person Limited Spots Available
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Apr 16 - 20 Gravel - 5 Day$2,945 / Person Limited Spots Available
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Apr 22 - 26 Gravel - 5 Day (Peak Coaching / Beaker)$2,945 / Person Fully Booked - Join Waitlist
DETAILS
What's Included
- 4 nights/5 days accommodations at Painted Pony Resort
- Airport transfers to/from Tucson International Airport (TUS)
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Bike build and breakdown
- Professional cycling guides
- Vehicle sag support
- Ride nutrition products
- Tools available to use in the garage
- High-quality ride photos
- Stocked bathrooms with Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash
- Yoga Mats, Foam Rollers, Massage Guns, Normatec Compression Boots
- Self-serve laundry and detergent
What's Not Included
- Single room: +$700 *limited availability*
- Bike rentals: +$300
- Airfare
- Gratuity for guides
- Mid-ride café stops
- Personal shopping
Optional Activities
- Trail runs or hikes
- Core/stretching sessions
- Basic bike maintenance clinic
- Hiking
Questions?
BIKE OPTIONS
Rent A Bike
Traveling through the airport with a bike—and paying for it to fly—is not everyone’s idea of a fun way to start a vacation. Fortunately, we offer high-quality, full carbon bikes on all of our trips across the United States and Europe. Want to just show up and ride? Just bring your shoes, pedals, helmet, and saddle (if you want), and rent one of ours.
Bring Your Own
Your bike is yours—we get it. Bringing your own bike has obvious advantages in terms of individual comfort. Before your trip, we suggest getting a tune-up at your local bike shop so it’s ready to roll for your week of riding. Once you arrive, we’ll be sure to have our mechanics build it and help with any necessary tweaks. Check out some helpful resources here:
Skip The Bike
If you or your travel partner want to enjoy the trip and explore a new destination without a bike, drop us a line and we’ll discuss options. Some trips are better suited for non-rider participants than others.
