Cycling Rocky Mountain National Park

#1
Trail Ridge
USA, CO
#2
Trail Ridge Road (Estes Park)
USA, CO
#3
Trail Ridge (Grand Lake)
USA, CO
#4
Bear Lake Road
USA, CO

Climb List: Rocky Mountain National Park
(sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more)

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Total Climbs: 4
Top 100 USA: 4
Avg. PDI (Top 5): 22

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51 - 75
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PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

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ALL TRIPS
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Colorado: Front Range
United States (CO)
20 ROUTES
46 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
563.5
mi
DISTANCE
73,545
ft
ELEV. GAIN
RMNP: Trail Ridge Road
United States (CO)
13 ROUTES
33 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
258.2
mi
DISTANCE
25,530
ft
ELEV. GAIN

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FULL SUMMARY

Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 265,461 acres and was the 8th US national park (established in 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson).  The park was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

CYCLING TRAIL RIDGE 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO

John Johnson PJAMM Cycling with bike at high point of Trail Ridge bike climb

High point of the climb, 12,144’

US Top 10 Most Scenic Bike Climb.

Garmin has a different opinion . . .

Traversing Rocky Mountain National Park, and offering spectacular views along the giant switchbacks 20 miles below a summit that tops out at a whopping 12,000', Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.  Trail Ridge is also the second longest bike climb in the U.S. and the fifth longest in the world.    

John Johnson PJAMM Cycling with bike at high point of Trail Ridge bike climb

The road passes the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (elevation 10,758’), about 8.9 miles down Trail Ridge Road after cresting the summit of our climb.

John Johnson PJAMM Cycling with bike at high point of Trail Ridge bike climb

SOME GREAT HIKES IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

(OFF OF OR VERY NEAR THE CYCLING ROUTE)

Mount Ida, 9.6 miles roundtrip, gain 2,465’ to 12,889’.  A strenuous hike

Photo:  All Trails

Ypsilon Lake Trail, 8.1 miles roundtrip, gaining 2,352’’ to 10,760. A strenuous hike.

Photo:  All Trails

Mummy Mountain Trail (Mummy Mania)

Photo and description:  Matt and Allison Doing Dangerous Deeds -- we think so!

This is likely the most challenging “day” hike in the park.

Good hiking resources for the park include the following:

HOW TO GET AROUND IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

 

Rocky Mountain NP bicycle page.

Of course our first choice is always by bicycle. However, most of the millions of visitors to the park get around in motor vehicles.  There is also a free shuttle that runs from about May to October.

WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Claire’s Restaurant

We haven’t stayed in Estes, but we ate there and, yep, worth it!

The place to stay when cycling (and hiking the trails near the cycling route) is hands down Estes Park.  This is a moderately sized resort town of about 6,000 people that acts as headquarters to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is the closest town to the park’s eastern border.