Weekend Wheeling in Denver

As good as the off-road riding is around Boulder and Denver, it is also a great place to take the bike on-road. If long climbs up to high mountain passes are what you snap on a helmet for, you'll find plenty of those. But flatter rides can also be taken.

From Old Stage Road, one can access the popular Lefthand Canyon Drive mountain routes or stick to the flatter foothill country roads to the east; some long, some short, but all nice.

Getting There
From Boulder, take Broadway north to Lee Hill Road and turn left. From Denver, take US Route 36 north and turn left onto Lee Hill Road just before leaving Boulder. Park at the Lee Hill trailhead, the left just short of half a mile from Broadway.

The Ride
From the Lee Hill trailhead, begin a 12-mile loop by turning left (west) and heading up the canyon. This route escapes the hotter flatlands and enters a pine forest. After almost one mile, Lee Hill begins to climb sharply and then is joined by Old Stage Road. Continue straight as it climbs even more steeply.

At the crest of the hill about a mile and a half farther, prepare for a rapid descent to Lefthand Canyon Drive. Turn right at this intersection and then head down to Route 36 and the Greenbriar Restaurant. This is the approximate halfway point of the loop. A right turn onto Route 36 takes you back to Boulder about six miles away. Near Boulder, veer right on Colorado State Route 7. At Lee Hill Road, turn right and head back to the trailhead, thus completing the loop.