The Ride at Waterton Canyon, Colorado

The Waterton Canyon mountain bike ride is really quite spectacular. Its about 30 miles south of Denver. There’s a gravel service road that goes up to the Colorado Trail. Its about 6 uphill miles with an elevation gain of about 500 feet; 5,490′ - 5,925′! My friend Dan took me there several weeks ago on a sunny afternoon to ride there. Here are directions.

The trail follows the South Platte River for the entire distance. While I was riding there, I saw numerous fly fishermen casting in the water. The water is so clear, that on the trail, you can see the fish swimming and coming up to snatch a tasty insect or a fly lure. The trail passes by 3 dams, which are very picturesque in the bucolic countryside.

About the halfway mark, a dozen mule deer flitted across the road and startled us. These were magnificent creatures, full of energy and bounce. There are signs along the trail telling you about the mountain sheep and goats. The ride is really a feast for the eyes. You will see young families, hikers, and fisherman carrying their poles, all enjoying the beauty. It is hard to believe that it’s all up hill; you hardly notice it. Bring your cameras. I would even guess that kids as young as 8 could ride with mom and dad to the top.

At the top of the six miles, you see the largest Dam to the right. Its huge with several bore holes spewing water at a high rate. I assumed it was for hydroelectric power. If you stay straight, there is a trail to Lenny’s Rest. The trail is quite technical. That’s “bike-speak” for: single track, switchbacks, narrow, deep center ruts, rocky, dangerous, nasty riding. Naturally, I decided that I could take that track. Halfway up, I ran out of water; shortly after that, I ran out of desire and will power.

My excuse to the Mrs. was that I ran out of water and that I started too late in the day. We didn’t hit the trail until 2pm that afternoon; but I have to tell you the single-track technical piece just really kicked my butt. I was bathed in heavy sweat, eyes stinging, wet clothes, breathing hard at 6,000 feet, darkness approaching, and I just whimped out. I plan on hitting it again in the Spring and I will bring three times the water and start off at 8 am.

There are rules in Colorado about hiking and biking in the summer. Colorado has over 30 peaks above 14,000 feet. When you hike/bike in the summer, the thunderstorms roll in every afternoon sometime around 12 noon. Be sure to summit by 11:30 am or you have no place to hide on a deforested mountaintop where you are the tallest object for lightening to find.

The ride back down to the parking lot was really a lot of fun once I made it back to the service road. Imagine a 6 mile downhill; relaxing, scenic and with the river below you to your right. What a ride!

See you on the trails.

Cool Places to Ride in Colorado – Winter Park, Colorado

The first time I rode in Colorado was about 10 years ago in the Winter Park Resort Area. We were renting a cabin for a family re-union and I rented a bike for a week. My older brother, Mike a committed biker, also rented a mountain bike.

Winter Park is just up I70 to Route 40 and up straight over the pass to a piece of Heaven.

What is cool about Winter Park is that in the summer, the main chair lift operates for Mountain Bike Kamikaze’s and you know whom I am talking about; that’s right: “YOU!!” You take this lift straight up the mountain; tie your bike on and then it slows down for you to take it off at the top of the lift. It’s a nominal fee for the day.

Ok have to stop. Did you know that they make these bikes called “Down-Hill” bikes? They aren’t meant to ride for speed; they are meant to RIDE downhill like a maniac….ok ok ok, It helps to have suspension and steel frames. Carbon Bikes tend to crack when abused. Ask the good folks at MTOBikes.com. to help you pick one out.

Ok, so, you take the lift to the top and then it’s all down hill from there. Make sure to have elbow pads, kneepads, and full gloves. Do I have to say a good Helmet? You can get in about 10 rides in one day. Its called downhill “technical” riding by the purists, but I think its just about the most fun you can have mountain biking.

Drawbacks? Well, a few, one is altitude sickness, its easy to dehydrate at 12,000 feet and the symptoms are flu like; stay well hydrated and no beer the day you fly into Denver. The other is that it is damn dangerous; easy to break arms and legs and necks, but the views are spectacular; heaven on earth is in Colorado. Also, your shoulders and hands will feel like you are an arthritic old man after about 5 rides, but man is it fun; take your Camel-backs; water is a requirement.

There is also an attraction at Winter Park called the “Alpine Slide”. It is basically a concrete track that goes down the fall line under the afore-mentioned chair lift. You get a car that has a rubber brake and down you go. There are no safety rails and broken limbs are an every day occurrence. Here’s the link: Winter Park, Colorado Summer Activities - RockiesGuide.com

Ok Winter Park for Mountain Bike Riders is the place to go in the summer. I have a good friend who bought a summer cabin in the area; not for his kids, or for the skiing, but for the Mountain Biking. His bike costs 10 times what mine does…sigh. Check out Winter Park for some of the best Mountain Biking in the world!

The Presidential Five

Bring your mountain bike if you’re heading out to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, August 25-28. The five singletrack rides spotlighted below are part of Jefferson County’s Open Space Parks, less than an hour from Denver. They’re guaranteed to make you feel like the leader of the free world, if only for a day.

Dakota Ridge, the Teddy Roosevelt Ride
Locally known as Dinosaur Ridge, this short, technically punishing ride is so named because of its proximity to dinosaur tracks. You’ll need the speed of the Rough Riders to glide over the many rocky sections and nerves of steel to navigate the triceratops-shaped ridge. Clear the waterbar steps on one of the ride’s few ascents, and you’ve conquered San Juan Hill all over again. Expect to shed blood. Don’t even think about doing this as an out-and-back. Take CO Hwy 26 back to your car.

Mt. Falcon, the Harry S Truman Ride
The buck stops at Mt. Falcon—you’re either in shape or you’re not. If you are, access Mt. Falcon from the east lot for maximum executiveness: ascending 1800 feet in just under four miles. Nothing in the climb is too steep or too technical, so clearing the Castle Trail from the parking lot to the stone shelter on top is possible but difficult. Head out in early morning because either the sun will bake you or the lightning will hit you, depending on Mother Nature’s mood. Regardless of when you go, bring as much water as you can carry. When you’re done, light up a cigar. You’ve earned it.

Three Sisters, the JFK Ride
You don’t have to be a philanderer to enjoy the Three Sisters. Shade, shade, shade is the name of the game here. Situated in woodsy Evergreen, this is the perfect intermediate ride if you start from the east (first) lot along Buffalo Park Road. Ascend the Evergreen Mountain East Trail’s 600 feet of elevation in just under two miles, and ponder your own Profiles in Courage (or have lunch) on the big boulder along the Summit Trail loop at the top. Carefully navigate your way down the Summit Trail’s loose gravel and zoom through the off-cambered stretches of trail between the tight switchbacks of Evergreen Mountain West. Take a left onto the aptly named Wild Iris trail, cross Buffalo Park Road, and take Silver Fox to Ponderosa to the Three Sisters trail, a technical maze of switchbacks and boulders that will test your mettle and lead you back to your car. If you clear all the sandy, rocky, boulder-lined switchbacks, you’ve earned the presidential physical fitness award.

Apex, the Abe Lincoln Ride
Honestly one of the most demanding rides along Denver’s Front Range. Park at Heritage Square and enjoy a short warm-up before the Apex Trail becomes steep, rocky, twisty, and exposed. For much of its 2.8 miles, the Apex Trail hugs its way around an oversized hill. The reward for your hard work is the Enchanted Forest, a 1.3-mile connector whose loamy dirt and high pines make you think you’re in Lincoln’s birthplace, minus the log cabin. Connect back to the Apex Trail and keep up your speed for the deserved downhill back to the car.

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