I just moved to Denver (Parker, actually). My wife is wanting to take a day trip to Boulder just to take a drive. In my backyard is a trail that connects to the C-470 trail. The previous homeowner mentioned that the trail goes all the way to Boulder. However, some of my co-workers said that they didn’t think a trail went from NW Denver to Boulder. Can someone confirm any of this?
Thanks.
While I don’t know the specific trail, below is a link to google maps for Parker to Boulder via bicycle with trails highlighted in Green.
Thanks. Unfortunately, if the trails are in green, there doesn’t appear to be anything betweeen I-70 and Boulder. I’ve heard HWY 36 can be kind of rough for cars, much less bikes.
Gave it a bit more thought, depending on where you are in parker, either parker road or through cherry creek state park would be a good way to get onto the cherry creek bike path. Take that all the way to REI at confluence park. From there you will need to do some road riding to Golden (google maps gives a good route for this), the get on 93 and head to Boulder. 93 has a decent shoulder, but be careful of cars and stay right.
That’s a pretty long ride if you’re doing round trip. To Confluence Park from Parker is around 30 miles I’d guess. Probably another 30-40 to get to Boulder via Golden.
My wife and daughter are planning on meeting me there. I’ll ride back with them. Is this route safe? Although, I’m not sure I’m up for 70-80 miles, though. 50, maybe.
Have ridden the stretch of 93 from Boulder towards Golden. I didn’t find much of a shoulder at all. I thought it was very dangerous. I had to abandon and get my wife to pick me up.
At confluence park head north on the north platte bike trail to just past 84th st. Get off onto riverdale rd(quiet country rd) to hwy 7. Then head
west to boulder on hwy 7 (huge shoulders except through Erie).
Distance from confluence to boulder is 45 miles.
Yeah, there’s no more trail once you hit I-70. However, I’ve ridden all the way from Boulder to Highlands Ranch, Littleton (right near you in Parker). Cars are pretty friendly, and I never felt uncomfortable as the previous poster did. There are only a few treacherous bits, and they’re all short. I say go for it if you’re feeling brave.
2nd this route.
I agree with the comments about 93 being dangerous. Down south around Golden it’s fine, but further north it is very narrow w/ minimal shoulder. I often drive along 93 and I always shudder when I see cyclists along this stretch.
I’ve done the ride on 93 from Boulder to Golden and back several times - it is not a favorite but I don’t think it is particularly dangerous.
At it’s worst, it is still roomier than many rides I used to do back East.
If you avoid commute hours, you should be fine and you can check of one of the local routes.
.
You could always come around the south side on the 470 trail ending up in Morrison. Go up past Red Rocks Park to Evergreen, take Squaw Pass into Idaho Springs, the frontage road to Highway 40 towards Empire, over Berthoud Pass to Winter Park, head through RMNP on Trail Ridge Road, Lyons, then enter Boulder from the North. You’ll be right there on the good part of 93 as you come into town. Might want to wait for Trail Ridge Road to dry out a bit first though. Pink Font.
I like the country/back roads routes between Golden and Boulder. Cars whip down that stretch of 93. The back roads are relatively quiet and deserted.
Let us know if you want a group to go over the Berthound Pass. (sounds like a great ride)
I am working on a map of the route we take from Co-Springs to Boulder about 114miles or so. We stay on trails through Denver
till REI then back roads up to Boulder.
I’ll post it soon.
It doesn’t go to Boulder… Don’t go on 93 either.
Take the trail to Golden, on highway 58 there is a trail going east (which goes back to denver) but take it to McIntyre by the mesa and turn left, Rt 64th, Lt Indiana, Rt 86th Pkwy, Lt Alkire, Rt 100th, Lt Simms… then it depends where you want to go in Boulder…
If you want downtown, from Simms, Lt 128, Rt McCaslin, Lt Marshall Dr, Rt Cherryvale, Lt into town on any road like baseline etc
If you want north boulder, from Simms, Rt 128, Lt Interlocken Loop → cross Hwy 36, Lt 96th turns into 95th and go as far as you like all the way to Longmont.
Those are the best routes from Golden to Boulder via bike.
Don’t go the route I outlined. I was being sarcastic. If I had to guess, that route would be 150 miles with 25K of climbing each way.
To the OP, here is a good overlay for Google Earth (http://geobiking.org/Maps.aspx). Routes mentioned by the other posters above are good ones though.
HWY 93 is not safe to ride on. Between 72 and Boulder there is little to no shoulder, bad cross winds and cars going 75MPH.
It doesn’t go to Boulder… Don’t go on 93 either.
Take the trail to Golden, on highway 58 there is a trail going east (which goes back to denver) but take it to McIntyre by the mesa and turn left, Rt 64th, Lt Indiana, Rt 86th Pkwy, Lt Alkire, Rt 100th, Lt Simms… then it depends where you want to go in Boulder…
If you want downtown, from Simms, Lt 128, Rt McCaslin, Lt Marshall Dr, Rt Cherryvale, Lt into town on any road like baseline etc
If you want north boulder, from Simms, Rt 128, Lt Interlocken Loop → cross Hwy 36, Lt 96th turns into 95th and go as far as you like all the way to Longmont.
Those are the best routes from Golden to Boulder via bike.
This is by far the best option and to boot is a very nice road ride with lots of variety and some good rollers along the way.
Riding 93 should not really be an option. Horrible shoulder, high traffic and high cross-winds make this a stretch of road that I refuse to ride except only very early on weekends and only to get to coal creek canyon and even then I’ll go the long way via Simms.
These are good routes and well traveled by cyclists. I like the McCauslin route. Careful if you verve into Boulder, some of the “obvious routes” twist around. Google map your route first. You can get elevations with http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/. I would not expect any of the climbs in the city to be an issue.
Any idea of the mileage from Golden? I would like to ride 50 - 60 miles, maybe a few more, but not too many more - i’m not in that kind of shape.
In the summer, I commute one day a week from Denver (Stapleton) to Boulder (just across from the Reservoir). Trails are good until you get to about Sheridan and US 36. Then you have to take streets. Most (many) have bike lanes, so they’re fairly safe. It’s a great way to get in some extra training.