brian416

My family and me are going to be staying in Breckenridge for a week in August. Is there a good road map of the mountain areas or a map with recommend bike routes on it that can be bought in Breckenridge or Frisco?

dark13star

This might help a bit. I think the local shops carry a good map too, but I don't have it.

https://www.coloradobicyclerides.com/

markf

The Summit Daily News (local free newspaper) publishes a guide to the shared-use paths and a lot of the mountain bike trails in Summit County. The shared-use paths are excellent, you can go from Breckenridge through Frisco and onward to Vail and stay entirely on shared use paths. The stretch from Frisco through Ten Mile Canyon and up to Vail Pass is one of the prettiest rides anywhere, apart from the part going through Copper Mountain. Be aware that the paths get crowded at times and there can be lots of slow bikers and joggers.

If you've got a car and want to do some fun climbing, check out Independence Pass starting from Twin Lakes (just south of Leadville) or the road up Mt. Evans (starts in Idaho Springs). WARNING: be ready for snowstorms, thunderstorms, and other nasty weather on these rides! Definitely check the forecast before you try to ride up any of the passes, and bring warm, waterproof clothing in case the forecast is wrong.

DnvrFox

Leadville has a "mineral Ride" where you can do a circular loop of about 12 miles, as I remember, on a paved path through various past and present mining activities.

The paved MUP's in Summit County are excellent, well-signed and present various small and somewhat larger challenges. Going up to Vail Pass is a real, but for some, challenging treat.

Biking is a HUGE part of the summer activities in Summit County. There are numerous rental bike shops all around.

You might also consider White Water Rafting. Trips leave from Breck, Frisco and other places, or you can drive to Buena Vista and Salida to raft the infamous Arkansas. There have been several deaths this year.

badhat

frisco to vail is a spectacular ride, but am i just dumb or is the trail really hard to follow through copper?

markf

Which trail? I follow the road from the traffic light at the Copper Mountain entrance past the roundabout, through the Union Creek, and to just before the stables. Right before you reach the stables the bike path turns off to the right, there are signs telling you to watch out for horses. I can't imagine any difficulties finding your way. If there's a bike path from the traffic light at the Copper Mountain entrance to the stables I've never seen it and I don't know why anyone would use it.

brian416

thanks for the good info, We're planning on doing a ride to Vail while out there.

How is the actual road riding in the area? It seems like the roads would be pretty busy because there's not that many roads?

DnvrFox

Yes, it is BUSY!
Hopefully, you will get a better answer from someone currently in the area, but until you do, I will try - I used to live there.

Only 2 actual roads cross the county from east to west - I-70 - closed to bicycles in this area, and Swan Mtn Road, narrow and heavily traveled, which has a partial MUP.

Colo 9 south of town towards Fairplay is a definite possibility. CO 9 north of town is a bit dicey, there was a death on that road a few years back. Part of the road has no shoulder, and it is very busy.

From Copper Mtn to Leadville to Avon back over Vail Pass to Copper has 3 passes, and is a frequent challenge to many folks. It is known as the Copper Triangle, I believe.

Mt. Evans is considered a coup - near Idaho Springs. Over 14,000 feet at the top.

Buena Vista, Cottonwood Pass, etc are a bit further away, but are possibilities.

Others please chime in.

dark13star

From Keystone, the ride up to the top of Loveland pass is great.

markf

A third east west road is the Dillon Dam Road from Frisco to Dillon, and continue east to Keystone and Loveland Pass on US 6. There's a shared use path along side this road from Frisco to Keystone, US 6 up Loveland Pass has a decent shoulder but a fair bit of truck traffic. I rather enjoy riding Swan Mountain Road, but I would avoid the morning and afternoon rush hours.

CO 9 over Hoosier Pass to Alma/Fairplay has construction going on but is still rideable. CO 9 north of Silverthorne is flat out scary in places, but turn east and head over Ute Pass and you can find some really nice riding.

The Copper Triangle is an excellent ride.

DnvrFox

Have they reopened the dam road to vehicular traffic?

markf

The road itself is open to passenger cars (max weight 13,000 lbs, no trailers or RVs) 6 AM to !0 PM. I'm told by the sheriff's department that the MUP on the dam is open 24/7. I'm also told by the sheriff's department that there is no ordinance stopping cyclists from using the dam road itself instead of the MUP. The signs at either end saying "bicycles prohibited from road across dam" have no legal basis.

Gul Cratt

Another good road ride is north out of Silverthorne along Blue River Pkwy, which can take you to Heeney or Ute Pass depending on whether you turn right or left up the road.

ken cummings

Back in the day the path down Vail Pass into Vail went under I-70 and doubled back, parallel to the Interstate briefly before coming out onto a road. This short bit of MUP was wet and slippery every time I rode it. Caution.

brian416

Is this route fully paved? It looks like a nice route that would avoid major roads.

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...idge/596636509

frankw

bro

the red line on your map is gold run road to the dredge to the back ranch of keystone. It's all dirt road and double track.

if your looking for road riding, there is some, but the bike path is where it's at. Go very early to avoid crowds and bad weather. Pick up the ride guide for free just about anywhere it's pretty incomplete but a good reference for mtb and road riding. If you get a road map and study it it'l help there aren't too many paved roads around here. Here are a few ride ideas.

1) the highlands in breck, lots of up and down, easy to get lost on roads in a large development where houses don't sell for less than 1.5m. If you can figure out the loop through there it's less than an hour ride from town. The quick climbs will make you wince, but the even faster downhills will make you smile.

2) around the lake on the bike path and over swan mtn road. Not recomended to ride over swan mountain unless it's early on a sunday morning. No shoulder, lots of impatient people and heavy equipment will push you off the road. It is not a safe road to ride, but it can be worth it.

3) vail pass on the bike path out and back just under 50 mile ride from breck, just over 2500 ft of climbing total. A really great ride. the last tug up the pass will humble you. If your feeling tough ride on over to vail and back for 5500 ft of climbing aprox 85 mile ride. You'll cry for your mommy on the way up and out of vail.

4) boreas pass is a quick 3 mile 20 min 800 ft climb out of town to the dirt road trail head.

5) loveland pass is a great ride, leave breck, over swany, up the pass, then loop around the lake to dillon frisco and back to breck. 4600 ft of climbing just under 60 miles if you go around the lake. durning the week truck traffic is routed over the pass during I70 construction so I wouldn't dare ride it unless it's the weekend, no shoulders, etc.....

Unfortunatly we live in a valley closed in by passes so most of the riding is out and back. Which is kind of lame, unless you get someone to pick you when you find ourself hours away.

markf

No, it's mostly unpaved. The Breckenridge Golf Club has a maintenance facility that sits right on top of Gold Run Gulch Rd, I don't think you can pass through. Tiger Road is paved, Reiling Road and French Gulch Road are paved, after that you're on dirt roads of varying quality. Your route from Breckenridge to Tiger Road runs through kind of a maze of old logging and mining roads and private driveways/roads leading to vacation homes. The route seems to end at Keystone Ranch, which is a gated community with a few golf courses in it. Getting to Keystone Ski Resort from there would mean following a maze of narrow residential streets.

There are a lot of MTB trails in the area your route goes through, some pretty technical and some pretty mellow. A written guide and some good topo maps would be good to have if you want to explore there.

If you're looking for a paved route from Breck to Keystone, there's a MUP next to CO 9 going north from Breck. At Farmer's Korner/Summit County High School, cross the road at the traffic light and follow Swan Mountain Road up and over to US 6. There's another MUP that follows US 6 to Keystone. US 6 continues over Loveland Pass (11,990 ft) and on to Golden and Denver if you're feeling energetic.

Swan Mountain Road is 35 mph, 2 lanes with little or no shoulder, but most of the traffic is locals who know how to behave around bicycles. Most people prefer to ride from US 6 to CO 9 instead of the direction you'd be taking, but it's quite rideable either way.

Cyclists are not required to use the MUPs in Colorado, you can legally ride on any of the roads whether or not there is a cycle path/MUP next to them, except for stretches of Interstate that have an adjacent road or MUP.

brian416

ok thanks