Sage and Saddles in the Season of Gold
There’s something magical about fall in the Mountain West. The air turns crisp, the sunlight takes on a golden hue, and the landscape transforms into a patchwork of fiery colors. For bikepackers, this is one of the best times to hit the trails, and few routes capture the essence of autumn quite like the Sage and Saddles Bikepacking Route. Nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, this route offers a stunning blend of high-altitude vistas, rugged terrain, quaint mountain towns and, most notably, groves of quaking aspens that shimmer in their full golden glory. Created by Neil Beltchenko over at Bikepacking.com, The Sage and Saddles Bikepacking Route is just over 200 miles long with around 21,000 ft of climbing. Designed for intermediate to advanced riders, it combines mostly gravel and forest roads, and a few challenging climbs to create an unforgettable adventure. Head on over to https://bikepacking.com/routes/sage-and-saddles for all the need to know info.
For me fall is the crown jewel of the Sage and Saddles experience. From late September to mid-October, the aspen trees lining the route burst into vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and gold. The quaking leaves create a mesmerizing effect as they flutter in the breeze, casting dappled light on the trail below, and falling like golden rain whenever the breeze picks up. Riding through these groves feels like pedaling through a living painting, with every turn revealing a new masterpiece of color.
The cooler temperatures of fall also make for ideal riding conditions. Summer’s heat has faded, and the risk of afternoon thunderstorms diminishes, leaving behind clear skies and comfortable riding weather. Plus, things are less crowded than in peak summer months, giving you a sense of solitude and connection with nature.
This is the second time I’ve ridden this route in as many years and I’ve managed to time it just about perfect both times.
Although, both trips have gone just a bit less than perfect. In 2023 I lost a shoe in the soggiest black mud bog you can imagine. It took me around three hours of probing, sometimes nearly shoulder deep, through sucking black mud to find it. Finally I decided to go archeologist style, laying out a grid of willow branches to show where I’d already been. And of course, when I did finally retrieve it, the shoe was only about 2 inches deep. Everything was covered in black mud, including me, and I was a bit disheartened to say the least, but luckily I was able to find refuge, a shower and laundry at Cathedral Cabins. If you have the chance I highly recommend it, Brad and Annette are fantastic and will make sure you leave well rested and ready to take on the rest of your adventure. Wildlife is abundant on the route and I’ve seen several moose, a couple a little too close for comfort. And although I didn’t see it, I came within growling distance of a mountain lion. A bit disconcerting, but a few claps and yells and they were padding their way off into the forest, I probably surprised them more than they did me.
If you’re wondering about setup, both times I’ve taken my trusty Surly Ogre. This year however I had my new Mone` Bikes Bi-plane fork installed. I love this fork! It has completely transformed the ride, making it more nimble, lively and just plain fun. After several months now I still notice the difference, hands down one of the best bicycle related purchases I’ve ever made. Mini panniers on a Tumbleweed T-Rack, a soon to be released Humphrey XL handlebar bag up front, and a standard 1T framebag carried everything without the slightest complaint. It may be a bit heavier but I really enjoy the ease and convenience of the mini panniers along with the ability to strap a couple of thing on top of the rack. It’ll be my go to set-up for the foreseeable future.
Well that about sums things up. If you have a questions about the route, bags or bikepacking in general shoot me a comment or feel free to email me. In the mean time remember to take it easy, slow down, and don’t sweat the small stuff.
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