United StatesColorado Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

7.3
PDI
4.5 mi
DISTANCE
1,280 ft
GAINED
5.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
MORE

Page Contributor(s): Bud Rockhill, Golden, CO, USA

INTRO

This 4.5 mile bike climb is located in CO, USA. The average gradient is 5.4% and there is a total elevation gain of 1,280 ft, finishing at 7,336 ft.

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ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
4.7
Road
3.3
Traffic
3.7
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

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Aug 18, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 4
Aug 18, 2021
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 4
Great climb out of golden. Go early on a weekday it wasnt too busy but traffic picked up the closer I got to 10am. Started from Beverly heights park then went past the stopping point marked on the map up to colorow Rd which gives you some extra climbing up some mild hills 😁 adding this little extra also loops back to lookout mountain Rd so it's extra awesome. Overall it was quite a ride up not overly difficult but def made you keep the pressure on.
May 21, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
May 21, 2021
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
A great, but short, climb. My round trip took about 50 minutes. So, of course, coming from flat Minnesota, I had to do the climb twice. Tip: Check the race schedule. I happened to luck out last Saturday due to the local bike club holding a race on the Mountain. Consequently, the road was closed to traffic for my first assent. That said, the second climb did have traffic but, frankly, is was light and of little consequence. Strongly suggest doing the climb on a weekend because parking in lots on the School of Mining campus (which is less than a mile from the foot of the climb) is free!
Mar 9, 2021
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
Mar 9, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
Be prepared for A LOT of people. Runners, hikers, bikers, etc. nice little climb that's close to a lot of breweries, eateries, etc.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Lookout Mountain, Colorado - sign for Colorado School of Mines

Cycling Lookout Mountain, Golden, Colorado

Ride six miles gaining 1,585’ at 5% average grade. 

Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

Lookout Mountain is the most popular bicycle climb in the Denver Metropolitan Area (219,972 attempts by 22,922 people on Strava as of August 15, 2020 - an unprecedented number for a US bike climb). Downtown Denver is twelve miles to the east of the mountain and on a clear day, can be seen at times along the climb.

Cycling Lookout Mountain, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, cyclist riding on road toward mountains, sign for Colorado School of Mines, Cyclist wearing PJAMM Cycling jersey standing with bikes next to sign, view4 of town looking down from above, sign for Lookout Mountain Park

One of the most popular starting locations is at “The Pillars” which are located at the right hairpin just up Lookout Mountain Road from its intersection with 19th Street, Golden, Colorado.

Left:  The Golden Arches which pre-date McDonalds.

Right:  Climb begins in Golden at The Pillars.

Photos:  Bud Rockhill, Golden, CO

As you ascend out of town you will pass the campus of Colorado School of Mines. After passing through a roundabout and over US Highway 6, you will approach Lookout Mountain Road and veer left. Beverly Heights Park will be on your left as you approach the first switchback that begins the mountain approach.

The grade on the climb is fairly steady, never exceeding 7%.  The steepest quarter mile is 7.1% and the steepest half mile 6.4%.

Cycling Lookout Mountain, Colorado - cyclist wearing PJAMM Cycling jersey standing on hillside overlooking Colorado School of Mines

View of Colorado School of Mines looking east across Highway 6,

1.6 miles up the climb.

I have a special place in my heart for the School of Mines -- my daughter’s UCSD women’s soccer team played the School of Mines in the NCAA Division II round of 8 in Evans, Colorado - UCSD won on PK’s and advanced to the NCAA Final Four, losing by one in the finals that year.

But anyway, back to cycling -- the grade is mild at 3-5% but consistent through the six mile trek. The road is well kept with multiple pullouts for taking in the views.

Photos by Bud Rockhill, Golden

Upper left - Lookout Mountain in background looking from Clear Creek in downtown Golden

Upper right - view of Lookout Mountain from Windy Saddle parking lot, mile 2.9

Lower photo - Lookout hairpins.

The climb ends at the entrance to Lookout Mountain Park.  

Cycling Lookout Mountain, Colorado - Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center

Visit the Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center after your ride (mile 5).

Photo:  Jefferson County Colorado Open Space.

Lookout Mountain is famous for the gravesite of Buffalo Bill (William Frederick Cody), which we pass at 4.6 miles but cannot see from the road.

Photos:  Denver Library.

Burial story of Buffalo Bill:

“On January 10, 1917, while visiting his sister in Denver, famous scout, Buffalo hunter, showman and ultimate Son of the West, Buffalo Bill Cody died from kidney failure. Because he passed away in the middle of the winter the road to Lookout Mountain, the spot where he wanted to be buried, was impassable. So Olinger’s Mortuary, where he was initially interred, kept his remains in cold storage for six months - embalming it six times - until the road up to the Lookout Mountain was made passable. . . .” (read more here).

Parking:  There are public parking lots on 19th Street near the campus, just before US Highway 6. Pay not enforced on weekends (free parking!).