RALLY ON THE RIFT
GREAT RIFT DIRT TOUR GRAND DEPART AND COMMUNITY FUN RIDE & CAMPOUT!
A remote, Idaho bikepacking journey and community ride through the
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
REGISTER
These are the traditional and ancestral lands home to the Northern Shoshone, Western Shoshone, Bannock, Northern Paiute, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and many other indigenous peoples.
“The area now known as Craters of the Moon is important to the Shoshone-Bannock because it represents both a place of sacred power and an ancestral ground crossed during seasonal migrations. The lava rock was heated in our sweat lodges and it was the rock that sent our prayers up to the Creator. In the landscape of the lava flows, harmony was found.”
~ Laverne Broncho, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal MembeR ~
ABOUT RALLY ON THE RIFT
SELF EXPLORATION & CAMARADERIE
Combine the solitude of human-powered and self-supported exploration through Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho with the camaraderie of an incredible bikepacking community!
Discover and expand your awareness of the ecological and biological magic of the Idaho Sagebrush Steppe across the Snake River Plain and Columbia Plateau!
Enjoy the ride, soak in your surroundings (and maybe even a warm spring!), sleep under the stars, leave no trace, and finish in 5 days
You’re invited on this Idaho bikepacking adventure ride through Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve to celebrate the Great Rift Dirt Tour becoming a Bikepacking Roots Community Route!
Everyone is welcome! However, the remoteness of the region and long stretches without water, make this an advanced route.
Self-supported riding and navigation skills are necessary to complete the full loop.
This ride is intended to introduce folks like you to a region that hasn’t seen many bikepackers. While the route is challenging, bringing folks together can make it more fun and enjoyable knowing others are out there overcoming the same things you are!
Many rides and events often end with a lackluster finish – with no one to congratulate, greet, welcome, and high-five you at the end.
Out in the Great Rift Backcountry, you’re likely to spend a lot of time in solitude. How great would it be to enjoy the company of others and share in the stories of the past 5 days at the finish? This is the goal!
Solitude is expected in this wild place. At times we’ll spread a part and other times some may randomly link up riding the same pace. If you find yourself in the company of others, enjoy it.
EVENT SCHEDULE
MONDAY, JUNE 8
6:00 PM ~ CAMP
Roll in when you can. No hard time. Dial in your bike. Set up camp. Make dinner. Visit.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
7:30 AM ~ PRE-RIDE CHAT
We’ll have a brief pre-ride chat. I’ll go over some reminders and information on the route, and answer any last minute questions
8:00 AM ~ GRAND DEPART ROLL OUT!
We’ll head down the slow & bumpy doubletrack.
JUNE 9 – 13 ~ RIDE!
Ride at your own speed. This is not a group ride or a race, but you might find yourself riding at the same pace as others. Enjoy the company. Embrace the solitude.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
AFTERNOON ~ FINISH & CAMP
Maybe I’ll be there, maybe you’ll beat me. We’ll hang out at the finish as folks roll in, high-five, & crack some cold beverages.
Everyone is encouraged to camp one final night.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
COMMUNITY FUN RIDE
All are welcome to join this chill group ride from Kings Bowl around 9 or 10 AM.
SIGN UP!
DATE DISCLAIMER
Dates and times are subject to weather conditions and may change at any time leading up to the scheduled ride date.
FUN RIDE & CAMPOUT
Would you like to participate without the commitment of a 5-day epic ride? This option is for you!
Welcome in riders, hang out with good people, share in the vibes, sleep under the stars and ride bikes! What’s more to like?
On Saturday, welcome in the riders after they have spent 5 days bikepacking the wild landscape of the Great Rift and Craters of the Moon! Then hang out and listen to the stories from the trail with good food and cold beverages.
Camping is optional, but it’s a long trip home for most, so feel free to stay and pitch a tent with us!
On Sunday, we’ll leave from Kings Bowl around 9 or 10 AM for a chill, unloaded group ride. Bring water, snacks, & repair kit.
The route will be the Kings Bowl Loop or something similar with very little elevation gain, but 100% unpaved and rough terrain consisting of 4×4 roads and trails. Offshoot exploration is encouraged! Lots of cool stuff to explore around here.
After the ride, head home at your leisure, or stay and camp another night on your own.
QUESTIONS?
Check out the FAQ section below.
EXPLORE THE GREAT RIFT DIRT TOUR
WHAT IS THE GREAT RIFT DIRT TOUR?
Connecting rugged doubletrack and 4×4 roads, the Great Rift Dirt Tour is a backcountry 285-mile ride through Craters of the Moon Monument and Preserve, likely some of the last remote and least developed country still accessible by bicycle.
Riders can prepare to be immersed in the expansive, Idaho High Desert of the Snake River Plain as they skirt expansive lava flows, meander along the foothills of the Pioneer Mountains, and travel through the vast Sagebrush Steppe on the Columbia Plateau.
Camp inside an expired volcano, ride along old wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail, take in the night sky under a bright full moon or dark starry night, enjoy the vibrant colors of blooming sagebrush, wildflowers and lush wild grasses, and watch a migrating herd of pronghorn in the distance while meandering the narrow doubletrack in wide-open space!
SURFACE DETAILS & KEY
86% UNPAVED (245 miles) | 14% PAVED (39.5 miles)
Please keep in mind that this surface key is approximate and never a guarantee. Surfaces are subject to change based on environmental, maintenance, use, and many other uncontrollable factors.
Combine the solitude of bikepacking with the camaraderie of an incredible community!
Camping
Most of the Craters of the Moon Preserve is open to dispersed camping, although not everywhere is suitable. There are a few good options for camping listed below, and are also mentioned in more detail on the route.
Always camp responsibly and practice Leave No Trace land ethics.
PRE & POST-RIDE CAMP
Car camping before & after the ride will be at Kings Bowl / Ice Caves Trailhead, unless otherwise stated.
The circular space offers about 10 parking spots. Tent camping, campers, vans, etc. are all suitable here. There are no amenities or restrooms.
Rally on the Rift is a free event. Route development and event planning on the Great Rift Dirt Tour route is a labor of love. To help continue these projects and make bikepacking more accessible, you can make donations to the Great Rift Dirt Tour Project (direct donation to Aaron Couch) and Bikepacking Roots (Tax Deductible, supporting all bikepacking route development, stewardship and community)
NEED MORE BIKEPACKING INSPIRATION?
Check out the Great Rift Dirt Tour photo gallery.
WELCOME TO THE IDAHO BIKEPACKING COMMUNITY!
QUESTIONS & RESOURCES
The Great Rift Dirt Tour Route Guide on Bikepacking Roots is an in-depth and detail source containing all the information you’ll need for a successful trip, including a detailed overview, route statistics and surface details, and planning logistics with sections focusing on Weather, Water, Food and Resupply, Desert Safety, Highway Riding Tips, Gear Recommendations, Wildlife Safety and Food Storage, and Camping.
After signing up, you will receive a Welcome Document chock-full of resources, need-to-know information, recommended gear list, and other helpful tips for a successful ride!