Estes Park Loop

 

Total Travel:  92 mi, 3 hrs

 

Description:  (This will be a guided ride for the International Ride-In.)

 

Leg 1:  30 mi, 45 mins; enjoy the amazing Big Thompson River Canyon going up US-34 to Estes Park in the morning.  Drive slowly and take lots of pictures!  You can thank us later.  Stop at the Estes Park Visitor Center for a leg stretcher and bathroom break.  Consider taking an hour walking into downtown Estes Park to sightsee or shop.

 

Leg 2:  35 mi, 1 hr; avoid downtown Estes Park traffic by taking a right turn out of the visitor center.  Past Lake Estes (east edge of town before the road turns steeply uphill), take a right on Mall Road, zig-zag across US-36 and take Fish Creek Road all the way to CO-7 (Peak-to-Peak Hwy) at the south edge of Estes Park. Heading south of Peak-to-Peak Hwy, take your time and enjoy the views of several "14-ers" in the Continental Divide as you head downhill to Lyons for lunch at one of our favorite BBQ restaurants:  Smokin' Dave's BBQ, in Lyons.

 

Leg 3:  24 mi, 35 min; head east from Lyons and take "the scenic route" back to Fairgrounds Park in Loveland.

 

Caution:  Watch for wildlife in the city of Estes Park, especially in the early morning.  And as always, watch for sand and pea-sized gravel on the roads, especially in the Spring.

 

 

1.  From Visitors Center, consider walk into Estes Park along the river path.

 

GPX File:  Estes_Park_Loop.gpx   (To download, right click link and select "Save Link As..." to save it to your computer.  There are many things you can do with a GPX file once it is on your computer.  We assume you will know what to do with them based on your particular use for them [e.g. in GPS-based navigation devices, making maps, etc.]).

 

Map:  (Full-Screen Map)