Rockies Road Tour

More Trips by this Operator

Trip Highlights

This holiday takes you on the finest hand picked routes through the Rockies and with over 63,000 ft of road climbs in two weeks, this is a truly unforgettable adventure for the true cycling addict. Colorado in the summer time is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Lush green pine forests climb the slopes to majestic, snow capped 14000ft. peaks which overlook crystal clear mountain lakes feeding miles of raging white water creeks. You will parallel the rivers as they start to meander across vast grasslands where wildlife thrives and aspen forests provide further atmosphere as the sun flickers its shards through the foliage and the Elk look on. We move from town to town through the Rockies with a support vehicle at all times. This means there is no need to carry excessive supplies with you, after all you're here to cycle, not imitate a pack horse. There is no reason to ride a road for the sake of it so we have selected the best routes in the Rockies to fill your two week adventure with. There literally will not be a dull day! If this isn't the ultimate cycling holiday, we don't know what is.

Price Details

Price

From: GBP895 per person (14 Days)

Price Includes

All transfers
Accommodation
Support vehicle
All national park fees

Price Excludes

Flights Food

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival day
After a long day travelling, relax in Denver and dream of the miles ahead.

Day 2 - Introduction and your first ride
We head out from Denver into the foothills to the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.
41 miles from Nederland to Estes Park. This is a great starting route with lots of rollers of various sizes eventually climbing to Wind River Pass before a great downhill into Estes Park. Along the way you'll be treated to rolling pine forests and great views of Rocky Mountain National Park and its many famous peaks.....tomorrow, you'll be riding them!

Day 3 - Trail Ridge Road
45 miles from Estes Park to Grand Lake. This is cited by many as one of Colorado's ultimate rides and its definitely going to push you to the limit. The entire day is spent within Rocky Mountain National Park where you will rise from the lush grassland valley floors, through the dense pine forests and out into the crisp tundra landscape surrounded by 14000ft. snow capped peaks. A 25 mile downhill with hairpins and fast sweeping corners takes you across the continental divide and down into the head waters of the Colorado River but watch out for the elk, moose and bear!

Day 4 - Windy Gap and the Blue River Valley
63 miles of flowing rollers from Granby to Silverthorne.
There are no major climbs today, just miles of grey ribbon which snake through lush grasslands, home to several buffalo herds. Along the way, you'll pass canyons, hot sulphur springs and glistening mountain reservoirs all the time being flanked by the impressive white peaks.

Day 5 - Rest day
After three days of riding at these high altitudes you'll welcome the chance to catch up on your rest. There is plenty to do around the Dillon Lake area. Mountain biking, golfing, fishing, sailing, shopping, drinking(!) the choice is yours.

Day 6 - Hoosier Pass
75 miles with only one challenging pass today with fast rolling roads taking you through varying landscapes from Summit county's dense pine forests across South Park's grasslands and into Buena Vista's dryer shrub land dominated by the imposing Sawatch Range. The ride takes you around Dillon Lake and through the lively ski resort of Breckenridge and carries on south, once again crossing the continental divide at Hoosier Pass. More downhill rollers take you out across the plains of Park County where wildlife can be abundant.

Day 7 - Cottonwood Pass
40 miles out and back ride with 5700ft. of accent and descent and a high point of 12100ft.
We couldn't bring you all this way without showing you one of Colorado's classic rides. The views from the top are immense as you look out on the Sawatch Range with the Collegiate Peaks and the Continental Divide in the background. The road to the top draws you in with gentle uphill rollers through the valley floors only to punish you with some of the steepest paved sections of byway in the state. Coming back down makes every drop of sweat shed worthwhile.

Day 8 - Monarch Pass
55 miles from Salida to Gunnison, this ride is an epic from the word go. Climbing through damp, cool forest on a smooth open road the first few miles will drift by but the climb soon kicks in and reaching the summit is a great achievement. As a reward for your efforts, one of the fastest downhills in the area will see you grinning all the way to Gunnison and your hotel room. You'll also get to see the huge contrast in scenery the Rockies have to offer as you pass from the lush forest into the dry baked grasslands and sage bush of Gunnison County.

Day 9 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison
66 miles of challenging undulations, today's ride will be a tough one and if you're into rollers, they don't come much bigger then these! The excellent quality road climbs along side the immense Black Canyon, one of the most impressive canyons in the States with sheer drop-offs on the roadside and spectacular views at every turn of the day.

Day 10 - McClure Pass
59 miles, taking you from Paonia to Carbondale. Leaving the sage brush behind, you climb through orchards, wildflower meadows, aspen groves and eventually reach the familiar territory of pine forests and snow capped peaks. The Raggeds Wilderness looms over this ride and it is one of the most intimidating rages in Colorado with its broken cliff faces and peaks.

Day 11 - Rest day
Spend the day relaxing in Glenwood Springs. As the name suggests, hot springs are available here and it's a great place to unwind and sooth the aching limbs in a therapeutic hot pool. Whilst you're here, it's well worth visiting Glenwood Canyon which the town is built at the Westerly entrance to. 1000ft. cliffs loom above you as the Colorado river surges through the canyon floor and it's whole ten mile length is accessible by paved cycle track if your legs are up to it!

Day 12 - Independence Pass
58 miles from Aspen to Leadville. This is another classic Colorado stage and certainly one you'll remember, climbing 4000 vertical feet in just 17miles. This is a climber's dream with every type of terrain thrown in. The Alpine style hairpins see you climb well beyond the tree line to a summit that you can 'big ring' for that extra satisfaction of conquering Colorado's highest paved public highway. From the top you can view the snaking challenging descent below with the backdrop of the highest peaks in Colorado.

Day 13 - Tennessee and Vail Pass
64 miles with three mountain passes. The first is a gradual climb from Leadville to Tennessee Pass and gains you 400ft. which adds to the 2000ft. downhill on the other side. The next pass comes and goes with a similarly out of proportion downhill. Joining back up with Summit County's bike path system keeps you away from the traffic for the last 25 mile stretch taking you over the highest point of the day on Vail Pass at 10700ft. The beautiful aspens, mountain lakes and beaver ponds of Ten Mile Canyon accompany you back to the Dillon Lake area.

Day 14 - Mt. Evans
56 miles out and back ride with 8400ft. of ascent and descent and a high point of 14100ft.!
What a way to round off your holiday. This will be a very tough day but one you will certainly never forget. Infamous among road cyclists worldwide, this unique challenge is not to be missed, or taken lightly for that matter. By now you will be well adjusted to riding at high altitude but today will take you 2000ft. higher then your highest pass so far. Within the Mt. Evans National Park the Mt. Evans Highway climbs all the way to the summit and as you would expect the views are the most spectacular of the holiday. Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Summit county, the Collegiate Peaks, South Park, in fact, almost your whole two week route can all be seen from the top! It's no walk in the park to get there though. This climb is not for the faint hearted (or lunged!) but if you choose to take the challenge, you will join the ranks of the relative few to conquer this beast. Needless to say, rounding off the day with a glorious 28 mile descent couldn't be more fitting.

The final night will be spent in Denver from where guests are free to travel home as they have arranged.