Experience Clear Creek County by Bike
Winding trails and spectacular mountain scenery are plentiful here. There are a variety of mountain biking trails and paved options for road cycling enthusiasts of any skill level, including elite road cycling on the highest paved road in North America. So kick start your mountain adventure on two wheels.
Mountain Biking
Explore some of the best mountain biking terrain just west of Denver. Clear Creek has expansive mine networks providing hundreds of miles of railroad grade, stagecoach trails, and mining roads to roll on.
A recent addition to our trails is the Floyd Hill Open Space, which offers 4.3 miles of unique terrain made for extreme mountain biking enthusiasts. This moderate grade, muti-use singletrack is also equipped with awe-inspiring scenic views.
Looking for a technical challenge? The Sluice is Colorado’s first Mountain bike only trail within the Floyd Hill Open Space. This trail is a downhill-only, bike-optimized trail with advanced terrain – all features are optional however the easy lines still classify the trail as a Black Diamond.
Virginia Canyon Mountain Park is also planning to open Phase 2, a downhill Mountain Bike Park the end of February 2024 ~ Visit the COMBA website to learn more!
Additionally, there are hundreds of miles of trails, including Arapaho National Forest and other public lands.
Road Biking
Push yourself to the limit! Experience the world renowned Mount Blue Sky Scenic and Historic Byway, the highest paved road in North America – sure to challenge every fiber in your body as you ascend to more than 14,000 feet above sea level.
Other great places to ride include:
- Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway
- Loveland Pass
- Berthoud Pass
- Peaks to Plains Trail
- Clear Creek Greenway Trail
The Peaks to Plains Trail is still in development in segments – once complete, the 65-mile path that will connect the South Platte Trail in Denver to the headwaters of Clear Creek at Loveland Pass. This bike path will run from Clear Creek’s border with Jefferson County to Summit County, to the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. For updates, please visit the Clear Creek County Greenway website.
Plan your bike trip to Clear Creek County
Check out our local outfitters offering bike equipment and rentals.
Mountain Biking Etiquette
Downhill mountain biking is an opportunity to hit the trails and see the Rockies like never before. When biking, follow these simple rules.
- Ride only on trails where bikes are permitted. Obey all signs and trail closures.
- Yield to equestrians. Horses can be badly spooked by bicyclists, so dismount your bike and give them plenty of space.
- Yield to hikers. Make sure you give other trail users plenty of room, and keep your speed down when you are near them. If you see a hiker, slow down to a crawl, or even stop.
- Avoid riding on wet trails. Bike tires leave ruts in wet soil that accelerate erosion.
- Riders going downhill should always yield to riders going uphill on narrow trails.