Off the Beaten Bike Path

LYONS

Ride: 13 miles round-trip
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderately easy

Before heading out on this scenic ride, round up your fellow cyclists for a morning caffeine fix at the Barking Dog Cafe, where adventurers of all kinds congregate prior to a day in the mountains. (The cycle shop next door is also good for any last minute needs.) After your latte and a slather of sunblock, roll into the brisk morning air going west on Main Street to 5th Avenue.

You’ll get the chance to warm up your engines here as you follow 5th for a couple of fast miles while it curves to become CO-7. Enjoy—but don’t be spoiled by—the extremely flat start you get. Between miles 2 and 3 you’ll be doing a lot of uphill work to reach the route’s peak elevation (a 297 foot gain). This is the toughest part of a ride that’s overall pretty kind to legs.

After the incline, pull off to the shade (it’s sparse but can be found) to catch your breath and grab some water. From here, there’s intermittent bits of uphill segments as you follow the South St. Vrain Creek around to an area known among kayakers as “the narrows.” You’ll want to wait for any traffic to go by here before making a sharp left over the bridge onto Old St. Vrain Road.

It’s all downhill now as the road threads its way back around the other side of the creek towards Lyons. For the next 2 miles, let yourself coast next to ranches, roaming horses and flowing water. The bends of road will soon put you back out at CO-7 / 5th Avenue in town, where you can follow it for an easy ride back to the car.

Pit Stop: Meadow Park, just off of 5th Avenue, is a hot spot among locals for watching tubers float by. What’s more, the giant boulders and ample shaded grass make for prime lunching spots.