lightspree

I like riding at higher elevations. Above about 5,000 feet, and up to 14,000 feet or more. The air is often cleaner, fresh and bracing, and for some reason I just like it.

Can anyone recommend good rides they've come across that are up there (all or in part).

(Especially in the West, but elsewhere as well. Roads especially, off road also of interest.)

caloso

A loop of Lake Tahoe is 70-ish miles at 6200' or more.

DXchulo

Flagstaff is a good base. There are lots of good rides out there, but these were two of my favorites: https://www.strava.com/segments/1429750 Lake Mary to Mormon Lake loop in Flagstaff, AZ, United States | MapMyRide

Also, check out Eagle Nest, NM. I didn't get to explore the area a whole lot, but I went through there on my ride across the country last summer and loved it. Not a ton of roads out there, but the town is ~8,000 feet and very scenic.

LesterOfPuppets

I'll second Flagstaff, AZ at 6900'. Loved the year I lived there.

Here at Rock Springs ain't bad, at 6300' and there are plenty of low traffic roads around (TONS if you gravel), great scenery, but the air isn't that clean here.

Doge

But full of traffic and construction.

Doge

Breckenridge CO, or Co Springs and do Pikes Peak.

In all cases use Strava or RideWithGPS.com (or other?) and search routes.

noodle soup

Mt Evans, CO

Shimagnolo

In CO:
- Estes Park(7,523') <-> Trail Ridge Road(12,183') <-> Grand Lake(8,369')
- Idaho Springs(7,526') -> Mt Evans(14,265')
- Manitou Springs(6,358') -> Pikes Peak(14,114')

indyfabz

Beartooth Pass in MT is over 10,000'.

rpenmanparker 

That is the best of the best if you don't object to a bit of traffic on the road with you. And don't forget Greg Lemond's old stomping ground nearby, Mt. Rose between Incline Village and Reno. He used to train on that climb.

rpenmanparker 

Swan Mt. Road in that area is beautiful.

ridelikeaturtle

Look up the "Triple Bypass" ride in Colorado, goes from Evergreen to Vail (-ish), over three mountain passes all just under the 12,000' mark.

triplebypass.org

mtn.cyclist

Anywhere in the Leadville, CO area. Try a ride called Copper Triangle. Lots of climbing at altitude.

Shimagnolo

Here are a couple mountain rides that are rolling, (as opposed to the sustained climbs of my previous post).
Nice open paved roads, with only an occasional motor vehicle.

Peak-to-Peak Hwy: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.3...a=!4m2!4m1!3e0

This is part of the route I found when I rode the motorbike down to Pikes Peak last year.
I was looking for something interesting, as opposed to the boredom of taking I-25 through Denver.
Pine to Woodland Park: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.4...a=!4m2!4m1!3e0

Doge

If you enjoy looking at maps and riding this is a fun app.

Shimagnolo

A comment about the Golden-to-Boulder section (Hwy 93):
The downside is that is a very busy road with 55mph traffic.
The upside is it was just repaved a couple years ago, and now has generous bike lanes.

Seattle Forrest

If "high" starts at 5K, you have to do Washington Pass. In October when the larches turn gold. I didn't have my camera with me when I did it but here's a shot from hiking nearby. These are deciduous conifers, they drop their needles for the winter, and they turn this brilliant color for a week or two before they fall. Just something you have to see.



I'll also recommend Mt Baker above Mt Rainier. Artist Point is crazy beautiful. Again I don't have the pics handy but here's what it looks like from snowshoeing up the road on a bluebird day.



Do you do dirt and gravel? I can keep going.

noodle soup

that was my commute route from Frisco to Keystone

Clipped_in

Lots of good ones in Northern Utah.

Alpine Loop
Mt. Nebo Loop
Wolf Creek Pass
Guardsman Pass/Empire Pass/Big Cottonwood Canyon
Immigration Canyon/Big Mountain
Trapper's Loop/Snow Basin
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Bald Mountain Pass/Mirror Lake Highway

All of those have been featured in the Tour of Utah

Let me know if you want more details.

MCODave

Crater Lake in Oregon? As a bonus it is one of the most beautiful places in the country.

caloso

It's not so bad if you can do it on a weekday, particularly before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.

jtaylor996

I've heard nepal is pretty amazing on a touring bike.

TimothyH

On the other side of the continent there is the Blue Ridge Parkway. I recommend the southern end in western North Carolina, some of which is 6000ft.

There are also some routes in the Great Smokey Mountains.

Can't think of much else >5000ft in the Southeast.

diphthong

southern california has ca hwy 2 running through
the angeles national forest in the san gabriel mtns
with a good chunk of it above 5,000 ft. tops out at
7,900 ft and close to the dtown los angeles area.

the adjacent san bernardino mtns have ca hwys
138, 18, 330 & 38 that all get up to 5,000 ft +
and allow you to ride at altitude for significant
miles. tops out at 8,900 ft.

don't really recommend either area on the weekends
or a federal holiday because of the traffic but
weekdays are magical and quiet.

Seattle Forrest

Now would be a good time to ride Cascade River Road, do some avalanche watching at the top, and then enjoy a fast descent.