Wyoming - Cycling Cowboy Country

June 23, 24-30, 2012                        Laramie, Wyoming

470 miles/7days

$1050/$350 deposit                         A-60/80 to E-56/80

Balance due May 1, 2012

 

Explore the best that Colorado and Wyoming “cowboy country” has to offer. We will be cycling on predominantly quiet roads with minimal traffic. Our tour starts and ends in Laramie, WY (home of the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Territorial Prison that once held Butch Cassidy behind bars). We will climb over the Continental Divide 2 times, watch for moose recently reintroduced to Colorado (as well as pronghorn, deer, and elk), with an optional day off in “Ski Town USA”—home of more Olympians than any other town in the US. There will be time to relax in the natural hot springs of Steamboat Springs, CO and Saratoga, WY. The final night of the tour will be spent at the historic Saratoga Resort & Spa before we head back to Laramie. The incredible scenery of Willow Creek Pass, Gore Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, and Muddy Pass will prepare us for our final days’ ride over Snowy Range Pass at 10,840’ elevation to Laramie. Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming offer great contrasts of the wide open ranch lands to the high passes we will cross during our week. 

 

View Video

 

View Route Map (Slide cursor along elevation profile to follow route on map)

 

Saturday, June 23 – Arrive at Laramie, WY Hilton Garden Inn. Have an introductory meeting at 5:30PM.

 

View Laramie Lodging

 

Sunday, June 24 –Laramie, WY to Walden, CO, 66 miles/3036’ vertical We will leave “city life” behind in Laramie as we head Southwest and cross the state line into Colorado on our way to Walden. These will be quiet roads with very little traffic and even less commercialism. We will depend on our SAG’s today for beverages and refreshments. This is one of the shorter days of the tour with a moderate elevation gain to prepare us for the tougher days ahead. 

 

View Walden Lodging

 

Monday,June 25—Walden, CO to Kremmling, CO, 78 miles/3420’ vertical Today will be a mixture of ranch lands followed by a scenic ride over the Continental Divide via Willow Creek Pass. This is your best chance to view moose. We will ride through Byers Canyon created by the Colorado River. Some of the best fly fishing is located here in the Colorado River. Colorado Hwy 40 offers a wide shoulder most of the way into Kremmling.

 

View Kremmling Lodging

 

Tuesday, June 26—Kremmling, CO to Steamboat Springs, CO, 70 miles/4080’ vertical After 6 miles on Hwy 40 going north we will turn West through Routt National Forest on Gore Pass. Today’s route covers some very quiet roads and some great scenery. After crossing Gore Pass we will descend into the Yampa Valley—and pass through the towns of Toponas, Yampa, and Phippsburg. This IS Cowboy Country so expect to see a lot of open ranch land. We will leave the “main road” to enjoy the large reservoir at the Stagecoach Recreational Area before arriving in Steamboat via a bicycle path.

 

View Steamboat Spring Lodging

 

Wednesday, June 27—Optional Ride or Day Off, 52 miles/3790’vertical A great loop to the south of Steamboat retracing the last few miles of our ride into Steamboat yesterday. We will pass through Oak Creek followed by some challenging climbs. While this is not a long ride there is quite a bit of elevation gain. Follow your day’s ride with a soak in the hot springs or just take the entire day to explore the shops, ski area, and restaurants.

 

Thursday, June 28—Steamboat Springs, CO to Walden, CO, 56 miles/4490’vertical After your day off in Steamboat, the ride today starts with a climb up Rabbit Ears Pass. Don’t relax once on top of the West Summit—enjoy the rollers at 9000’ for 7+ miles to the East Summit of Rabbit Ears Pass. Don’t miss the views to the north for the namesake of this pass. After leaving the East Summit you will follow a rolling descent into Walden.

 

Friday, June 29—Walden, CO to Saratoga, WY, 68 miles/2660’ vertical This is one of the shortest days with the least amount of climbing. We will be in Cowboy Country today as we make our way across the state line back into Wyoming. We have plenty to look forward to at the Saratoga Resort & Spa with 4 natural hot pools and an historic property.

 

View Saratoga Lodging

 

Saturday, June 30—Saratoga, WY to Laramie, WY, 80 miles/5620’ vertical We’ve saved the best for last. Enjoy the relatively flat ride out of Saratoga to warm the legs up for 20 miles before the “real” climb begins. You will be sure to see the after affects of winter as the snow will surely linger at the top of Snowy Range Pass at 10,840 feet elevation well into summer. (This road is not maintained during the winter.) Once we top the pass it will be a generally downhill ride into Laramie with prevailing tail winds. Once back at the hotel, you will be responsible for your own arrangements to stay an additional night.

 

To make a reservation at the Hilton Garden Inn in Laramie for Saturday night June 30, 2012 please call the front desk at (307) 745-5500 and reference the Colorado Heartcycle Bike Ride to gain access to the group rate.

 

For further information contact Nate Dick at (970)-231-1068 or npdick@gmail.com or Chuck Curless at (303)-880-5480 or chucklenn@gmail.com