United StatesColorado Almagre Mountain
Almagre Mountain Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

38.8
PDI
26.1 mi
DISTANCE
6,295 ft
GAINED
4.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Bracken C, Colorado Springs, CO; Austin Frindt, Colorado Springs, CO; Grady Faint, Jefferson, GA

INTRO

Almagre Mountain is a 12,300-foot peak overlooking Colorado Springs, and this route is the hard way up it: 26.1 miles and 6,295 feet of gain at a 4.45% average grade, starting at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center in North Cheyenne Canon Park. With a road-surface rating of just 1 out of 5, it is one of Colorado's toughest gravel challenges. 

The first 3.8 miles are paved, climbing at a manageable 6.8% through the canyon past Helen Hunt Falls. Past the vehicle gate the road turns to loose, sandy gravel and threads through three century-old mining tunnels, one requiring a short hike-a-bike detour around a locked gate. Beyond potholed Forest Road 370, a turn onto FR 379 at Frosty Park starts the real climbing: above 10,000 feet the surface degrades into large rocks, deep ruts, and loose stone to a radio-tower summit with sweeping, treeless views of the Front Range. 

Almagre - Spanish for "red ochre" - was the name Spanish explorers gave this stretch of the Front Range in the 18th century, and the mountain's reddish rock still shows along the upper road. Riders tend to agree a mountain or full-suspension gravel bike with wide tires is the ideal way to go - one contributor calls the final mile "chunky and rough" but doable, while a 2026 reviewer spent much of the climb in a 30x50 gear and called the rocky descent "pretty miserable" on anything but a mountain bike.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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This climb backloads its difficulty. The first 3.8 miles out of Colorado Springs are paved and climb at a steady 6.8% through North Cheyenne Canon Park to about 7,630 feet, where the gravel begins. From there the grade eases to roughly 4.2%, including a short breather of about 1.4 miles of gentle descent (-1.45%) around mile 16, before the road turns onto Forest Road 379 at Frosty Park. The final push averages roughly 7% over the last several miles, with the last 1.1 miles to the 12,300-foot summit holding 7.3% over badly rutted, rocky dirt above 11,900 feet. Overall the climb averages 4.45% over 26.1 miles for 6,295 feet of gain - a long day defined more by the punishing road surface (PJAMM road rating: 1 out of 5) than by sheer gradient.
Roadway: The first 3.8 miles are paved, climbing through North Cheyenne Canon Park. Past the vehicle gate the surface turns to loose, sandy gravel - tricky to keep traction on with narrow tires - and passes through three narrow, century-old mining tunnels (a locked gate forces a short hike-a-bike detour around one of them on an adjoining trail). Forest Road 370 is heavily potholed but an improvement on the sand, and once the route turns onto FR 379 above 10,000 feet, the surface deteriorates into large rocks, deep ruts, washboard, and loose stone to the summit. PJAMM rates the road surface just 1 out of 5 - a gravel bike with wide tires works, but a hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike is more comfortable. 

Traffic: The paved lower section through the park sees regular car and pedestrian traffic near the Starsmore and Helen Hunt Falls visitor centers. Above the gate, motorized traffic is technically restricted, but surrounding dirt roads draw heavy Jeep, ATV, and OHV traffic, especially summer weekends. Two locked gates (near mile 11.4, and again about 1.1 miles from the summit) block motor vehicles from the upper mountain but appear to permit cyclists and hikers past. 

Parking: Park at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center (2120 S. Cheyenne Canon Rd), the official start of the climb, or at Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center about 3 miles up to shorten the paved approach.
This is a long, remote, high-altitude ride - plan for 4 to 6-plus hours round trip with no services (water, food, or bike shops) once you leave Colorado Springs, so carry more water and food than you think you will need. Wide tires (38mm or larger) and a wide-range gravel or mountain-bike drivetrain are essential for the loose gravel and rocky, rutted sections above 10,000 feet; riders who have done it recommend a full-suspension mountain bike over a gravel bike for both the rough ascent and the technical descent. The summit sits at 12,300 feet, well above treeline, where weather turns quickly and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer - pack a wind and rain layer and start early. A GPS track loaded in advance is worth having too, since the unmarked junctions with Forest Roads 370, 379, and 379A can be confusing on a first visit.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
The climb starts a few minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, making it easy to pair with the city's other attractions - Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline, and the paved Pikes Peak Highway are all nearby if you want a contrast to Almagre's rough gravel. North Cheyenne Canon Park itself, which the route climbs through, is worth a slower look on the way up or down - it is one of the city's oldest parks, established in the 1880s on land donated by Colorado Springs founder General William Jackson Palmer. 

Summer and fall are the most reliable seasons; snow can linger into early summer near the treeless summit, and the exposed upper mountain is not a place to be caught in a lightning storm. For current road and gate conditions, the Pikes Peak Ranger District (719-636-1602) is the best source before you go.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Extreme
1/5
Road
5/5
Traffic
4/5
Scenery

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Aug 4, 2026
difficulty: Extreme
scenery: 4
traffic: 5
road: 1
Aug 4, 2026
scenery: 4
traffic: 5
road: 1
Rode this over the weekend. Was very happy to have by full Sus MTB for both the rocky chunks of the ascent and of course the descent. Spent plenty of time in the 30x50 gear. The descent from Almagre back to gold camp would be pretty miserable on a gravel bike I think. Totally awesome ride though, and was fun to hit the Jones loop for some great single track descending as well.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Almagre, Colorado

Ride 25 miles gaining 6,115’ to 12,266’ at 4.6% average grade (5.1% climb only)

This is the hardest gravel climb in Colorado and the eighth hardest in the United States.  Amagre Mountain, also known as Mount Baldy, is the second highest peak visible from Colorado Springs after Pikes Peak.

Climb summary by PJAMM’s Brad Butterfield:

The start point of this climb is on a paved road close to the heart of Colorado Springs. Within a mile you’ll enter North Cheyenne canon Park where the road was laid at the center of a deep rocky canyon. After about 4 miles of paved climbing through the canyon, there is a gate prohibiting vehicle traffic from continuing on the dirt road. At this point, the road is loose gravel and sandy in sections. With a gravel bike/narrow tires, it can be very difficult to keep traction on parts of this section of the climb - but it is doable. A few miles into the gravel road, a gate blocks one of the tunnels this road goes through. Fortunately, there is a hiking trail that skirts around the mountain and rejoins the road. The hiking trail that you must ride to access the road beyond the tunnel is rideable - but just barely. The trail is less than .5 mile long. Beyond the first tunnel, there are two more, which are both open, before the dirt road intersects with national forest road 370. Though this forest road is heavily potholed, it is a marked improvement over the sandy road which takes you to it. A right turn onto FR 379, Frosty Park marks the beginning of the toughest part of the climb. At this point, you’re above 10,000 feet of elevation and the road quality both deteriorates and becomes steep. There are large rocks, deep ruts and potholes, and loose rock to contend with. With a little over one mile left to climb, there is a large gate preventing motorized traffic from continuing to the summit. 2 more large switchbacks bring you to the summit of the mountain, marked by a large raido tower. The final mile to the summit is on very poorly maintained dirt. As the road quality is very poor for much of this climb, it is a very arduous 26 miles to descend on a gravel bike.

START OF CLIMB TO GRAVEL

The first 3.8 of the 25 miles of this climb are paved and average 6.8% with a gain of 1,314’ to elevation 7,630’ where the the pavement ends and gravel begins at Seven Bridges Trailhead (moderately challenging out and back route - 3.4 miles, 849’ elevation gain).

The climb begins at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center Colorado Springs, by riding west on Cheyenne Boulevard.

Aerial view west towards Colorado Springs about 3 miles up Cheyenne Canyon Road

Upper left aerial view west towards Visitor Center; Upper right view east towards Colorado Springs.

Photo from 2 miles up from start.

The road turnst to North Cheyenne Canyon Road at Starsmore VC and takes you to Helen Hunt Visitor Center

Parking lot to Helen Hunt VC

The pavement ends at the upper parking lot of North Cheyenne Cañon Park (1,600 acres). The park's origins date back to the late 19th century when General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, donated land to establish several parks, including North Cheyenne Cañon Park. In 1885, the City of Colorado Springs purchased an additional 640 acres, making it one of the oldest parks in the city.

Mile 3.8 - 21.6 miles to go at 4.2% to elevation 12,265’

There is 155’ of descent on the climb, most notably 1.4 miles at -1.45% from mile 15.9 to 17.3

GRAVEL TO TOP

No off roading sign at mile 4.7 adjacent to the Buckhorn Cutoff Trailhead

Varying levels of surface on the climb - conditions range from 1 very smooth to 5 very rough.

NF 370 sign at mile 12.7; NF 379 mile 20.7 and NF 379A at mile 23.

Mile 11.5

Short cave at mile 9

We ride through three short one hundred year old caves used by miners and there are a couple others in view along the climb.

We encounter a variety of trees along the climb including Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine and Colorado Blue Spruce.

Along with the varying roadway surfaces and trees species, we encounter several interesting rock formations along the climb.

We encounter Gate #1 at mile 11.4 and it is not prohibited to ride around and past it.

Unnamed Pond at mile 14.8

County maintenance ends at mile 16.2 and it does get rougher past this point.

Mile 16.4

Sharp hairpin at mile 21.8 - 2.7 miles at 7% and fairly rough riding to go.

Almagre is derived from the Spanish word for red which reflects the mountain and road’s distinctive reddish hue.

Gate #2 - 1.1 miles at 7.3% to the top.

This is the second, and most formidable of the gates on this climb.  The sign says it is for authorized “vehicles” only and goes on to say that the road is “closed to motorized vehicles.”  We interpret this to mean that we may ride our bikes past the gate and to the top, which we did.  We found nothing on the internet to suggest one cannot hike or ride past the gate and the All Trials Almagre Mountain hike goes past the gate to the peak.

TOP

Travel above tree line at about 11,900’ just before the end of the climb.

The photos above are of the last segment of the climb - 1.1 miles at 7.3% gaining 400’ to elevation 12,265’.

Seemingly abandoned radio towers at the end of the climb.

Unobstructed views of the surrounding Front Range of the Rocky Mountains from the top.

That’s a wrap!!