Mountain - Plains - CO-3 Day Tour from Denver

I'm thinking of starting my touring experience with a 3 day (Fri-Sun) self supported tour from the Denver area to somewhere in the mountains. I've done a bit of planning for this, but I'm wondering if anybody has done something like this and give me any ideas for a route and destination.

Ideally, I'd send my wife ahead to the destination and she could enjoy herself there for a couple days while I ride to meet her, and then we'd drive home together.

I've been looking at doing one myself. I live near Morrison and was thinking: Morrison to Evergreen, Hwy 103 to Idaho Spgs, Hwy 40 to Winter Park-Granby-Grand Lake, then Trail Ridge Rd to Estes, back through Allenspark, Nederland and Golden Gate Canyon to Golden, then back to Morrison. I'm planning on going in July as there's 3 mountain passes and I'd like them to be free on snow and ice :-)

Edited: try this link to see the route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bear+Creek+Lake+Park+Marina,+15600+W+Morrison+Rd,+Morrison,+Colorado+80465-9321&daddr=Evergreen,+CO+to:39.683979,-105.524405+to:Miner+St+to:39.74458,-105.53283+to:Winter+Park,+CO+to:grand+lake+to:US-34+E%2FTrail+Ridge+Rd+to:Estes+Park,+CO+to:Allenspark,+CO+to:Nederland,+CO+to:golden+co+to:Bear+Cree k+Lake+Park+Marina,+15600+W+Morrison+Rd,+Morrison,+CO+80465-9321&hl=en&geocode=FdcQXQIdiCG7-SnHbeDD9IJrhzFo7k9zRxUFxQ%3BFanBXAIdofy4-SmhzDKxMXVrhzFYZYmi5ZW3gw%3BFYuHXQIdS9O1-Smvb-28FaRrhzGmjLJlNBaEAw%3BFdZpXgIdeOe1-Q%3BFUR0XgIdYrK1-Smd9f7ezKRrhzElEuIk0QfuTw%3BFcayYAIdCi-y-Skx4jrStcprhzHGtEoCytgHeg%3BFS8zZgIdpUSx-Sl9yfpYg4FphzESI4eYscMjgw%3BFauQaAId002x-Q%3BFXYbaAId_921-SkDGhm71mVphzEMrMqpt5iW2w%3BFX1RZQIdzc61-SnVPS6YsdhrhzHUPUmwXzrIRQ%3BFSDDYQIdUQi2-SlbUkVOxMZrhzGyTOyqmFxkjQ%3BFRefXgIdFHS6-Sn3bGiHEphrhzHcVYAgVEbGFA%3BFTkQXQId0CK7-SFo7k9zRxUFxQ&mra=ls&via=2,4&sll=40.03959,-105.56696&sspn=1.568647,4.221497&ie=UTF8&ll=40.012891,-105.03479&spn=1.569276,4.221497&z=9

I like that route, although it's more than I could do in 3 days. How long are you planning to ride, and where do you plan to camp? Also, is the whole route paved, or is some of Trail Ridge Road gravel?

Thanks for responding and sharing the idea, it's definitely one I'll add to my list for consideration.

Edited: try this link to see the route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bear+Creek+Lake+Park+Marina,+15600+W+Morrison+Rd,+Morrison,+Colorado+80465-9321&daddr=Evergreen,+CO+to:39.683979,-105.524405+to:Miner+St+to:39.74458,-105.53283+to:Winter+Park,+CO+to:grand+lake+to:US-34+E%2FTrail+Ridge+Rd+to:Estes+Park,+CO+to:Allenspark,+CO+to:Nederland,+CO+to:golden+co+to:Bear+Cree k+Lake+Park+Marina,+15600+W+Morrison+Rd,+Morrison,+CO+80465-9321&hl=en&geocode=FdcQXQIdiCG7-SnHbeDD9IJrhzFo7k9zRxUFxQ%3BFanBXAIdofy4-SmhzDKxMXVrhzFYZYmi5ZW3gw%3BFYuHXQIdS9O1-Smvb-28FaRrhzGmjLJlNBaEAw%3BFdZpXgIdeOe1-Q%3BFUR0XgIdYrK1-Smd9f7ezKRrhzElEuIk0QfuTw%3BFcayYAIdCi-y-Skx4jrStcprhzHGtEoCytgHeg%3BFS8zZgIdpUSx-Sl9yfpYg4FphzESI4eYscMjgw%3BFauQaAId002x-Q%3BFXYbaAId_921-SkDGhm71mVphzEMrMqpt5iW2w%3BFX1RZQIdzc61-SnVPS6YsdhrhzHUPUmwXzrIRQ%3BFSDDYQIdUQi2-SlbUkVOxMZrhzGyTOyqmFxkjQ%3BFRefXgIdFHS6-Sn3bGiHEphrhzHcVYAgVEbGFA%3BFTkQXQId0CK7-SFo7k9zRxUFxQ&mra=ls&via=2,4&sll=40.03959,-105.56696&sspn=1.568647,4.221497&ie=UTF8&ll=40.012891,-105.03479&spn=1.569276,4.221497&z=9

I've done the Eastern half of the loop, (in multiple rides), but only driven the Western half, (Idaho Springs to Estes Park).
Looks like a great ride, but I wouldn't claim to be able to do that in three days.

I'm not planning to do it in 3 days...likely 4-5. That said, I thought that you may be interested in joining me for part of it and having your wife meet you as you had planned maybe in Estes or Grand Lake. To my knowledge, Trail Ridge is paved the whole way, I read an older guide (late 1990's) and it said that it's paved. I haven't driven it in years but remember it being paved as well. I have not yet mapped out camping spots. I'm still in the formative stages of it. I haven't set the direction in stone; as it's a loop, I could go either way.

Trail Ridge Rd is fully paved.
I last drove it in 2009.
Old Fall River Rd parallells part of it, and is unpaved, if you need more adventure.:p

boulder74, I'd love to go along if I can make the schedule work. I'll send a PM, and let's stay in touch for planning. Thanks for the invitation. That'd be great to not have to do it alone.

Double Tap, got your PM, tried to reply and have to have 50 posts to do so...at 23 now. I'll get back to you in a few days after I've posted up :-)

All sounds good though...most of my biddies think I'm nuts for doing a long ride over passes etc, they'd rather hike a 14er or paddle Clear Creek...or drink beer and avoid all of the above

Great route you guys. 4 or 5 days is perfect. Trail Ridge was freshly re-paved last year. Fall River Road is not paved, and is one-way uphill on the east side. I drove up it last fall and I'm desperate to ride my bike up it!!! Probably not my fully-loaded tour bike, though.

You can also easily cut out Juniper/Squaw pass by riding that segment between Denver and Idaho Springs up the I-70 corridor on Hwy 40 & assorted frontage roads.

Just be aware (you probably are) that it's a LOT of climbing, so be really careful about keeping the gear weight down.

Also, July is prime thunderstorm time, August would be even better if you can stand to wait for it.

I think it breaks out best if you go clockwise
1) Denver - Empire
2) camp in RMNP just north of Granby
3) Estes or Allenspark
4) Somewhere on the Peak to Peak or Golden Gate park
5) Denver

I'm thinking if you go the other way, that last day is going to be really hard and you'll have to do Berthoud Pass late in the day (t-storms) and then there won't be a resupply, so you'll have to carry dinner over the pass (the camping in Empire is north of town). I think you could make it work counter clockwise, but you would have to work harder on the logistics, clockwise just sorts itself out naturally.

One other thing, if you can work it out at all, it would be really nice to ride Trail Ridge on a weekday, weekends have a lot of traffic.

(um, can I go too??)

Valygrl, You can be our guide :-)

Thanks for the advice, I haven't ironed a date out yet but I do a fair amount of 14er in late June/Early July and haven't had too many t-storm issues. Of course, we're down by 12-2pm so.....

The Fall River Road section is less than a mile if I remember correctly and didn't think it'd be a big deal unless you're on racing slicks.

off to work....

:) not guide, but may consider tagging along if the stars align, your route is inspiring!

Fall River Road is quite a bit more than a mile and fairly steep, but totally rideable.

The Fall River Road section is less than a mile if I remember correctly and didn't think it'd be a big deal unless you're on racing slicks.

Per Google Maps, Old Fall River Road is 10.6 miles.

I was looking at riding Trail Ridge Rd rather than Old Fall River Rd. I was thinking about the section that parallels Stanley Rd. between Idaho Spgs and Empire.

I recently heard that BTC is doing Trail Ridge this year. For those who want to do this with an organized ride.

Btc?

http://www.bicycletourcolorado.com/

ahhh....thanks!

Got my touring tent yesterday, a MSR Hubba Hubba, 2 person backpacking tent. It's under 6 pounds with the footprint and very easy to set up. Sleeping pad and bag are next, but I'm watching for sales. The tent was on sale at REI for about half price. I'm trying to stay sane during all this snow, so I'm buying gear and planning.

I hit the Coleman outlet at Castle Rock and grabbed a tent (2lbs) They had some sleeping bags but I had hit my limit on dropping $$$ that day. I've been on the trainer...rode one day when it was supposed to be 45 out but was really about 35...a little too cold for what I was wearing. Stay sane :-)

Neat route. I'm looking more for a three day route for this coming summer. Since I just started working at this place, getting days off is a little tough as I have to work with everyone else's schedules.

I like that route, although it's more than I could do in 3 days. How long are you planning to ride, and where do you plan to camp? Also, is the whole route paved, or is some of Trail Ridge Road gravel?

Thanks for responding and sharing the idea, it's definitely one I'll add to my list for consideration.

Try looking at the route counter clockwise. Or you could start in Denver, ride to Lyons and Estes Park, then over Trail Ridge and end in Winter Park. Alternatively, you could start in Lyons...it's not really cheating if you want to avoid the urban riding;)...and follow this route to Dillon (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287462). It's only 128 miles but those are not easy miles...doable but not easy.

Neat route. I'm looking more for a three day route for this coming summer. Since I just started working at this place, getting days off is a little tough as I have to work with everyone else's schedules.

How far do you want to go? Here's a route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287469) that could be done in 3 days...hard ones but it could be done in 3 days.

Here's a stunning route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287478) for part mountain bike/part road. Here's some highlights

Apishapa Arch, a WPA project that tunnels through a lava dike.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1900.jpg

West Spanish Peak from Cordoba Pass

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1907.jpg

La Veta Valley from Cordoba Pass. Those fins you see in the valley are lava intrusions

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1912.jpg

Spanish Peaks Wilderness area. No bikes!

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1914.jpg

The La Veta Valley

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP2056.jpg

The Great Wall

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1931.jpg

The route would be about 40% unpaved. A mountain bike would be best.

If you don't mind a lot of dirt (probably best with a mountain bike), this route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287707) would cover the Front Range nicely without too much traffic.

If you don't mind driving a little way...it takes care of a lot of traffic...this route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287712) from Frisco to Aspen to Glenwood to Fisco would be a great ride. If you don't want to do 220 miles, DoubleTap, you could meet your wife in Glenwood Springs. Or you could go this route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287717) and avoid Independence Pass by stopping in Aspen.

Or start in Glenwood and ride to Alamosa (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/287725). You can stop at the Alligator farm in Mosca and/or ride the train out of Alamosa over to La Veta. It's a beautiful trip on the train.

cyccommute, your ideas are fantastic. at the top of your post #22, both links point to the lyons route, would you fix it so we can see the dirt route?

cyccommute, your ideas are fantastic. at the top of your post #22, both links point to the lyons route, would you fix it so we can see the dirt route?

D'oh! I fixed it. You could also do a mostly paved route if you ride out of Trinidad on CO12. It would be as spectacular but a bit busier.

Here's a couple of extensions to the La Veta route. 120 miles to Westcliffe (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/288179) and, if you are feeling ambitious, a route over to the San Luis Valley and back. (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/288181). The San Luis Valley route would have a lot of stuff to see along the way. There's Colorado Gators in Hooper (http://www.gatorfarm.com/), you can stay the night in Villa Grove at the Merchantile or visit Crestone (a bit to the east of the highway), stop a the Sand Dunes and visit Fort Garland. Perhaps you could convince the Colorado Rio Grande Scenic Railroad (http://www.riograndescenicrailroad.com/) to carry your bike over to La Veta to see part of the Sangre de Cristos that you don't normally see from the road.

Thank you. Cool looking route - forgot to mention, pix are beautiful too, I love those hay cylinders, they are so scenic.

Thank you. Cool looking route - forgot to mention, pix are beautiful too, I love those hay cylinders, they are so scenic.

I have a bunch of ideas for parts of the state that most Coloradans know nothing about because it is more than 50 miles on either side of I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction and about 50 miles on either side of I-25 from Colorado Springs (more likely Castle Rock) to Dacono:rolleyes: I'd say all the way to Fort Collins but I think that's outside of most Coloradan's comfort zone;)

The only problem with most of the routes is that they don't have places to stay or to get water.

When I get in the mood for a (relatively) flat century, I usually go to Ft Collins, then Horsetooth Reservoir, and back.

When I get in the mood for a (relatively) flat century, I usually go to Ft Collins, then Horsetooth Reservoir, and back.

My favorite flat century is the Front Range Century (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/289327). My favorite hilly century is the Hardscrabble Century (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/289330). The Hardscrabble is 25 miles of up hill followed by 70 miles of downhill. Unfortunately, there's also 5 miles of uphill spread through out the route. Parkdale Hill is that little lump of a hill on the far right of the profile. Starts at 77 miles and ends at 80 miles. It's the nastiest hill on the whole route because of where it is.

Thanks for sharing all those routes, great information. I'm taking part in the C+V century a month challenge and those last 2 routes will come in very handy for that. The other routes look fantastic as well, can't wait to get out there. And mum's the word about the I-70 thing. No sense in rushing the inevitable. Lack of access to water, gas or even Starbucks and McDonald's can actually work to your advantage if you're looking for a bit of solitude.

Thanks for sharing all those routes, great information. I'm taking part in the C+V century a month challenge and those last 2 routes will come in very handy for that. The other routes look fantastic as well, can't wait to get out there. And mum's the word about the I-70 thing. No sense in rushing the inevitable. Lack of access to water, gas or even Starbucks and McDonald's can actually work to your advantage if you're looking for a bit of solitude.

I have a century that I used to do in the Boulder area, too. I haven't done it in a number of years so I'm not all that familiar with the traffic issues now but it was a very nice ride 5 to 10 years ago.

Well, post it!

Well, post it!

Okay (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/290105). This uses 2 of my favorite roads in the Denver area...Valmont and Cherry Vale. They are really sweet roads.

Okay (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/290105). This uses 2 of my favorite roads in the Denver area...Valmont and Cherry Vale. They are really sweet roads.

IMO, there are some nicer options for mile 36 to 51 on that route - just keep going north on 75th like you are going to Carter Lake (west of the linked route) don't go up to the lake but stay on CR 23 until it ends and turn right, then you're pretty much back on route. Or use CR 21. EIther of those carries way less traffic than Hwy 66 and Hwy 287.

There's a gas station at Hwy 287 @ Hwy 56 (near Berthod) and the town of Berthod, a 10 minute detour, has a nice cafe, and A&W and a Subway.

Personally, I would shift that whole route north a few miles, never going south of Baseline in Boulder, because the northern extensions, like up to Masonville, are rural and quiet, but that whole Lafayette/Louisville/Broomfield area is highly populated and traffic-y. Just my $0.02. I don't chase the 100 mile mark much, so I don't have any specific 100 mile routes to offer. Check out the Buffalo CLassic route - that's a boulder century. Also Sunrise Century is nice. Or last year's Centurion, if you want serious climbing.

Iowegian (edit, I meant Shimpagnolo - confused about who said "well post it") -- , you probably have ridden all these roads.

I haven't done 55 or Colorado BLVD, but I think I've done the rest.
I do like Cherry Vale!
I keep thinking it would be cool to buy one of the homes along there.

IMO, there are some nicer options for mile 36 to 51 on that route - just keep going north on 75th like you are going to Carter Lake (west of the linked route) don't go up to the lake but stay on CR 23 until it ends and turn right, then you're pretty much back on route. Or use CR 21. EIther of those carries way less traffic than Hwy 66 and Hwy 287.

There's a gas station at Hwy 287 @ Hwy 56 (near Berthod) and the town of Berthod, a 10 minute detour, has a nice cafe, and A&W and a Subway.

Personally, I would shift that whole route north a few miles, never going south of Baseline in Boulder, because the northern extensions, like up to Masonville, are rural and quiet, but that whole Lafayette/Louisville/Broomfield area is highly populated and traffic-y. Just my $0.02. I don't chase the 100 mile mark much, so I don't have any specific 100 mile routes to offer. Check out the Buffalo CLassic route - that's a boulder century. Also Sunrise Century is nice. Or last year's Centurion, if you want serious climbing.

Iowegian (edit, I meant Shimpagnolo - confused about who said "well post it") -- , you probably have ridden all these roads.

Everybody's a critic:rolleyes:;)

The route is developed from a series of rides to prepare for a century. I have a 25 mile route, 50, 100k and 100 mile route. I even have a 200k route but that one is ill fated. I called it the BADNEWS century (using the names of local towns...Broomfield, Arvada, Dacono, Niwot, Erie, Windsor and Superior) but it was one of my infamous evaporative rides. I started with 10 riders and ended alone. I think they all got eaten by wolves:eek:

Criticism: the price you pay for having & sharing ideas. Thanks for posting the route, it's a huge public service and I do appreciate it.

The La Veta Valley
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP2056.jpg

very pastoral

Thanks for all the tips everyone, especially cyccommute. And valygrl, I've certainly gotten a lot from some of your posts before as well. I'm not a big century rider either, in fact my last 2 centuries for Jan and Feb were the first unsupported ones I've done. So I'm a bit at a loss for good routes, especially since I don't have a computer on my bikes and have to 'mapmyride' everytime to make sure I get 100 miles in. For Jan, I did try to follow the Buffalo Classic route as I remembered it. Went through Masonville, around Horsetooth and then got lost in Fort Collins when I got dead-ended trying to head south out of a sub-division that had no outlet. Anywho, I'm looking forward to some warmer weather to get out farther afield. I usually try to just ride out my front door instead of driving to ride but after seeing some of these routes that will probably change. Thanks again for taking the time to post all these.

The best place to end up lost at in Ft Collins would be O'Dell's.

LaVeta Valley ride:

Beautiful!!! That's going to go on my list

I jiggered the Westcliffe route I posted before. Here's a route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/295279) that would take 3 relatively easy days or 2 difficult days. Starts in Pueblo at the Raptor Center.

My girlfriend and I are leaving next week, riding from Pueblo to Boulder, mixing some dirt roads, urban trails systems in PBL, COS, DEN, and also a few backroad highways. We're hoping to thoroughly document the route with photos, resources, and maps and make it available online so others can make the trip easily. The Spanish Peaks loop looks GREAT...minus the I25 section, or are there frontage roads?



www.alternativecommutepueblo.com

The best place to end up lost at in Ft Collins would be O'Dell's.

+1

My girlfriend and I are leaving next week, riding from Pueblo to Boulder, mixing some dirt roads, urban trails systems in PBL, COS, DEN, and also a few backroad highways. We're hoping to thoroughly document the route with photos, resources, and maps and make it available online so others can make the trip easily. The Spanish Peaks loop looks GREAT...minus the I25 section, or are there frontage roads?



www.alternativecommutepueblo.com

There are some frontage roads, however many of them peter out and don't got through. Some of them could be accessed by riding to the end of the road and then walking over to the highway. You could also ride short sections of the highway and then walk over to the frontage road where it picks up again. Interstate riding isn't all that bad, it's just noisy.

Some route suggestions from Pueblo to Boulder:

Overton Road out of Pueblo is dirt but it turns in to a very pretty paved road at Hanover Rd out side of Fountain.

Take Spruce Mountain Road from Palmer Lake (just off the Santa Fe Trail bike way) to Larkspur. You'll have to ride about a mile on the shoulder of I-25 to the frontage road and on to Castle Rock. I'd take this route over 105 through Perry Park. The Perry Park ride isn't too bad but it lets you off in Sedalia and then you have to ride US85/Santa Fe which isn't nice at all.

Out of Castle Rock take Crowfoot Valley Rd over to Parker and pick up the Cherry Creek Trail. This will take you through Denver nicely.

There are several ways to get to Boulder from Denver. Some are better than others. I'd avoid trying to find your way through Arvada if you can. Arvada is a cluster of dead end roundy roads that are tough to navigate. The easiest way to get there...but the longest...is to just follow the Platte River to Brighton and take CO7 into Boulder. Or, out of Parker, take the E470/C470 bike paths around to Golden and take CO93 to Boulder. This would be preferable to Indiana on the west side of Arvada.

very pastoral

I looked out of my bedroom window for 17 years and saw that exact view. Sort of miss those mountains. I have ridden from Cuchara to Aguilar via Apishipa (Cordova) pass. It is a truly spectacular ride. And yes, you must bring plenty of water.