Flagstaff Road Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

15.2
PDI
5.9 mi
DISTANCE
2,204 ft
GAINED
7 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Christopher Jacobs, Byers, CO, USA

INTRO

The Flagstaff Road cycling climb is a short but steep bike climb beginning in the southwest section of Boulder.  
The average grade for this climb is 6.6% but that increases to 7.4% if descent is removed from the gradient formula.  This climb has some real challenges to it with a quarter-mile at 15% and a full mile averaging 11.8%.  18.1% (1.3 miles) of the climb is at 10-15% and 2.4% (.2 miles) is at >15%. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  Excellent condition. 

Traffic:  Mild.

Parking:  Park at the Evert Pierson Fishing Pond at the start of the climb - MapStreet View
Provisions:  There is not food or water on this climb. 
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.
This is one of the more popular Boulder-area bike climbs, but there are many more.  Boulder has some awesome and unique options for vacation rentals as well.  See PJAMM Cycling's Boulder climb area page.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
4
Road
3.3
Traffic
3.3
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

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NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

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Dec 4, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Dec 4, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Solid ride. Try to make it out at least once per week. There is no relief from the grades aside from a small flat spot in the last half mile of the ride. If you want more climbing continue past the sumit road for an even steeper ride up towards Gross Reservoir.
Mar 26, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Mar 26, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
A must do in Boulder. I've probably ridden this road hundreds of times. I used to work in Boulder and it was my go-to lunch hour. Go all the way to Gross Reservoir for some extra climbing and excellent views.
Mar 9, 2021
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 4
Mar 9, 2021
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 4
This is a climb worth doing if in the area. Couple of tough sections with some major gradients up towards the top 1/3 of the climb. Great road and only moderate traffic.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - two-lane road surrounded by evergreen covered hillsides, road sign reminding cyclists to ride Single File on Flagstaff, wooden sign for Boulder Mountain Parks

Cycling beautiful Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado

4.6 miles gaining 1,975’ to elevation 7,705’ at 8.1% average grade.

Flagstaff is the most popular bike climb in the extremely popular cycling Boulder area. Before heading to Colorado on your cycling adventure, be sure to rely on our list of Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip, and use our interactive checklist to ensure you don't forget anything.

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, road signs for Flagstaff Road, Gregory Lane, bike leaning against road signs

Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

We begin the climb at the southeastern edge of Boulder.  Boulder (2018 population 107,353) sits at 5,328’ and is a cycling mecca. We have visited Boulder twice to document climbs near in the area. Boulder is so amazing that one of our PJAMM crew is planning on relocating from Scottsdale, Arizona to Boulder.  The city was named the Number 1 city in the U.S. for biking by People for Bikes, and was in the Travel Channel’s Top 20 Cycling Cities survey.

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, large stone with "Boulder Creek" etched into it, bike parked along bridge over a creek

Boulder is considered the Number One US City for Cycling (see Boulder Colorado USA, Travel Channel and REI’s Cycling Blog).  REI’s Cycling Blog rates Boulder The Most Bikeable City in the US:

“Of course, Boulder took the top spot. The Colorado college town is basically a realistic version of Utopia—and as a result, is the subject of many tropes about yoga, health food stores, alternative medicine, breweries, college students, and now bicycling. But this shouldn’t take away from the city’s true effort to get more people on bikes. With a population exceeding 107,000, Boulder boasts more than 300 miles of designated bike lanes that connect riders to even more mileage on roads and dirt trails. For those without a bike, some 300 cruisers are available to rent for $8 for 24 hours at 47 kiosks around town. The best bike city in the United States even has a vending machine for cyclists to buy accessories at any hour of the day,” (read more here).

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, road signs for Euclid Road, Boulder Mountain Parks, reminding cyclists to ride single file on Flagstaff

Upper left photo: left on Euclid at 6/10th of a mile;

Upper middle:  immediate right back onto 6th still at 6/10th mile;

Upper right: right onto Baseline (becomes Flagstaff) at mile 1.

From the Colorado Daily’s 5 Classic Boulder Road Rides August 25, 2014 article:

“Breathtaking views of the Flatirons mark this iconic Boulder climb, where the pros battled it out for a stage win in the 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Through November, Flagstaff Road is closed to cars and cyclists from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, so save this ride for evenings and weekends.

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, PJAMM Cycling SAG van on roadway, climb gradient profile and map, bike parked against large stone overlooking mountainside, bike parked against sign reading "Leaving City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks," sign along roadside for Realization Point of Flagstaff Summit

Route: From the intersection of Broadway and Baseline Road, head west on Baseline towards the foothills. The 1.3-mile false flat up Baseline is a grind, but the real climb starts at the intersection with Gregory Canyon Road. You'll get a break at the traffic light controlling a short section of road that's one-way. Then, keep an eye out for the Flagstaff House — the climb gets easier after that. Pedal, pedal, pedal until you reach the amphitheater road. Now you get some dessert after eating all your vegetables — tuck in for one of the best descents in Boulder.

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, wooden sign for Panorama Point, bike parked against low fence at Panorama Point overlooking city of boulder

Viewpoint 1: Panorama Point

Mile 1.9, spectacular views of Boulder to the east.

For the hardcore, the "Super Flag" version of this ride goes past the amphitheater up to the set of mailboxes at the top, at around 8,000 feet. It's "only" another two miles, but the majority of it averages a more-than 10 percent gradient,” (Colorado Daily).

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, bike leaning against low wooden fence and informational sign at Lost Gulch Overlook

Viewpoint 2: Lost Gulch Overlook - mile 5

Views east of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, including

North Arapaho Peak (13,502’), Apache Peak (13,441) and Mount Audubon (13,233’)

Cycling Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colorado - close up of decal on PJAMM Cycling SAG vehicle, cyclist riding on roadway next to van

Finish of the popular Super Duper Flag 

Boasting in the Top 20 Lachlan Morton and Peter Stetina.