Hills Climbs near Denver
 

Hey All,

I am looking for a hill above 7% grade that's longer than 3 miles.
Preferably close to Denver, Any suggestions?

Where do you all get you vigorous hill climbs in?

Thanks - DenveScubaSteve

There is always lookout but the grade is not that high (I believe). Still a favorite of mine.
Golden Gate Canyon is fairly steep. Then there are the climbs in the SW section of the metro area. Like Deer Creek Canyon.
If you are in Thornton my favorite is to take highway 7 over to flagstaff in boulder and climb that.
If one is up to riding to boulder there are many climbs to be had there.
Another one up north is coal creek canyon (72). I like to take golden gate canyon to 119 to coal creek canyon and down 93 back to golden gate canyon.
All kinds of options.

Thanks DJ, I remember reading about the "DeathRide" in CA and wondered if we have any 12% grades.

Anybody know of any +12% grade in CO? I am sure we have them.. somewhere

Just found this website if anybody is interested:
http://www.ucar.edu/eac/bike/steep.html

Because of our winter weather, you won't find long stretches of high-grade here in CO. That list you posted has some of the steepest longer roads around. I have found several smaller roads with higher grades, but only for short segments.

What does the first short section from 40 up to cabrinie average? Seems awfully steep.

toporoute.com Linky

Looks to be above 8%

come up to fort collins and ride buckhorn canyon from masonville to rist canyon.

theres 4 seperate sections over 12 percent for over a quarter mile, and two of them are over a mile.

pole hill road (from carter lake to pinewood reservoir, also known as rattlesnake ridge) is over 7 for most of its 3+ miles, and has a few +10 stretches.

Magnolia !
 

See my post about Magnolia - 5 miles of the toughest and steepest around. Having done the Death Ride, I can honestly say Magnolia is only similar climb (due to its length and grade)....

Twin Spruce off of hwy 72 has some good long steep sections before it turns to well maintained gravel and changes names to Gap rd.
Also Mountain Base rd off of hwy46 (golden gate canyon) is a little over 2 miles with some excellent 18%+ switchbacks.
Couple of the hills on Hwy46 go way over 12% - Guy Hill and the county line (gilpin) hill especially.
Rist Canyon out of north Ft collins has some good sustained grades as well.

three really good steady climbs with super tough finishes:

rist
lefthand
glen haven/devils gulch

The finish on Rist is stupid steep after a long (beautiful) climb.
But what a reward on the other side. I especially like the road back to the south toward Masonville along the creek.

yeah i set my all time high speed on the descent from rist summit down to buckhorn.

62.2!

wont be challenging that PR.

All of these seem pretty sweet. I may need to go give Magnolia a try, Do you park in Boulder and ride from there? It looks to only be a 9 mile ride if you leave from boulder.
18 miles round trip 3,000 ft gain, 3,000 ft decent Oh yeah!!! ;)

I drive straight to bottom/start of climb - there is parking right there. I don't like riding bike up Canyon/119, and I don't much care for the MUP/bike path either. However, you can ride bike up the path, which starts from Eben Fine park (at dead end off of Arapahoe), or ride up Canyon/Hwy 119...

There is a very large sign that shows "Magnolia" to indicate the turn off and parking.

The pain starts right away... I highly recommend starting off in your lowest gear...!

The dirt portion was just graded when I last rode it so it was good .... but how it is now is anyones guess. Out and back on the paved portion will be a good ride ... and if you've got legs left, when you get done go a short way up road to Sugar Loaf ... or 4 Mile Canyon and do some more climbing!

oh man! Give the guy a chance to warm up! Its only a few miles up canyon to the Magnolia turn off - its the first left after the tunnel. hmm it may be the only real left on the canyon. It would kill me to have to start a ride with eldora.
Side note - coming home during a snow storm back around 86 I came through the third switchback and some dude was skiing down Magnolia. Car behind him was lighting the road for him.

Skiing down!!! What an AWESOME idea!

and this is why I love CO. :D

Reason 694 ;)

well i have to admit that awesome was not the first adjective that crossed my mind that night. But, I could see his tracks from way up the road as I drove up, so it must in fact have been a killer downhill.

I hit 60 on that section once -- on a mtn bike! It's one of the only sections I know of with that kind of speed potential which isn't incredibly dangerous.

Magnolia is very steep and relentless. Flagstaff to the res is tough after passing the Flagstaff summit. Golden Gate Canyon. Also Boulder to Gold Hill via Four Mile Canyon -- the dirt section after Salina is brutal steep.

The toughest paved climb around is probably Guanella Pass from the Georgetown side.

UPDATE:

http://www.co.clear-creek.co.us/Gene...%20RELEASE.htm

NEWS RELEASE *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


USDA Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt NF & Pawnee NG * * * * * * * * * *

2150 Centre Avenue, Building E
Fort Collins, CO * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Contact: * John Bustos, Public Affairs Officer, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest
970-556-3850 * * * * *

Georgetown,Colo. (August 26, 2009) – Approximately five miles of the Guanella Pass Road has been reopened from Georgetown to the Clear Lake day-use area but, the road remains closed between the Clear Lake day-use area and the* Clear Lake Campground.*

After further assessment, the Forest Service and the Clear Creek County Commissioners have decided this part of the road is safe for travel.*

Guanella Pass and the Clear Lake Campground can be accessed through Grant,Colo* .from U.S. Highway 285. Please note that travelers cannot get through to Georgetown or to Interstate 70 from U.S. Highway 285.*

Because of the road closure, the concessionaire at Clear Lake and Guanella Pass Campgrounds has decided to close for the season on Thursday, August27.*

For more information please go to www.co.clear-creek.co.us