Boulder, CO: 70 Percent Dirt

Boulder, CO: 70 Percent Dirt

Ditch your beloved road bike for a dirty affair with 'cross wheels on this pavement-averse tour of Front Range gravel.

Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	25 Oct 2007 11:32:19 AM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	Colorado (CO)
Distance:	44.37 mi (Change units)
Average Speed:	11.9 mph 0:05:02/mi
Duration:	Total: 4:02:42 Active: 3:43:26 Resting: 0:19:16
Elevation:	Total Gain: 2227 ft Total Loss: 2318 ft Net Change: -91 ft
Difficulty:	6 / 10
Tags:	Boulder, Longmont, Colorado, Cyclo-cross
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

The goal of this 'cross-inspired ride was maximum gravel woven between our favorite lowland road rides. We squeezed dirt out of about 70 percent of the ride (our estimate), but connecting the gravel meant accepting some pavement--a small price to pay for postcard views of horse ranches and organic farms against a foothills backdrop. All gravel roads on this route are not built alike. Some are smooth and gravel-free. Others are washboarded. But all are solid enough (in good conditions) to hold your rear wheel if you jump out of the saddle to climb. That said, none of the climbs on this route are steep enough to require that. It’s either flat or rollers all the way. Roadies beware: ride those skinny tires if you must, but you’ll probably be jarred into your local bike shop for a cyclocross bike after 20 miles or so. And skip the last section on Gunbarrel Farm and White Rocks trails; it’s too rough for a road bike.

-Mapped by Jenn Fields and Mark Harrison

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Dist: 44.37 mi	Points: 1724	Calories: 0
Time: 4:02:42	Speed: 11.9 mph	Pace: 5:02 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Start	Bike path starts here	Then go 1.26 mi
1.26 mi	Turn Left	Jay Rd.	Then go 0.30 mi
1.56 mi	Turn Right	51st St.	Then go 4.13 mi
5.70 mi	Turn Left	Niwot Rd.	Then go 0.75 mi
6.44 mi	Turn Right	N 49th St.	Then go 1.01 mi
7.45 mi	Turn Left	Oxford Rd.	Then go 0.99 mi
8.44 mi	Turn Right	N 41st St.	Then go 0.50 mi
8.94 mi	Bear Left	Ogallala Rd.	Then go 0.25 mi
9.19 mi	Bear Right	N 39th St.	Then go 1.49 mi
10.68 mi	Turn Right	Nelson Rd.	Then go 1.67 mi
12.35 mi	Turn Left	N 51st St.	Then go 2.15 mi
14.50 mi	Turn Right	St. Vrain Rd.	Then go 1.01 mi
15.51 mi	Turn Left	N 59th St.	Then go 1.36 mi
16.86 mi	Turn Right	Hygiene Rd.	Then go 2.01 mi
18.88 mi	Turn Left	75th St.	Then go 0.13 mi
19.00 mi	Turn Right	Hygiene Rd.	Then go 0.70 mi
19.70 mi	Turn Left	Crane Hollow Rd.	Then go 1.24 mi
20.94 mi	Sharp Left	St. Vrain Rd.	Then go 1.12 mi
22.06 mi	Turn Left	65th St.	Then go 1.51 mi
23.57 mi	Turn Right	Nelson Rd.	Then go 1.29 mi
24.86 mi	Turn Left	N 55th St.	Then go 2.91 mi
27.77 mi	Turn Left	Oxford Rd.	Then go 1.98 mi
29.75 mi	Bear Right	N 67th St.	Then go 0.27 mi
30.02 mi	Bear Left	Nimbus Rd.	Then go 0.74 mi
30.76 mi	Turn Right	N 73rd St.	Then go 0.75 mi
31.51 mi	Turn Right	N. 71st St.	Then go 0.64 mi
32.16 mi	Turn Right	Monarch Rd.	Then go 0.33 mi
32.48 mi	Turn Left	IBM Plant	Then go 0.37 mi
32.85 mi	Turn Left	IBM Plant to exit	Then go 0.20 mi
33.05 mi	Straight	Hwy 52	Then go 0.18 mi
33.22 mi	Turn Right	71st St.	Then go 1.00 mi
34.23 mi	Turn Left	Lookout Rd.	Then go 0.51 mi
34.74 mi	Turn Right	75th St.	Then go 0.50 mi
35.24 mi	Turn Left	Gunbarrel Farm Trail	Then go 1.71 mi
36.95 mi	Turn Left	Stay on trail; do not go straight.	Then go 0.52 mi
37.48 mi	Turn Right	White Rocks Trail	Then go 2.06 mi
39.54 mi	Turn Right	Valmont Rd.	Then go 4.33 mi
43.87 mi	Turn Right	Bike Path	Then go 0.50 mi
44.37 mi	Stop	Boulder Creek Path

Points of Interest

Photo 14

Location: Unknown
You won't see this trailhead from 75th St.

Photo 1

Location: Unknown

Photo 15

Location: Unknown

Photo 11

Location: Unknown

Photo 3

Location: Unknown
Look for livestock along the way. We saw horses, cows, goats, sheep, and of course, the occasional farm dog.

Photo 10

Location: Unknown

Photo 2

Location: Unknown

Photo 4

Location: Unknown

Photo 5

Location: Unknown

Photo 9

Location: Unknown

Photo 8

Location: Unknown

Optional Start

Location: 40.071832°, -105.235033°
We started on the Cottonwood Trail, but Boulder Reservoir would be a good place to start, too.

Free Veggies?

Location: 40.119828°, -105.235891°
If you're lucky, sometimes there is a spread of free homegrown vegetables here. Take a tomato to go.

Haystack Mountain

Location: 40.097279°, -105.225549°
Haystack Mountain, ahead, is a good reference point for this ride. The route circles it clockwise.

Hygiene, CO

Location: 40.188808°, -105.178170°
The Coffee Stop, in Hygiene Hygiene is a tiny town, but it has three stops to choose from for snacks and drinks. All three are at this intersection.

Hygiene, CO

Location: 40.188808°, -105.178170°
Clark's Food Store

Hygiene, CO

Location: 40.188808°, -105.178170°
Cole's Country Corner Store

View of Table Mountain Antenna Field

Location: 40.152145°, -105.222631°
The turn onto 55th is before the antenna field.

Back to gravel

Location: 40.065329°, -105.178213°
The last stretch of gravel starts here. The trail is across from Clubhouse Rd. The sign for this trailhead is not visible from 75th St. Look for the gravel on your left, across from Clubhouse Rd.