Mountain - Plains - Best Route from Denver to Boulder?

Do any of you have a good, fairly direct route from central Denver to Boulder? I'm making a map for a GIS class and I may actually be doing the ride a few times this summer to see friends up there. I can link a bunch of trails together to form a route, but it's a pretty circuitous, indirect way of getting there and I'm looking more for transportation by bike than fun leisure rides. Anyway, I'd appreciate any suggestions you have.

Do any of you have a good, fairly direct route from central Denver to Boulder? I'm making a map for a GIS class and I may actually be doing the ride a few times this summer to see friends up there. I can link a bunch of trails together to form a route, but it's a pretty circuitous, indirect way of getting there and I'm looking more for transportation by bike than fun leisure rides. Anyway, I'd appreciate any suggestions you have.

It is my understanding there is no good route from D to B.

There is an advocacy group pushing for a bike path.

masoner.net used to have a fair amount of information. However the site seems down.

Do any of you have a good, fairly direct route from central Denver to Boulder? I'm making a map for a GIS class and I may actually be doing the ride a few times this summer to see friends up there. I can link a bunch of trails together to form a route, but it's a pretty circuitous, indirect way of getting there and I'm looking more for transportation by bike than fun leisure rides. Anyway, I'd appreciate any suggestions you have.

The most direct route would be to head out of Boulder in So. Boulder Rd to Louisville. Go south out of Louisville to Flat Irons Crossing and then through Interlocken up to 128. East on 128 to Wadsworth and then south on Wadsworth to 88th Ave. All of this is going to be on roads but all of the roads have good shoulders. Taffic is kind of high on Wadsworth but it has a wide shoulder.

At 88th is where stuff gets confusing (I'd provide a RouteSlip map but I can't log on right now). Turn east on 88th and go past the Performance and the strip mall that it's in. At the end of the strip mall is a road (Webster Dr, I think) turn right and then take the first left on Chase Dr. Follow Chase Drive around to Lamar Dr. and turn right. Follow Lamar to Pamona Dr and you should see Lake Arbor right in front of you. Take Pamona Dr until you are almost at the east end of the lake and then take the bike path south. This should put you on 80th Ave right across from Harlan (crossing 80th is a little tricky). About 2 blocks south is Dry Creek. Not the best trail but it will get the job done. Take Dry Creek east/southeast. You should cross under Sheridan in about a mile to 1 1/2 miles but just stay on the trail. You'll be on this for quite a while and it's not the best maintained trail (watch for glass:eek:)

You'll go through an industrial area, cross under Federal and then when you see some baseball fields off to your left, you know you are nearing the end of the trail - which is 64th Ave. There's a trail that runs along 64th to the east (Clear Creek Trail) and passes under Pecos. Just follow this trail until you get to the Platte River Trail and turn right (south). This will take you all the way to Confluence Park which is the junction with Cherry Creek. From there you're on you own;)

The route is about half road and half trail. Hope this helps.

I was also wondering the best way to bike from Denver to Boulder, thanks for the info. Do you happen to know the mileage on that route you detail above, Stuart?

For a weekend fun ride, I was thinking I'd ride out to Golden, then take Highway 93 north to Boulder. Anyone know how the shoulder and traffic is on 93? Is there a better route for a weekend training ride where mileage isn't as much of a concern?

I was also wondering the best way to bike from Denver to Boulder, thanks for the info. Do you happen to know the mileage on that route you detail above, Stuart?

For a weekend fun ride, I was thinking I'd ride out to Golden, then take Highway 93 north to Boulder. Anyone know how the shoulder and traffic is on 93? Is there a better route for a weekend training ride where mileage isn't as much of a concern?

The route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845108) is about 35 miles from the north side of the Boulder campus to Confluence Park.

If you are going to do CO93, I'd suggest this route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845210) instead. CO93 has lots of traffic and isn't really that interesting to ride (except the last screaming hill into the Boulder Valley, which I included:D ). It's not the most direct but it hits some nicer roads. 32nd Ave east of Youngfield is pretty. Easley Road is really nice and Cherryvale Rd is one of my favorites. Distance is 39 miles.

That hill is fun! I hit my max speed of 45 mph riding that with bmclaughlin.

:)

Know what's even more fun? Coming down off the North end of Carter Lake .... Hit my current record speed of 53 mph!!!!

59mph :D While on the Bike Tour of Colorado last year. It was on a steep section of downhill someplace between Lake City and Gunnison, if I remember correctly.

:)

Know what's even more fun? Coming down off the North end of Carter Lake .... Hit my current record speed of 53 mph!!!!


eek!
I'm a chicken. My current bike started developing a high speed shimmy above 40mph. Hence the reason I backed off. I suppose it may be better now that I actually know what to do when that happens.

The route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845108) is about 35 miles from the north side of the Boulder campus to Confluence Park.

If you are going to do CO93, I'd suggest this route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845210) instead. CO93 has lots of traffic and isn't really that interesting to ride (except the last screaming hill into the Boulder Valley, which I included:D ). It's not the most direct but it hits some nicer roads. 32nd Ave east of Youngfield is pretty. Easley Road is really nice and Cherryvale Rd is one of my favorites. Distance is 39 miles.

+1 Cherryvale, best biking road I've been on

A more direct route is to skip the Coors brewery tour and take a left on 44th (?) off of Easley past the train museum to Macintire south to 32nd.

+1 Cherryvale, best biking road I've been on

A more direct route is to skip the Coors brewery tour and take a left on 44th (?) off of Easley past the train museum to Macintire south to 32nd.

You could turn north off of 32nd on Macintyre and go over to 44th but 32nd is such a nice bit of road and 44th is just ugly;), it's worth the side trip.

You could turn north off of 32nd on Macintyre and go over to 44th but 32nd is such a nice bit of road and 44th is just ugly;), it's worth the side trip.

Knock on wood and cross my fingers, but...

The twisty winding road of 32 between Mcintyre and Ford in Golden is just a tragedy waiting to happen, Coors trucks, no shoulders and Mommy's Suburban going 40mph <> fun for me.

I agree whole heartedly that it is a great stretch of road, I just don't like the blind corners and no shoulders.

The route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845108) is about 35 miles from the north side of the Boulder campus to Confluence Park.

If you are going to do CO93, I'd suggest this route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845210) instead. CO93 has lots of traffic and isn't really that interesting to ride (except the last screaming hill into the Boulder Valley, which I included:D ). It's not the most direct but it hits some nicer roads. 32nd Ave east of Youngfield is pretty. Easley Road is really nice and Cherryvale Rd is one of my favorites. Distance is 39 miles.

Thanks cyccommute, that's just the kind of stuff I'm looking for. :)

Thanks cyccommute, that's just the kind of stuff I'm looking for. :)

Another route that's not terribly direct and is longer then the other 2 routes would be to go out CO7 through Lafayette to Riverdale Road. Take Riverdale south to 88th Ave and pick up the Platte River trail. I'd estimate that ride as around 50 miles.

On the Dry Creek Route, if you want to cut off that big jog to the east along Clear Creek, you could also go straight south on Pecos to 20th St (not Ave...they are different;) ) There's a little park there you can cut across and get onto Central St. which will take you to either the Highlands Bridge or over to 15th St. Take either one down to the Platte River. This route does involve more street riding but Pecos is pretty mellow.

:)

Know what's even more fun? Coming down off the North end of Carter Lake .... Hit my current record speed of 53 mph!!!!

53?????

Insane. (I'm jealous.) You have a good front wheel and tire that you have full confidence in, trust?

jebus, will someone do a turn by turn of this for me?

jebus, will someone do a turn by turn of this for me?

Post #6. Click on the underlined "route" below. This will give you a map.


The route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=845108) is about 35 miles from the north side of the Boulder campus to Confluence Park.

Post #6. Click on the underlined "route" below. This will give you a map.
Thanks, I woke up too late to do it today, but I wrote that route down and then reversed it. Thanks for the help.