Mountain - Plains - Toughest Road Climbs in Colorado?

Toughest I've done so far:

Golden Gate Canyon
Cottonwood Pass from BV
Evans from Echo Lake

I'm hoping to do Grand Mesa's north side and maybe Trail Ridge Road soon. Slumgullion Pass out of Lake City looks pretty steep. I may also try Magnolia Road. Any others?

I've done Grand Mesa (north) and Slumgullion from Lake City. I think GM is a bit tougher than Slumgullion.

I've done Red Mtn Pass on a loaded touring bike.

Not a pass, but Little Park Road in Grand Junction is a nice little 12 mile stairstep climb.

I'd like to ride Douglas Pass sometime.

Looks like East Portal Road in Black Canyon climbs about 2000' with 16% grades, in about 5 miles.

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Evans from Echo Lake
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I may also try Magnolia Road. Any others?

Evan from Echo Lake? You skipped the pleasant part of the climb. Idaho Springs to Echo Lake actually has decent pavement, and is my favorite descent!

Magnolia Rd and Evans are just the opposite; Magnolia kills you with steepness, while Evans kills you with thin air. Sugarloaf runs parallel to Magnolia and I hear it is quite similar, but I haven't done it yet.

For short/steep climbs, Flagstaff Mt is good. The climb really starts at Baseline & Broadway.

Lookout Mt is similar to Flagstaff in that it is scenic and overlooks a city, but it doesn't have the steep sections that Flagstaff has. But the descent is nicer in that you don't have the *blind* hairpin turns of Flagstaff.

Yeah, maybe Evans from Idaho Springs or Bergen Park next year. :) I didn't feel up to that much more climbing, and wasn't keen on the traffic. I didn't find Evans from Echo Lake that hard, and didn't notice the thinner air at all. All the cracks, potholes, and cars were annoying though, and dangerous next to shoulder-less and guardrail-less steep dropoffs. But definitely one of my favorite rides -- nice views and camaraderie amongst bicyclists and even incredulous tourists.

I haven't done Bergen Park <-> Echo Lake for a few years. Last I knew the pavement was REALLY bad, but some wonderful person had spray-painted an orange perimeter on every pothole, so you could avoid them even at 45mph.

I heard they fixed the worst bits of pavement on 103. Haven't been on it since June-ish, though.

Steep
Magnolia - uh yeah. that is steep.
Sugarloaf is probably steep, but I've only descended it so it's hard to say
Flagstaff (all the way, don't stop at the amphiteather, you're just getting started)
Rist Canyon
James Canyon (past Jamestown)
Brook Forest Rd.
There are lots of steep little roads on either side of Hwy 285 and in the Evergreen area. Good fun.

Long
Grand Mesa
Vail Pass from Vail
Cottonwood from BV

High
Mt Evans
Trail Ridge Road
Independence Pass
Cottonwood Pass

Slumgullion is pretty steep for a highway, but it's only about 9% and if you do it from Lake City it's not that long. It's very nice. I also really like Wolf Creek Pass, though it gets little airplay - it's only sort of long and sort of high, and it's not steep. Really good scenery, though.

There are lots of steep little roads on either side of Hwy 285 and in the Evergreen area. Good fun.
Yeah. I've heard High Dr. is steep -- a good short ride seems like that on up Bear Mtn. I've also done Mt. Lindo and Kerr Gulch -- nice short climbs as well. I've seen many bicyclists on 285 up past Hwy 8 as well.

Parmalee Gulch, High Drive, Turkey Creek, Brook Forest, City View, Oehlemann (sp?)... None of these all by themselves are "toughest ride in CO" but if you string them together right you can get in a workout.

The Deer Creek Challenge and Healing Wheels centuries this year used those roads, maybe the routes are still up on their web sites. I don't really know my way around there, I did those events though, and I'm psyched to go ride more there.

Yeah, Deer Creek Canyon then up City View is a nice climb -- 33 miles and 4200'. I did that. The 66-70 mile course adds Shadow Mountain.

Independence pass from twin lakes isn't that difficult IMHO. Very very very pretty though.

Yeah, maybe Evans from Idaho Springs or Bergen Park next year. :) I didn't feel up to that much more climbing, and wasn't keen on the traffic. I didn't find Evans from Echo Lake that hard, and didn't notice the thinner air at all. All the cracks, potholes, and cars were annoying though, and dangerous next to shoulder-less and guardrail-less steep dropoffs. But definitely one of my favorite rides -- nice views and camaraderie amongst bicyclists and even incredulous tourists.

They make it difficult to enjoy, IMHO.

Lots of great tough climbs here in Colorado. The steepest I've done is Dory Hill out of Blackhawk - and YES it is legal and I've never been hassled. That's a solid three miles of 10% average. Then when you get back to Hwy 46 (GGCanyon) turn right and descend 3+ miles to Mountain Base. Left and you get 3 miles of climbing, of which over a mile averages 12% +. Parts of it show up as 18-19% on my garmin.

Trail Ridge is not difficult at all, unless you hump it from fort Collins like some of the posters here have done. But TRR itself is a very gradual climb. The views and the flaming descent into Grand Lake are what make it worth doing IMO.

Slumgullion is pretty steep for a highway, but it's only about 9% and if you do it from Lake City it's not that long.

Slum' was a tough little ascent out of Lake City. I really remember the descent off the other side though: miles and miles of road with transverse cracks. Kachunk kachunk kachunk for a long time.

Independence pass from twin lakes isn't that difficult IMHO. Very very very pretty though.

Last month for the UPCC we camped 2 miles below the summit on the south side of the pass. We rode our bikes downhill to the river valley and then turned around and climbed the 3-4 miles up to the Pass. Not a bad climb at all. Yes, very pretty.

Last month for the UPCC we camped 2 miles below the summit on the south side of the pass. We rode our bikes downhill to the river valley and then turned around and climbed the 3-4 miles up to the Pass. Not a bad climb at all. Yes, very pretty.

We camped about 3/4 of a mile from the valley floor after the first hairpin and beginning of the climb. You probably rode right past us.

Threads like this are fun as are books like "Climb by Bike etc.

Having lived full time and part time in CO for a long time, I have ridden most of the passes but not all the climbs. I've missed a bunch on the east side of the Front Range.

Not being a skinny type, steep trumps long or altitude for me So I suppose some combo of long and steep would be my hardest. East Portal is pretty hard but.....

Pikes Peak Hill Climb.... #1.

Yep, I know, there are a couple miles of dirt left but it is a road climb once a year anyway.

Except for small climbs.....Easiest..... Mt. Evans from Bergan or Idy Spgs.

The paving of Pikes Peak is finsihed to the top now.

Ah. Wonder if they'll allow bicycles now...

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19016252

Ah. Wonder if they'll allow bicycles now...

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19016252

This year was the 2nd Annual Assault on Pikes Peak.

http://www.ridepikespeak.com/Assault_2011.1/Home.html

Outside of that, it has been poached.

Great thread with lots of lesser known names on here, esp. for someone like me from Florida----

IMO

Of the climbs of intermediate length--defined as 8-12 miles I offer up Wolf Creek Pass on the west side out of Pagosa Springs. A long time since I did it but I believe it registered slightly north of 7% average gradient---which for CO on climbs of that length is pretty steep.

Don't know if it still partially paved or if they have paved it all the way up yet or not but Guanella Pass coming up from Georgetown had heft to it.


Scenery wise---Red Mountain was right up there-----easier to blast downhill from the top towards Ouray as you are on the inside and away from the sheer dropoffs into the canyon far below---makes for awesome pictures though---I especially like the tombstone about 3/4's of the way up for the snowplow drivers that have lost their lives for CDOT---adds a definite eeriness to the whole thing!!!


Mt. Evans-----where else in the States can you get 7000ft of uninterrupted climbing and peak out at the highest paved elevation on a bike in the lower 48 states---nowhere!!

yeah anyone who doesnt think evans is hard should just ride harder.

its peerlessly relentless.

Nothing quite like riding up Evans at max effort.

Steep
James Canyon (past Jamestown)
almost no traffic up there = win

And besides ----on Evans you get to find out how your body responds at extreme altitudes in a strenuous physical situation. A luxury to get to go that far north of 12,000 on paved roads.

You are right that the descent, whether back down to Estes Park or to Grand Lake makes it totally worth while, as long as you beat all the afternoon tourist traffic!!

A fun ride me and some friends did once was leave from Boulder and go up Left Hand Canyon to Route 7, then right to Estes Park and then finish at the top of TRR. I think it was 66 miles or so and about 9k of climbing.

Definitely looks worth doing---and looks like more climbing in less mileage than Evans = steeper which = harder I presume!!

Little known, tough climb beginning right in the middle of the NW Denver suburbs: Start in the Five Parks subdivision near the intersection of Highway 72 and Indiana Street in Arvada where there is a public parking lot in the commercial area. Head west on 86th Parkway which becomes Highway 72 after crossing Indiana St. Continue west/northwest 11 miles, entering Coal Creek Canyon, and then turn left on Gap/Twin Spruce Road. Take Gap/TS 8 miles to Panorama Point in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. The start is at 5600, the end is around 9500 and there are only a very few short 1/8 mile descents near the end of the 19 miles. There are sections approaching 18% on Gap Road. You get about 4000 feet of climbing. From here you can turn around and retrace your ride, or, to make a great loop, go 1/2 mile past Panorama Point to Mountain Base Road and turn left. Go about 1.5 miles on Mountain Base to Golden Gate Canyon and head east about 21 miles to Golden. When Golden Gate Canyon road ends at Highway 93, turn north on Highway 93 to 58th Avenue. Go east on 58th to Easley Road, north on Easley to 64th, east on 64th to Quaker, north on Quaker to Leyden Road, east on Leyden to Indiana, and north on Indiana to 86th Parkway to close the loop.

Do this ride early on a weekend morning or in the middle of the day during the week, to avoid traffic in Coal Creek Canyon.

been thru wolf creek pass in a truck & plan on trying it lol its beautiful in the fall

Little known, tough climb beginning right in the middle of the NW Denver suburbs: Start in the Five Parks subdivision near the intersection of Highway 72 and Indiana Street in Arvada where there is a public parking lot in the commercial area. Head west on 86th Parkway which becomes Highway 72 after crossing Indiana St. Continue west/northwest 11 miles, entering Coal Creek Canyon, and then turn left on Gap/Twin Spruce Road. Take Gap/TS 8 miles to Panorama Point in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. The start is at 5600, the end is around 9500 and there are only a very few short 1/8 mile descents near the end of the 19 miles. There are sections approaching 18% on Gap Road. You get about 4000 feet of climbing. From here you can turn around and retrace your ride, or, to make a great loop, go 1/2 mile past Panorama Point to Mountain Base Road and turn left. Go about 1.5 miles on Mountain Base to Golden Gate Canyon and head east about 21 miles to Golden. When Golden Gate Canyon road ends at Highway 93, turn north on Highway 93 to 58th Avenue. Go east on 58th to Easley Road, north on Easley to 64th, east on 64th to Quaker, north on Quaker to Leyden Road, east on Leyden to Indiana, and north on Indiana to 86th Parkway to close the loop.

Do this ride early on a weekend morning or in the middle of the day during the week, to avoid traffic in Coal Creek Canyon.

Thanks for reminding me of that Gap Rd./Twin Spruce. I once had a job up there on (?) Lytle Dowdle and I rode from Cap Hill one day. Brutal. That gets steep. But is it paved all the way? The job, btw, was digging out a septic tank.

Toughest I've done so far:

Golden Gate Canyon
Cottonwood Pass from BV
Evans from Echo Lake

I'm hoping to do Grand Mesa's north side and maybe Trail Ridge Road soon. Slumgullion Pass out of Lake City looks pretty steep. I may also try Magnolia Road. Any others?

IMO other than maybe Pikes Peak and Evans the toughest road climb is Guanella Pass from Georgetown. Long, steep, few breaks, altitude.

Sunshine canyon out of boulder gets up to 23%.not as long as others though.

Thanks for reminding me of that Gap Rd./Twin Spruce. I once had a job up there on (?) Lytle Dowdle and I rode from Cap Hill one day. Brutal. That gets steep. But is it paved all the way? The job, btw, was digging out a septic tank.

They have paved Gap/Twin Spruce from Highway 72 all the way to the entrance to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. There is still a 2-3 mile stretch of dirt road to get to Mountain Base Road, but it is very well maintained. I see plenty of road riders up there these days and any road tire is fine. They spray Mag Chloride on it in the summer to keep the dust down and it gets to be as smooth as pavement. It is sloppy when wet though.

.....

I'd like to ride Douglas Pass sometime.

egad...i get tired and need to stop and rest driving up that road....

egad...i get tired and need to stop and rest driving up that road....It's supposed to be done on a 2:1 ratio singlespeed MTB from Hay Canyon, looped back around on FOI from the top.

Then again, I wouldn't expect any neu-OTE people to know this.

Squaw pass to Evans. "Tough" is relative to altitude and distance I think. A 32mi climb going over 14,000 ft, with a gain of 7,000+ ft, at an altitude where oxygen is at 50%, I would consider 'tough'.

Mt Evans is ~60%.
You need to go to ~19000 to get down to 50%.
Calculator: http://www.altitude.org/air_pressure.php

What if you have enough lung damage that they only work at 90%? :)

Speaking of Mt. Evans: does anyone know if it's been repaved recently?

I thought that I read, overheard or dreamt about it being repaved. The spine rattling descent is the worst part about Evans, IMO and a fresh layer of tarmac would work wonders.

Speaking of Mt. Evans: does anyone know if it's been repaved recently?

I thought that I read, overheard or dreamt about it being repaved. The spine rattling descent is the worst part about Evans, IMO and a fresh layer of tarmac would work wonders.

Last I heard on road work was that last year they canceled planned repairs. Hopefully, they do them this year. I knew of a guy who came around a turn on the descent and hit a pothole that pinch-flatted both tires. I've seen holes in the pavement where you could look down into a void as big as a football.

Beware if you do it on a weekday, check with the Clear Creek ranger station to see if it is open. One one occasion I climbed from Idaho Springs to Echo Lake, only to find the road closed at Echo Lake.

Last time i did Evans the downhill was horrible. Couple of years back though.

Last time i did Evans the downhill was horrible. Couple of years back though.

What you need is a car waiting at the top with a full-suspension mtn bike to swap for the road bike you used for the climb.:thumb:

It was terrible last year as well.

I will take you up on the offer of the mountain bike ride down :) The cracks in the road beat me up for sure.

Last I heard on road work was that last year they canceled planned repairs. Hopefully, they do them this year. I knew of a guy who came around a turn on the descent and hit a pothole that pinch-flatted both tires. I've seen holes in the pavement where you could look down into a void as big as a football.

Beware if you do it on a weekday, check with the Clear Creek ranger station to see if it is open. One one occasion I climbed from Idaho Springs to Echo Lake, only to find the road closed at Echo Lake.



I suppose, depending upon weather and willingness to encounter a ranger, closed is a relative term!!

Sunshine canyon out of boulder gets up to 23%.not as long as others though.

+1, What really kills on Sunshine are the sustained sections of ~14-15%, cant power up them like Flagstaff, have to spin, grind. or die

I missed the hill climb on Sunshine this year. However, the hill climb up Guanella pass was a wonderful replacement. Nowhere near as steep but the new road is wonderful.

I just rode Pikes peak today. I was really on tired legs from riding all out for 62 miles yesterday. I wasn't able to get to the top. I bonked. It was super cold and windy and I was really underdressed. That plus riding on dead legs made it to hard to get er done for me today. It's a pilot programe and today was the last day. Maybe they will allow bikes up there next year

I suppose, depending upon weather and willingness to encounter a ranger, closed is a relative term!!

What are the ramifications if caught above the road closure on a bike? I've organised and already booked my flight for a three week riding holiday CA / CO and AZ , but only recently discovered the road is closed labor day weekend. I will be in CO mid September...