Colorado Northern Front Range
September 7, 8-13, 2008                   Colorado
250 miles / 6 days (5 riding, 1 hiking or riding)
$750/$350 Deposit    Rating: E35-A70
Balance due by: July 7, 2008

Tour the northern front range over famous routes as the aspen turn yellow.  Starting in Golden (Coors hometown), climb Lookout Mountain and Mt. Vernon Canyon  to Central City, Rollinsville, and Nederland for a Nepalese/Indian dinner.  The second day we continue on the Peak To Peak Highway through Ward and Allenspark toward Estes Park and two nights at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center, founded before adjacent Rocky Mountain National Park.  The day off, you are encouraged to hike Long's Peak from the Center, even if only to the boulder field, or cycle a loop through Glen Haven to Big Thompson Canyon.  Next day we cross the National Park on Trail Ridge Road (world's highest continuous paved highway) over the Continental Divide to a lodge overlooking Grand Lake.  An easy day follows to Winter Park ski resort.  Plan a full final day, with the longest distance, but plenty of downhill after crossing back over the Continental Divide on Berthoud Pass.  Lunch in Idaho Springs, ride hills through Evergreen, zoom down Bear Creek Canyon, and explore Red Rocks Amphitheatre Visitor Center, before returning to Golden.  A good tour of Colorado mountain scenery, history, and HeartHealthyCycleHike activity on the cheap!

Tour Leader: Jeff Messerschmidt
For more information contact Jeff @ 303-904-0573 or e-mail jefmesserschmidt@hotmail.com