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cycling the road

The trail was deliberately made to provide as close as possible to a constant include with a grade of about 5% on average and no more than 7% for some stretches, or around 250 feet climb per mile which makes it much more gentle than the nearby Fall River Road which it was designed to replace.

Even after the road is officially closed for vehicle traffic it may remain open to pedestrians and cyclists for some time depending upon weather conditions. Generally you will be able to drive to Rainbow Curve.

As the distance is over 40 miles it will take a good 5 to 6 hours of cycling, and although there are rest stops along the way, the ride should not be undertaken by anyone not experienced with cycling these distances, in cold climate at high altitude.

Cyclists not used to high altitude biking should be aware that performance, measured in "time to exhaustion" drops by as much as a quarter when rising over 7000 feet, and most of the Trail Ridge Road is over 10,000.

 

Entrance Fees: 
$10 per person for those who are walking or on bikes

 

Lookout points

Famed for its views all along the road there are nevertheless some key points that shouldn't be missed, and which are great places to stop for that photo op:

  • Deer Ridge Junction
  • Hidden Valley
  • Beaver Ponds East
  • Many Parks Curve
  • Rainbow Curve
  • Forest Canyon
  • Rock Cut
  • Tundra Communities
  • Iceburg Pass
  • Lava Cliffs
  • Highest Point
  • Gore Range
  • Alpine Visitor Center
  • Medicine Bow Curve
  • Milner Pass
  • Continental Divide
  • Lake Irene
  • Fairview Curve

© Copyright 2012, trail ridge road Association, All Rights Reserved.