On Thursday, endurance mountain biker and Bikepacking Roots co-founder Kurt Refsnider announced his plans to become the first to bikepack the entire Orogenesis Trail, stretching from Canada to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
“Pedaling the length of this monster is my big goal for the year,” Refsnider wrote on Instagram. “I say that with a healthy mix of excitement and nervousness.”
According to the post, Refsnider — who is the only rider to have won all three Triple Crown bikepacking races — plans to depart in August, and he expects the 5,000-mile+ ride to take about five months to complete.
His route will include the first officially released segment of Orogenesis — the 200-mile Loowit Tier through Washington — which traverses Mount Saint Helens and the rugged Gifford Pinchot National Forest. That section alone promises 32,000 feet of climbing and some of the most challenging bikepacking terrain in the Pacific Northwest.
“I think what I’m most excited about is that I’ve only ridden maybe 150 miles of the entire 5,000+ mile route, and much of the terrain is also entirely new-to-me,” Refsnider told Singletracks over email. In fact, we were surprised to learn that this will be his first time riding in Washington.
“The relief in Washington looks daunting — so many 4,000- and 5,000-foot climbs and plenty of tough, old trails,” he said. In Oregon, Refsnider expects the route to be a bit easier since the Timber Trail segment is already vetted and established. By the time he finally reaches Baja, Refsnider plans to be in “touring mode” since the route through the peninsula features very little singletrack.
The Orogenesis trail
The Orogenesis Trail has been years in the making. When complete, the bikepacking route will connect the Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route, the Oregon Timber Trail, and the Baja Divide into one continuous 5,000-mile spine of singletrack, gravel roads, and backcountry riding. Promoters claim it will be the longest mountain bike trail in the world.
While the entire Orogenesis Trail route hasn’t been officially published yet, many of the route’s segments are stitched together from existing trails, legacy routes, and freshly restored singletrack. Gaps remain — roughly 200 miles in total — and some sections will require new trail construction in the years to come. For now, riders like Refsnider will have to navigate a mix of purpose-built segments and temporary detours.
The trail concept was originally envisioned nearly a decade ago by Gabriel Amadeus Tiller, who also led development of the Oregon Timber Trail. With support from volunteers and local trail organizations, Tiller and the Orogenesis Collective have been gradually assembling the route, which became its own nonprofit in 2024 after being incubated by Bikepacking Roots.
“This first ride down the longest MTB trail in the world will certainly be an adventure,” Refsnider said. “And for that I’m honored.”
If all goes to plan, Refsnider will roll into Cabo San Lucas by mid-December this year. Along the way, he’ll be sharing updates on social media, offering a firsthand look at a trail that could one day become the bikepacking equivalent of the Pacific Crest Trail.
“I’m hoping the unknown miles through Washington and California are less demanding than the Continental Divide Trail (the trail, not the Great Divide MTB Route),” he said. “But I’m trying to avoid being too blindly optimistic since I don’t want to sandbag myself.”
To follow Kurt’s journey, keep an eye on his social media and updates from the Orogenesis Collective.
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