coloradobikemaps

Red Rocks Loop

Looping through Red Rocks Park may be one of the finest rides in the metro area. The access is easy, the approaches have relatively low traffic intensity, and the climbing through Bear Creek Lake Park, through the red sandstone, through Dinosaur Ridge, and up over the I-70 hump is nothing short of sublime. This ride is adapted from Great Road Rides Denver, and for a full description of its beauties, you should go out and buy a copy of the book. Barring that, grab this map and go. Most of the route is pretty straightforward. I recommend riding clockwise, the better to enjoy the short, steep climbs that characterize this route. And then you can fly home along 20th or 26th Ave, something that’s much harder if you are riding east along the Bear Creek Trail.

A few options are shown here, depending on your mood, inclination, direction of travel, and taste for street riding as opposed to trails. Try them all when you have some time. The only typically confusing place is getting from 20th Ave to 10th Ave (or vice versa) in Golden. Follow this link to one of GRRD’s supplemental maps, The Golden Triangle, to help you sort out the many options available to you for getting through Golden. If the weather’s at all cooperative, however, the way to go is near NREL, Camp George West, and the the State Patrol Training Facility, using the cyclo-cross option to reach Isabell St.

Link to PDF version.

May 3, 2011 Posted by Jay Kenney | Denver Metro | Bear Creek Lake Park, Golden, Golden Triangle, Great Road Rides, Red Rocks | 1 Comment