Northern Colorado Rockies

My bike at Brainard Lake

    The Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado provide a number of challenging ascents in close proximity to a public willing to take advantage of them. Near Boulder, roads like Flagstaff, Sunshine Canyon and Lefthand Canyon provide quick access to the mountains. Further north, Trail Ridge Pass is the highest paved continuou road in the U.S. To the south, Mt. Evans, Loveland Pass, Vail Pass and others provide as much climbing as your legs can hold.

Boulder Canyon

While there are many roads up into the mountains, the connection between many of these is the Peak to Peak Highway. This scenic drive enables a number of nice loops through the mountains. A number of other climbs continue into rough dirt that may not be conducive to road riding.

To plan a route, look at the Strava Global Heatmap to find popular routes. The best climbs have already been listed above:

Daniel Stauffer in Boulder Canyon

Four Mile Canyon

Lee Hill Drive

• Flagstaff road: Steep 4.5 mile climb at 8%. Ramps near the top will halve your cadence. Awesome return descent on the switchbacks. 
• Sunshine Canyon: Nearly 6 miles at 6%, the average grade disguises a number of steep ramps around 10%. The descent easily allows for speeds up to 50 mph.
• Lefthand Canyon: a much gentler climb at 4%, it climbs up to the P2P Highway for 18 miles. Many dirt sections from flooding in 2013.
• Trail Ridge Road: 10.5 miles at 5%, enjoy amazing views from the top! $10 entry fee for bikes (part of Rocky Mountain National Park). Elevation extends over 12k ft, bring an oxygen tank or two if you aren't worried about Watts/kg.
• Loveland Pass: Another high pass, this time with ski resorts. Beautiful two-lane bike path leads to start at Loveland Ski area. Climb can be started as far down the canyon as you please. Both sides of the pass are amazing rides.

Top of Lee Hill Drive

Route 34 leading to Trail Ridge Road

Devil's Gulch Road

Devil's Gulch

Trail Ridge Pass

Loveland Pass bike trail

My rides in the area:

Day 1: Lovely loop into the mountains with a nice detour to see Brainard Lake.

Day 2: Trip up Sunshine Canyon.

Day 3: Flagstaff and Four Mile Canyon. Rest of the loop was uninspiring.

Day 4a: Flagstaff and Sunshine again. The nicest climbs (and descents) in Boulder.

Day 4b: Lovely short loop on Olde Stage, Lee Hill and Lefthand Canyon.

Day 5: Eldarado Canyon. Rough road, would be awesome on a CX bike.

Day 6: Long day, lots of climbing up Trail Ridge. Gulch Rd/County Rd 43 is a must do if you don't mind some dirt: almost zero traffic and great riverside scenery. Beware! No water above park entrance. Bring at least 3 bottles if climbing to the top.

Day 7: Gorgeous! Awesome bike path to get up to start. Do both sides and takes lots of pictures.

Loveland Pass

Loveland Pass

Arapahoe Basin

Bighorn Mountains, WY

Rt. 14 to the west

 The Bighorn Mountains in Northern Wyoming jut abruptly from the rolling plains below. Two highways cut through the range: Rt.s 14 and 16 climb up and drop back down in bicycle-friendly fashion. There are five total climbs, each around 4500 ft. from bottom to top. Each climb shall be described in some detail below.

Route 14 from West: Starting steeply in a scenic canyon, you gradually climb out onto the open hills at higher elevation. A bathroom/parking lot 10 miles in also has a drinking fountain. The top of the climb is somewhat shallower but grades are fairly consistent throughout. Quite a slog at 18 miles in length. As you leave the canyon the surrounding mountains tower above, providing the best views.

Climbing Granite Pass out of the canyon (Rt. 14)

Route 14 from East: Another gradual climb, this road sticks to the side of the mountain. A number of twists and turns make lovely descending towards the bottom of the climb. The red road leads up into the mountains and then along the side of a deep valley. The last few miles include two smaller descents that are sure to discourage if discovered unexpectedly.

Route 14A: The toughest climb I've ever done. A 3.5 mile section at 10% in the middle makes lower gearing a near necessity. Unfortunately, I did not have such a luxury and my knees paid the price. As did my bike - the rear wheel's hub axle sheared apart near the top and required an early descent and new rear wheel. Approach this climb with a lightness of body, not mentality.  The descent is also challenging and I stopped frequently to cool my brakes. The best climb in the Bighorns, the curves and views take 14A to the next level of ascending. But bring low gears!

Route 16 from West: Another long, gradual climb. Starting out in a large valley, there are only a couple switchbacks before the ascent straightens out. Water can be found in campgrounds along the way but not directly by the road. Rollers near the top mean the average gradient betrays the steepness of some sections. Not a particularly difficult climb but takes time. I didn't do this ride (broken bike) but my brother did and reported back.

Rt. 16: Powder River Pass

Route 14 from East: Neither my brother nor I rode this but we drove down and took notes. Some very steep sections and several major descents hide a quite challenging climb. Hard to establish a rhythm with the changing grades. Very steep extended beginning. Steep again at the top. Make sure to recover a bit on the descents when you can.

Granite Pass

Trail to Mistymoon Lake

Rt. 14 from the East

Rt. 14A: the mountains that lay ahead

Switchbacks on Rt. 14A

Camping by Mistymoon Lake

View from Cloud Peak

Strava Files:
Bighorns Day 1: Granite Pass (Rt. 14) from both sides. Stopped early from the East because of a hornet in my jersey whose stings made breathing difficult.
Bighorns Day 2a: Rt. 14A - hard climb but you just keep pushing. Careful on the descent!
Bighorns Day 2b: Hike in to Mistymoon Lake - nice 6 mile hike. Bring bug repellent in summer: clouds of mosquitoes.
Bighorns Day 3: Climbing Cloud Peak from Mistymoon Lake and hike back out. Lots of climbing large boulders, no discernible trail most of the time.
Bighorns Day 3 Daniel: Powder River Pass from West. Scenic start, steepest through the middle. Rolling at top.

Author atop Cloud Peak

Minneapolis, MN

Minnehaha Falls

Typical bicycle path

    Serious cycling in Minneapolis is, in a word, frustrating. A great system of trails connects much of the city but doing a long ride into the country is not so simple. Harsh winters result in poor road quality, most roads outside the city are busy and not bicycle friendly and there is a dearth of hills. As a result, this review will cover roller skiing in the Minneapolis area. These routes will also cover casual cycling interests.

    The best route takes you on a tour of four lakes to the southwest. The entire route runs along bike trails (though some sections get flooded in a summer as rainy as this). Flat, of course. Look for water fountains all along the way and stop at Minnehaha falls (first image). 

Hilly Afton 

Afton country road

    The next route simply follows the Mississippi River down one side, across a bridge and back up. There a number of bridges along the way to cut across and shorten the ski. A couple water fountains on the west bank.
    Theodore Wirth park also has some smooth trails in a somewhat less urban environment. Just expect an out-and-back.



    The nicest route I found was 20 minutes away in Afton. Covering a number of country roads and actually including hills, it makes for an extended workout. Make sure to go early on hot days; the oil-gravel road surface softens in summer heat and it feels like roller skiing through plato. The road also grabs yours wheels and pulls you to a stop - high crash danger. The Afton area kills Minneapolis in terms of roller skiing and biking.

An Afton house ensconced in nature 

 Roller Ski Routes:
Tour of Lakes - Roller ski marathon. Nice views and asphalt.
Along the Mississippi - Nice paths along Mississippi. Instead of dropping down to river, stay along Hiawatha Ave. for smoother trails and to avoid a "challenging" descent.
Theodore Wirth Park - Very lovely trails in the park but somewhat short and only out-and-back.
To Roseville - The University Transitway is well-paved with little traffic. The way out is bad but the return trip was nice bike paths. Continue just a bit further to go around some lakes.
Afton Roller Ski - Lovely, quiet country roads. Avoid skiing here during summer midday - road surface softens and makes roller skiing impossible.

Bike path in Theodore Wirth Park

If you do want to ride seriously in Minneapolis, go with a group that can lead you on the nicest roads and provide protection on major roads. Here are some rides I did with the Twin City Bike Club:
Apple Valley - 80 miles, nice finish along the Mississippi near St. Paul.
Northwest - 112 miles. Beware prevalent southern winds will give strong headwind on return. Avoid E. Viking Blvd. which is block by Polaris compound.
Orchard/Crystal Lake - 70 miles. Nice lake views, variety of quiet residential roads.
Minnetonka Lake - 66 miles - dirt paths both ways. Carver Park is highlight with some very isolated bike trails. Shoreline Dr. along Minnetonka is also nice but very trafficked.

Glacier National Park!

Avalanche Lake

    Glacier NP contains some of the finest scenery in the US. Located in a northern Monata, the park still gets 1.6 million visitors per year - a testament to its beauty. Only one road, Going-to-the-Sun road, penetrates the interior of the park (and extends the entire way through). On this road you can climb 3500 ft. up to Logan Pass at 6646 ft. elevation. Usually at least one section of the road is under construction so expect delays.

    Be careful of the red touring cars full of visitors - they have knocked a few people off their bikes and drivers behave in a cavalier fashion. Don't be afraid to take the lane if passing isn't safe; traffic can come to standstill anyways because of heavy congestion. Due to this gridlock, cyclists are required to have ascended to the pass by noon. The earlier your start the better: less traffic means more time spent looking out into the valley. Most cyclists climb from the West - if you have the energy descend the other side and climb back up. The east side is a shorter climb (10 vs 7.5 miles, both at 5%). Dropping back back down to Lake McDonald (the west side) in the afternoon can be frustrating; traffic tends to travel more slowly than a fast cyclist descends. I probably passed around 20 cars on the way down but a slightly more cautious approach is recommended (I had a scary moment slipping between two cars).

Avalanche Creek running through a gorge

     Glacier Park requires an 7-day entry permit that costs $25 per car, $12 if on bike. Going-to-the-Sun road only opens in mid summer: see this link for an idea of how much snow needs plowing. Sections of the road also close mid September so plan your trip accordingly if you want to ride this fabulous climb. You can get more water at the visitor center atop Logan Pass.

    I suggest starting from the southwest end of Lake McDonald and enjoying the flat 10 mile stretch along the lake. Follow the road as it begins to slowly climb along McDonald Creek. As you part ways with the creek (mile 20), the climb begins immediately and climbs steadily at 5% to the top for 10 miles. Continuing down the other side is just as nice a road if you have the energy. The return descent can be skipped if you're soaked in freezing rain, as I was, by taking a free shuttle back down. I was even allowed to put take my bike inside the uncrowded shuttle bus. There aren't too many miles of riding but the hiking is also amazing.

    I don't suggest going to Glacier without a bike, this is a can't-miss road. Here are gps files of my two days in the park:
Day One a: Logan Pass Ascent from West in cold, cold rain
Day One b: small side road from the park station
Day Two: Logan Pass from West, then East and return descent - best day of biking of my life

Clements Mt. to the left and Logan Pass center from east Going-to-the-Sun rd.

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road

View of Mt. Cannon and Clements Mt. from Going-to-the-Sun Rd.

Bozeman, Montana

Bridger Mountains

     Surrounded by mountains in the Gallatin Valley, Bozeman offers a number of long, gradual climbs for cyclists. There are a few scenic, low-traffic routes from the city. Outside of these routes though, a cyclocross or mountain bike would make for much more cycling variety.
    The ride through Bridger Canyon is a 20 mile gradual ascent at average 2% grade. Pavement is decent, traffic is reasonable and the views are breathtaking! As is the altitude if you're new to town. Two roads branch off of Bridger Canyon rd. that are worth taking: Kelly Canyon is a steep little detour to town and Jackson Creek takes you over to the I-90 frontage road. Avoid Brackett Creek rd. unless you want to ride 15 miles of large, loose gravel and dirt that works its way into every part of your bicycle. The I-90 frontage road is quite empty and not dangerous to bike towards Livingston. On the other side of Bozeman (towards Belgrade), the frontage road is busy and shoulderless - I don't advise cycling there.

Elephant Mountain past Hyalite Reservoir

     Another great ride goes up to the Hyalite Dam in the Gallatin Range. The climb itself is 10 miles at 3%. The climb steepens towards the top but the creek and mountain views inspire upward progress. A dead-end road, traffic is usually not hurried and drivers are careful. At the top, the pavement continues into a dirt track that would make for good cyclocross riding. The view of the lake and mountains at the top is wonderful. The return descent shoots you back out to the Gallatin Valley.

Sunset over Bozeman

Mountains from Bridger Canyon Rd.

    The riding in Bozeman itself is uninspiring, though there are plenty of quiet roads to get out of town and the Triple Tree Development has a nice little section with fresh pavement. Riding to the west leads to fairly flat riding with a few nice roads along creeks.
    My favorite ride during my summer in Bozeman was a century ride over to Paradise Valley. Passing through Kelly Canyon and Jackson Creek, it covers the nicest roads to the east. Taking the frontage road down to Livingston, you then head south on East River rd. An alternative to the highway, this road has very little traffic and pleasant views of the Valley. The crowning jewel of this ride is a Luccock Park rd, a climb that leads you onto the lower mountain slopes to a church camp. Climbing up gives a nice perspective out into the valley below. The return trip follows the same roads; save some energy for the 25 mile slog out of Livingston up the frontage road!

Bridger Mountains from the west

Top of Luccock Park climb in Paradise Valley 

Joshua Mirth with Big Sky Ski Resort in background

The road riding in Bozeman provides a few great mountain views and challenging climbs but once you ride these, there is not enough asphalt for much variety on longer rides. A cyclocross or mountain bike would open up a vast network of fire roads that would make amazing riding. The consistent highlight of Bozeman riding is Hyalite itself.

GPS routes:
Hyalite Canyon - 40 mile route up to lake in the mountains
Bridger Canyon - 50 mile out-and-back between two mountain ranges with great views
Western Loop - 65 flat miles of sun exposure. Best riding to the west I could find
Kelly Canyon/Jackson Creek - Nicest climbs near Bozeman on smaller country roads. Can easily be shortened
Eastern Century - Large eastern loop. Partially on highway but not too busy
Paradise Valley - Wonderful ride over to Livingston and up to a camp in the mountains. Fun climb at turn-around point

Shenandoah National Park

Near Shenandoah NP

View from the Ridge

    Snaking 110 miles along the ridge through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Skyline Drive is an amazing ride for any fit cyclist. Always gradually climbing or descending, riding through the park is quite strenuous but not technical. The asphalt is smooth and clean throughout. Before summer traffic picks up, spring riding offers the same views without huge traffic; make sure to bring some extra layers though! The views are excellent!

    While Skyline Drive itself is great riding, the quiet valley roads provide a flatter alternative. Traveling out Skyline and back through the valley makes amazing loops (i.e. this ride). The surrounding mountains also make challenging climbing. Here is a ride across the valley up to West Virginia that included miles of gentle switchbacks to fly down - one of my favorite descents ever!





    The smaller ridges in the middle of Shenandoah Valley are also nice climbs. Fort Valley road between them is a lovely ride on a small country road. Here is a ride that made for a nice recovery day on my trip to the area.

Morning Light on Skyline Dr.

Climb to Skyline Dr.

    The roads coming up from the valley connecting at 1/3 and 2/3 through Skyline Drive are great riding as well. Fairly challenging climbs a couple miles long with average gradients up to 7%, these roads provide a stronger test than Skyline Dr. itself. Traffic is fairly fast but two lanes on the ascent give traffic plenty of room to move around. The descents are a little tighter so get in to your best tuck! Descending for nearly 20 minutes from the top of the ridge to the valley is quite the experience!


    Skyline drive and the Shenandoah valley make for some the best riding in the East. The Appalachian Trail also runs through Shenadoah NP if you're looking for some hiking. The quiet country roads nearby push the road riding here to the next level. Plus, cleaning off in this glacially-cold, crystal clear river was an amazing way to end the days' workouts!

GPS Files of Each Day's Ride:

Day One - 30 miles on country roads

Day Two - Beautiful climb in WV followed by a flat loop in country, 70 miles

Day Three - 90 mile loop through southernmost section of Skyline Dr.

Day Four - Out-and-back through the middle of Skyline, 11k ft over 93 miles

Day Five - 40 mile out-and-back rest day ride along creek with nice climb in the middle

Day Six - P2P 45 miles through the northernmost section of Skyline