Boulder, CO: Sunshine Canyon Loop | Bicycling in Colorado

Boulder, CO: Sunshine Canyon Loop

Cramming 6,000-feet of climbing into 42 miles, this loop kicks off with a stiff climb from Boulder proper up to the quirky mountain berg of Gold Hill.

Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	29 Jun 2009 10:09:17 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	Colorado (CO)
Distance:	42.02 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 5954 ft Total Loss: 5955 ft Net Change: -1 ft
Difficulty:	9 / 10
Tags:	Boulder, Colorado, Denver
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

One of Boulder's most scenic roads, Sunshine Canyon is also one of its least ridden for several reasons. First, it starts right from town with little (if any) warm-up. Second; it's damn hard (gaining over 3,000 feet in its first 9 miles). Third, most of it isn't even paved.

After the first 5.7 miles of climbing up Sunshine Canyon, the road turns to hard-pack and wash-board dirt for the remaining 3.8 miles to Gold Hill. The climbing gets tough here, but the views of Indian Peaks right from the road are unparalled on any of Boulder's other canyon roads. Take a breather at the town's general store, and then continue west on Gold Hill Road headed towards the Peak-to-Peak Highway. The dirt road continues undulating upwards and a few of its steeper stretches also happen to be strewn with loose gravel.

Back on pavement on Peak-to-Peak, turn north to ride along the generous road shoulder up a few more hundred feet to Ward (Note: this stretch can be windy and exposed). Refuel in Ward at the Utica Street Market (a popular cyclist destination), and then descend Left Hand Canyon back to Boulder.

-Mapped by Kim Phillips and Mark Harrison

TO TRAILHEAD: This ride departs from the corner of 4th St. and Mapleton Ave. in Boulder.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Sunshine Canyon Loop

Dist: 42.02 mi	Points: 942	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.17 mi		Continue on Sunshine Canyon Dr	Then go 9.05 mi
9.22 mi		Continue on Horsfall St	Then go 0.27 mi
9.48 mi		Continue on Main St	Then go 0.28 mi
9.76 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at Gold Hill Rd	Then go 4.38 mi
14.15 mi	Turn Left	Turn left to stay on Gold Hill Rd	Then go 2.24 mi
16.39 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at CO-72/Peak To Peak Hwy	Then go 3.40 mi
19.79 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Utica St	Then go 0.25 mi
20.04 mi	Turn Left	Turn left to stay on Utica St	Then go 1.55 mi
21.60 mi		Continue on Lefthand Canyon Dr	Then go 9.90 mi
31.49 mi	Turn Right	Turn right to stay on Lefthand Canyon Dr	Then go 2.71 mi
34.20 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Olde Stage Rd	Then go 3.11 mi
37.31 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at Lee Hill Dr	Then go 0.82 mi
38.12 mi		Continue on Lee Hill Rd	Then go 0.48 mi
38.60 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Broadway St/CO-7	Then go 1.07 mi
39.67 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Poplar Ave	Then go 0.26 mi
39.93 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Wonderland Hill Ave	Then go 0.65 mi
40.58 mi	Turn Right	Linden Ave.	Then go 0.03 mi
40.61 mi	Turn Left	Bike Path	Then go 0.14 mi
40.74 mi	Straight	4th Street