Colorado Recreation & Outdoors
Cycling / Mtn Biking
ROAD BIKING IN COLORADO BRIEF OVERVIEW:
If you tell anyone that you are going to Colorado, the assumption is that you are headed straight for the mountains. Usually, this is incorrect as the State is covered with vast plains and quite a lot of terrain for biking enthusiasts preferring flat riding. However, the Continental Divide prominantly placed across the skyline of the state including a multitude of 10,000+-foot peaks are most likely what's drawing you in. Why should you be different from anyone else? The Colorado Rockies are world renowned for their stunning beauty and rugged terrain, paved or otherwise. Besides, for the more adventurous among us, Colorado offers opportunities to tackle climbs of length and grade not often found elsewhere in the United States.

There are simply too many options facing the bicycling enthusiast in Colorado. It would take a lifetime in order to ride all the terrain available in the state. In order to give a brief view of this massive array of terrain we have chosen to break the fat knobby tire folks off into their own section and treat the road warriors to one as well.

Here are a few locations that might suit you;

Rocky Mountain National Park
On the Road
If you like to climb, check out Bear Lake Road-this 20-mile out-and-back ascends 1,500 feet in just eight miles. If that's not enough of a workout for you, challenge your quads on one of the many hiking trails that fork off the road.
Narrow, winding, and mostly uphill, Bear Lake Road takes you on a tour of the park's most picturesque scenery: The road passes through Moraine Park, flanked by mountains and glacial deposits, and it follows the cascade of Glacier Creek among aspen, fir, and lodgepole pine trees. The best views await you at Bear Lake, elevation 9,475 feet. Gaze upward over Technicolor-blue lakes to the Continental Divide, where Hallett Peak (12,713 feet) and Flattop Mountain (12,324 feet) rise among the giants. Many peaks still bear glaciers, kin to the carvers of the region's valleys and ridges.
Note: Since the road is narrow and the park is popular, get an early start or go late in the day to avoid the heaviest traffic.

Peak to Peak Highway
The Peak to Peak Highway, located in the Arapaho National Forest, runs 55 miles from just west of Boulder to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. The road affords panoramic views of the mountains and dramatic fall foliage colors, this highway glides through nature as well as historic former mining communities with preserved period architecture. The road's average elevation is greater than 9,000 feet and will give the sea-level athlete a taste of the challenges of altitude. The apparent high point of the ride is the town of Ward. Other landmarks include Nederland to the south and Estes Park to the north. These also constitute the lower points of the ride. This is one of those rides you can do both directions, you are facing steep hills either way. The other endpoint of the Peak to Peak Highway is close to Interstate 70 in Blackhawk. Remember that there is no bicycle traffic allowed on US6 west and therefore, Blackhawk

From Boulder, there are a couple ways to arrive. The savvy cyclist gives a thought to following the farmland north of town rather than the interstate like highway 36. Using mountain side roads in lieu of Route 36, although it does have a wide shoulder, will make your trip a bit more enjoyable. The mountain road directions are Lyons and then heading west over to Estes Parksome over tough hills.

From Estes Park turn south on Route 7 and begin the climb up to what makes the Peak to Peak what it is. If you want to cut your trip short, head back to Boulder via Lyons on Route 7 or drop down to Pleasant Valley and then climb up to Ward (a long 10+-mile hill). Onward to Nederland and then out of the hills back to Boulder. Remember that cycling on 6W is not allowed, so if you go as far as the end of the Peak to Peak (at Black Hawk), make sure you have a ride home.
There are plenty of ways to extend the scope of this route or to shorten it, or even to ignore it completely and try other scenic routes in the area. Make sure you get a good map and study the options. Knowing the elevations will help!

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN COLORADO OVERVIEW:
Colorado is world renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation. Biking in a State Park, National Park or National Monument is an excellent way to experience colorado. There are hundreds of paved and unpaved roads suitable for tour bikes. Jeep roads, trails and single tracks accommodate mountain bikes. Colorado bicycling provides access to some of the most spectacular scenery in the state.
Description - Challenge yourself by going up a jeep road. Feel the adrenaline rush as you speed down a single track dodging rocks and logs along the way.
Be prepared for cool evenings and hot days. Sunscreen is a must to protect you from the intense sun, particularly at high elevations. Also be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and accompanying lightning which are a regular occurrence in the mountains in July and August.
Carry lots of water as the climate is very dry. Be sure that someone knows where you are.
Be extremely courteous to hikers, horseback riders and other bikers. Yield to all foot and hoof traffic.
Attractions - Most of the state's mountain bike routes are located in its vast public lands managed by the US Forest Service. The San Juan in the South Western corner of the state offers excellent experiences in the rugged San Juan Mountains. The nearby Rio Grande also offers adventures in the San Juan Mountains as well as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The massive Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison has numerous trails in the San Juan and Elk Mountains as well as on the world's largest mesa. The Pike and San Isabel has opportunities in the Sangre de Cristo, Collegiate and southern Front Range mountains. The White River offers experiences in the spectacular Elk and Gore ranges as well as the Flat Tops region. The Arapaho and Roosevelt offers opportunities in the northern Front Range mountains. Finally, the Routt has trails in the northern part of the state.

Few states can boast the outdoor resources around the Denver metro area alone. Chatfield and Cherry Creek state parks have it all -- reservoirs for boating, sailing and fishing, horse rentals, sandy beaches, marinas and miles of hiking and bicycling trails as well as diverse ecosystems offering unique opportunities for resource education.
Mueller State Park offers visitors 12,000 acres of unspoiled open space -- observe elk and the majestic bighorn sheep in their natural surroundings as you explore 85 miles of trails. This area is popular for mountain biking.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Losing your breath at high elevations is a small price to pay for breathtaking scenery. On your next bike trip, explore the rarefied air of Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, where you can get high on the Rockies (of course), as well as 650 miles worth of the Continental Divide, and the highest continually paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road.
At least 60 mountains in the park exceed 12,000 feet-the football field-size summit of Longs Peak is the highest at 14,255 feet-and more than 100 square miles of the park rise above timberline. Once you stop to survey the glacier-carved scene of peaks and valleys, evergreens and wildflowers, you'll forget all about the burning in your legs and lungs.

Hit the Trail
This next 30-mile loop lets mountain bikers combine the dizzying height of Trail Ridge Road with the car-free joy of Old Fall River Road. From September to July, Old Fall River Road is closed to cars, but not to bikes-if the dirt and gravel are dry and clear of snow, you're good to go. An autumn ride adds the bonus of fall color. Old Fall River Road is a serious sustained climb at high elevation along a narrow, winding road. The montane and subalpine trees that border the route give way to Alpine tundra. You'll gain almost 3,600 feet over 11 miles before you hit Fall River Pass (11,796 feet). The last few miles before the turnaround point are great for spotting wildlife, such as elk, pikas (small, rabbity creatures), and marmots. On the ride back via the pavement of Trail Ridge Road, there's one last climb to make. Grind up to the route's high point (Gore Range, 12,183 feet), check your brakes and your helmet, then sit back and enjoy the ride.

We suggest: Be sure you're properly acclimated before tackling this ride.