DnvrFox

Central City and nearby rival Blackhawk, small formerly historic towns, are now pretty much one big casino! I know of no bicycle rental shop in either. There may be road or mtn bike rental in nearby Idaho Springs, but I couldn't find any on Google. Certainly a very decent road or mtn bike could be rented at any of numerous shops in the Denver/Golden area.

1. US 6 up Clear Creek Canyon is closed to bicyclists (a very narrow, winding road with narrow tunnels and many accidents and heavy truck and casino traffic).

2. The new "Central City Parkway" (A private road funded by Central City to take casino traffic away from neighboring casino rival Blackhawk) has recently been opened to bicyclists. Be aware it is quite steep (I would guess 8%) which may not seem like much but remember you are at about 9,000 feet.

3. Central City is in a steep narrow valley. In the town itself, besides the main street, all streets are steeply up mountainsides. Even the main street is steep going north. Going further north from the city are some dirt roads suitable for mountain biking that head out into the mountains.

4. Colorado 119 from nearby Blackhawk going north is rideable by road bike, and turns into what is known as the "Peak to Peak" highway, and is a beautiful and popular route.

5. CO 46 goes through Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Lots of mtn biking, and I assume the road would be travelable by road bike. I haven't been on it in years, and don't know if it is paved or not.

Are you planning on staying in Central City/Blackhawk or in Denver? Folks certainly ride from Denver to Central City, but be aware this is mountainous country, and you will be using back roads paralleling the I-70/US 40 corridor. I would guess about 40 miles or so, depending on where in Denver you stayed.



Please be aware of the wonderful Central City Opera each summer, a holdover from the historic past.