Denver - Pike National Forest - Via Palmer Lake for camping
 

I've done some digging through the forums and wanted some fresh advice. I am looking for somewhere to disappear for a couple of days on my road bike and this looks awesome however I have a few questions.

this is the route-http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...h&z=9&lci=bike

I am curious what those "dirt paths" are like in mid April and if my 27X1.25 tires can handle it? Following that would be has anyone ridden that Forest Road 320/Mt Herman Rd? It looks to be a climb and on dirt?

Also I know I can camp anywhere in the Forest but I'd rather not make new camps and fire pits unless it is completely necessary, anyone know if there are campsites near that road?

Thanks

The dirt part of your route will probably be okay by mid April...provided that we don't get snow for a few days before your ride. The Santa Fe Trail route is very firm and well drained but riding on it shortly after a storm wouldn't be that wise. North of Monument, the trail is less sandy than through the Air Academy.

Mt Herman, on the other hand, is a different issue. It is relatively steep. It is a graded road but it's not very smooth. A mountain bike would be a much better choice for that ride. You could do it on a road bike but it wouldn't be a pleasant ride.

A better route to Woodland Park would be this one. Turn west a Sedalia and ride up CO67 over Rampart Range Road. There is a 7 mile section of dirt on that ride but the route is smoother than Mt Herman. The ride from Deckers to Woodland Park is rather pretty and a little remote.

This route is a little longer (about 10 miles) and still includes a little dirt riding but it's relatively good road, too.

Thanks CYC- Have you ever ridden the one up CO67? I can't say for sure it will be in April but would I still be weary of Trail conditions on this path based on recent rain storms?

I've ridden parts of it and driven all of it. The pavement goes all the way over the top now (it didn't used to) and almost all the way to the Platte River. I've ridden from Deckers to Woodland Park many times. That's a very nice ride. A little narrow perhaps but it has fairly low traffic and a bike path outside of Woodland Park for about 10 miles. I've also ridden from Buffalo Creek to Deckers once. It's a tough ride with climbing but a nice road most of the way.

The Santa Fe Trail is a good trail unless you get real soaking rains or snow on it. It drains pretty quickly. I'd not worry too much about it in a thunderstorm. There is a road that parallels it for part of the route too.