Great Parks Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Great Parks South Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:29:59 +0000

This route, entirely in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, offers challenging biking, including riding on Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the continental United States, located in Rocky Mountain National Park. Eleven miles of it are above treeline. The cyclist is rewarded by a continuous setting of dramatic mountain scenery, national forests, parks, monuments, and many climbs and descents over passes. Off-road mountain-biking opportunities abound at the various ski hills along the route, which offer singletrack riding on quiet forest trails, serviced by bustling tourist villages. More information about this route is available here.

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Great Parks North Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:47 +0000

This section offers some of the most accessible, fantastic mountain scenery available in Western Canada, following the spine of the northern Rocky Mountains. The Canadian parks with their wide road shoulders provide excellent cycling conditions, but tourist traffic is heavy. Fascinating side trips abound for natural and geological sightseeing, which include aerial trams and hiking onto glaciers. The route is a series of climbs and descents over passes into various river valleys. A spur into Banff is shown. More information about this route is available here.

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Great Parks North Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:46 +0000

This section begins in Canada, on the west side of the Continental Divide, crosses onto the prairies on the eastern side, then returns to the west over Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Towns like Fernie offer information and ample opportunities for the off-road cycling enthusiast, and whitewater rafting trips add to the choices of what one can do besides cycling. Glacier National Park experiences very heavy tourist traffic during the summer, and you must plan your ride over Logan Pass to accomodate “bicycles prohibited” times during parts of the day from mid-June to Labor Day. With the exception of the two climbs and descents over the Continental Divide, the route follows river valleys and has rolling terrain. An alternate is offered which keeps the cyclist on the western side of the Divide. More information about this route is available here.

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Great Parks South Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:46 +0000

Section 1 of the Great Parks South Route begins in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This section is characterized by following river valleys and climbing over mountain passes at high altitudes. It is a strenuous route. One highlight is heading into and out of Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road’s winding course takes you 12,183 feet above sea level through high alpine tundra ecosystem. You’ll go through old mining towns and tourist towns and also cross Hoosier Pass at 11,542 feet. More information about this route is available here.

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Great Parks South Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:45 +0000

Section 2 of the Great Parks South Route beings in Poncha Springs, Colorado. You may see other cyclists along portions of this route in the state. Between Poncha Springs and Dolores the same roads are used on the Western Express Route. The route crosses a pass almost every day with several being over 9,000 feet. Many of the passes along this section have climbing lanes for slower-moving traffic. The route skirts Mesa Verde National Park and a spur is shown going into the Park. This World Class Park is well worth a visit. Durango, Colorado, is the endpoint on this route. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Great Parks North Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:38 +0000

This map set combines two incredible sections of Western Canada’s and the northern Rocky Mountains’ cycling routes, offering some of the most accessible and breathtaking mountain scenery. You’ll traverse the rugged beauty of Canadian parks with wide road shoulders, ideal for cycling despite the heavy tourist traffic. The route showcases a series of climbs and descents over passes into river valleys, complemented by fascinating side trips for natural and geological sightseeing, including glacier hikes and aerial trams. Highlights include a spur into Banff and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Starting on the west side of the Continental Divide, the route crosses into the prairies before returning westward, navigating rolling terrain and river valleys. Off-road cycling opportunities abound in towns like Fernie, and adventures like whitewater rafting add to the mix of activities. Careful planning is essential for summer rides over Logan Pass in Glacier National Park due to “bicycles prohibited” times. An alternate route keeps cyclists west of the Divide for a different perspective. Together, these sections offer a dynamic blend of challenging climbs, stunning landscapes, and diverse recreational opportunities.

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Great Parks South Section 2

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:05 +0000

Due to limited resources, the paper map version of this route section has been discontinued and will no longer be available once sold out. This route section is still available digitally. More info here: Going Digital: App or GPX.

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Great Parks North Section 2

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:05 +0000

This section begins in Canada, on the west side of the Continental Divide, crosses onto the prairies on the eastern side, then returns to the west over Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Towns like Fernie offer information and ample opportunities for the off-road cycling enthusiast, and whitewater rafting trips add to the choices of what one can do besides cycling. Glacier National Park experiences very heavy tourist traffic during the summer, and you must plan your ride over Logan Pass to accomodate "bicycles prohibited" times during parts of the day from mid-June to Labor Day. With the exception of the two climbs and descents over the Continental Divide, the route follows river valleys and has rolling terrain. An alternate is offered which keeps the cyclist on the western side of the Divide.

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Great Parks North Section 1

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:05 +0000

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