Road Biking in Denver: Trails, Climbs, and Cycling Infrastructure

What Are the Best Road Cycling Routes in Denver?

The Cherry Creek Trail is the foundation of Denver's cycling infrastructure: 40 miles of fully paved, separated pathway connecting downtown Denver at Confluence Park through Cherry Creek, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Englewood, and Aurora to Cherry Creek State Park. The trail is the most-used paved recreational trail in Colorado, accommodating road cyclists, commuters, and recreational riders on the same car-free corridor. The trail connects to the South Platte River Trail (14 miles north-south) and the High Line Canal Trail at multiple intersections.

Deer Creek Canyon Road (Jefferson County, 20 miles from downtown Denver) is widely considered the best road cycling climb accessible from Denver: a 10-mile canyon climb with 2,200 feet of elevation gain, moderate to steep grades, and minimal vehicle traffic relative to other Front Range cycling roads. The canyon wall scenery and consistent grade make Deer Creek a benchmark climb for Denver cyclists - comparable to what Malibu Canyon is to Los Angeles cyclists.

Bear Creek Canyon Road (Lakewood/Morrison, 15 miles from downtown) provides an 8-mile canyon approach with moderate grades leading to the Red Rocks area and Evergreen. US-285 south from Aspen Park toward Bailey is a popular training road for experienced cyclists building mileage in the foothills. Lookout Mountain Road (Golden, 20 miles from Denver) is a 4-mile climb to 7,500 feet, famously used as a training climb by cyclists including Eddy Merckx during his Denver visits.

What Is the Mt. Evans Road and How Do Cyclists Ride It?

Mt. Evans Road (Colorado State Highway 5) is the highest paved road in North America, reaching 14,264 feet at the summit of Mt. Evans in Clear Creek County, approximately 50 miles from downtown Denver. The road begins at Idaho Springs (I-70, 7,540 feet) and climbs 28 miles to the summit, gaining 6,724 feet of elevation - one of the most significant paved cycling climbs in the Western Hemisphere.

Cycling Mt. Evans is a signature Denver-area endurance event. The annual Mt. Evans Ascent race (held in June) draws hundreds of cyclists and is considered one of the premier cycling climb events in North America. The road is typically open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, subject to weather. Cyclists must be prepared for rapidly changing mountain weather, reduced oxygen at extreme altitude (approximately 40% less oxygen than sea level at the summit), and potential afternoon thunderstorms.

Echo Lake (11,000 feet, 23 miles from Idaho Springs) serves as the primary turnaround point for cyclists who want a challenging but achievable day climb without the full summit approach. The Echo Lake portion gains approximately 3,500 feet of elevation and is widely considered a full cycling challenge in its own right. Cyclists typically descend the same road, making the round trip to the summit approximately 56 miles with 13,000+ feet of total elevation change.

What Is Denver's Cycling Infrastructure Like for Commuters and Neighborhood Riders?

Denver has invested substantially in cycling infrastructure over the past decade: 103 miles of protected bike lanes (separated from vehicle traffic by physical barriers or raised pavement), 180+ miles of bike lanes total, and integration with the RTD light rail system that allows cyclists to transport bikes on trains and expand their effective cycling range to the suburbs.

The Denver B-Cycle program (operated by Lime as of 2022) provides 1,000+ shared bikes available at 100+ docking stations across Denver, Boulder, and surrounding communities. Monthly and annual memberships provide unlimited 30-minute trips for commuters. Lime e-bikes are integrated into the system, providing powered assistance for commuters facing Denver's terrain variations or headwinds.

Denver's most bike-friendly neighborhoods for road cyclists and commuters include Washington Park (Cherry Creek Trail access, flat neighborhood streets), LoHi (Highland Pedestrian Bridge access, South Platte connection), RiNo (direct Cherry Creek Trail access, flat terrain), and Cherry Creek (40-mile trail origin point, high-quality cycling infrastructure throughout the neighborhood). Neighborhoods in Jefferson County - Golden, Lakewood, and Evergreen - connect to the foothills canyon cycling roads most directly.

Road Cycling Routes Near Denver: At a Glance