Bikepacking: a niche within a niche that combines the masochistic joy of backpacking with the mechanical intimacy of long-distance cycling. It’s a sport, yes. A lifestyle, maybe. But more than that, it’s a philosophy—two wheels, all your gear strapped to the bike, and no RV hookups. And this spring, a new Hudson Valley outfit is making it easier than ever to get dusty, get lost (on purpose), and find something in the woods that doesn’t come with a Wi-Fi password.
Enter Lichen Bike Tours, a freshly launched bikepacking company led by guide and gravel whisperer Tyler Burton. If you’ve never heard of bikepacking, you’re not alone. Even among cyclists, it’s still the equivalent of ordering off the secret menu—a choose-your-own-adventure sport where you strap everything you need to your bike, point yourself toward the Catskills (or the Taconics, or the Gunks), and see what happens.
Burton started Lichen Bike Tours this year with the modest goal of taking small groups deep into the backcountry on two wheels. “In 2025, with the Empire State Trail and the Hudson River Valley Greenways well established,” Burton says, “it’s easier than ever to ride a bicycle for multiple days to or from one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country.” Translation: You don’t need a car, or a carbon-fiber frame, or REI points to burn. You just need a bike, some gear, and a willingness to sweat.
Burton knows something about that. His origin story begins in the Pennsylvania woods, where Boy Scout troop camping trips laid the groundwork for a lifelong relationship with trails and tents. Later, locked down in a New York City apartment in 2020, he threw his panniers on a green Kona Rove and headed north for a solo ride to Lake Welch campground in Harriman State Park. “It wasn’t ultralight, it wasn’t optimized,” he admits. “But it was fun.” That seed eventually grew into a NYS DEC Guide License, winter peak-bagging in the Catskills, wilderness first aid certification, and now, Lichen Bike Tours.
The name isn’t accidental. Lichens—those symbiotic organisms that cling to rocks and bark—thrive slowly, quietly, where other life falters. They are nature’s minimalists. “LBT exists to bring people together on bicycles, and to bring folks closer to nature,” Burton says. “Any event that we organize is a reason to disengage from our screens, and to connect with the people and world around us.” That spirit animates every element of the LBT experience.
The first ride of the season, happening May 30 to June 1, is a three-day pedal from Hudson to New York City, with overnights at campgrounds that—luxury alert—have toilets and running water. The route follows a safe, scenic, mostly off-road path, including stretches of the Empire State Trail and the Westchester RiverWalk. Riders will carry their own gear (shelter, sleeping bags, cookware), but the hard part—route planning, camp reservations, weather monitoring—is handled by Burton, leaving participants free to focus on the glory of the open trail and the camaraderie of the group.
If that still sounds daunting, Lichen is also offering a Bikepacking for Beginners workshop at Columbia-Greene Community College May 20, 22, 24. Think of it as base camp for the bike-curious: an introduction to gear, packing techniques, safety, and Leave No Trace ethics, led by someone who’s made all the rookie mistakes so you don’t have to. (Like, say, hauling a heavy U-lock into the woods.)
The main season’s offerings will be centered on multi-day gravel rides into the Catskills and Taconics, with a maximum of 12 participants per trip. The focus? “Leave No Trace wilderness camping,” Burton says. “We explore backroads, mountain passes, swimming holes, and lean-to campsites. On these adventures, you have the opportunity to really connect with nature and with your fellow riders.” The group dynamic matters, he emphasizes. These are challenging rides. There will be moments of doubt, of hill-induced despair. That’s part of the package. “What you get with a guided tour is the freedom to focus on the ride… without worrying about logistics.”
There’s an ethos here that feels very Hudson Valley 2.0: sustainability without sanctimony, ruggedness with heart, and a deep belief that the best way to explore this region isn’t through a car window or drone footage, but on a bike, sweating up a gravel climb to earn a mountaintop view and a second helping of freeze-dried lentils.
Bikepacking, like lichen, is slow to grow. But with Burton at the helm, Lichen Bike Tours is poised to turn the Hudson Valley into a two-wheeled wilderness wonderland—one fire road, one campsite, one rattling pannier at a time.
This article appears in May 2025.
