History
In 1986, The Denver Post created the premier Ride The Rockies Colorado Bicycle Tour. Over 1,500 riders came from around the country to participate in the six day, cross-state tour.
The event was an immediate success, and The Post has sponsored the ride every June since. Participants each year represent all fifty states and several foreign countries.
In 1987, the registration limit was raised to 2,000 cyclists, and in 1989 a lottery registration system was implemented to keep pace with the event’s ever increasing popularity. Last year, approximately 4,000 applications were received.
Different routes are chosen every year. To date, tour routes have traveled through the following communities: Alamosa, Aspen, Avon, Boulder, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Cañon City, Castle Rock, Chama, Colorado Springs, Copper Mountain, Cortez, Craig, Crested Butte, Delta, Denver, Durango, Edwards, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Frisco, Georgetown, Glenwood Springs, Golden, Granby, Grand Junction, Greeley, Gunnison, Hotchkiss, Idaho Springs, Leadville, Manitou Springs, Montrose, Ouray, Pagosa Springs, Rifle, Salida, Silverton, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Trinidad, Vail and Walsenburg.
Past Routes
2011 RIDE THE ROCKIES – 412 MILES
Crested Butte to Buena Vista – 76 miles – Cottonwood Pass – 12,126 ft.
Buena Vista to Edwards – 76 miles – Tennessee Pass – 10,424 ft. & Battle Mountain
Edwards to Steamboat – 80 miles – Yellow Jacket Pass – 7,428 ft.
Steamboat Loop Ride – 52 miles – 20 Mile Rd.
Steamboat to Granby – 78 miles – Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 ft. & Muddy Pass – 8,772 ft.
Granby to Georgetown – 50 miles – Berthoud Pass – 11,307 ft.
2010 Ride The Rockies – 543.5 miles
Colorado National Monument Loop – 45 miles
Grand Junction to Delta – 94 miles – Grand Mesa – 10,839 feet
Delta to Ouray – 67 miles
Ouray to Durango – 75 miles – Red Mtn. Pass – 11.090 feet, Molas Pass – 10,899 feet, Coal Bank Pass – 10,640 feet
Durango to Pagosa Springs – 87 miles
Pagosa Springs to Alamosa – 91.5 miles – Wolf Creek Pass – 10,857 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 84 miles – Poncha Pass – 9,019 feet
2009 Ride The Rockies – 380 miles
Glenwood Springs to Hotchiss – 80 miles – McClure Pass – 8,755 feet
Hotchkiss to Gunnison – 80 miles – North Rim of the Black Canyon
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles – Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Leadville – 60 miles
Leadville to Aspen – 55 miles – Independence Pass – 12,095 feet
Aspen to Glenwood Springs – 40 miles
2008 Ride The Rockies – 435 miles
Durango to Cortez – 49 miles
Cortez to Telluride – 77 miles – Lizzard Head Pass – 10,222 feet
Telluride to Montrose – 65 miles – Dallas Divide – 8,970 feet
Montrose to Crested Butte – 92 miles – Cerro Summit – 7,950 Feet, Blue Mesa Summit – 9,288 feet
Crested Butte – Rest Day
Crested Butte to Buena Vista – 75 miles – Cottonwood Pass – 12,126 feet
Buena Vista to Breckenridge – 77 miles – Trout Creek Pass – 9,348 feet, Hoosier Pass – 11,542 feet
2007 Ride The Rockies – 422 miles
Frisco to Steamboat Springs - 99 miles – Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Steamboat Springs to Craig – 44 miles
Craig to Rifle – 90 miles – Nine Mile Gap – 7,485 feet
Rifle to Glenwood Springs – 35 miles
Glenwood Springs to Aspen – 42 miles
Aspen to Leadville – 61 miles – Independence Pass – 12,095 feet
Leadville to Frisco – 52 miles – Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
2006 Ride The Rockies – 419 miles
Cortez to Durango – 48 miles
Durango to Pagosa Springs – 87 miles
Pagosa Springs to Chama, New Mexico – 50 miles
Chama, New Mexico to Alamosa – 83 miles
Cumbres Pass, 10,022 feet – La Manga Pass, 10,230 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 84 miles
Poncha Pass – 9,020 feet
Salida to Cañon City – 67 miles
2005 Ride The Rockies – 405 miles
Grand Junction to Grand Junction – 45 miles – Colorado National Monument Loop
Grand Junction to Delta – 91 miles – Grand Mesa – 10,839 feet
Delta to Montrose – 34 miles
Montrose to Gunnison – 65 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 66 miles – Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Breckenridge – 45 miles – Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
2004 Ride The Rockies – 431 miles
Boulder to Estes Park – 56 miles
Estes Park to Granby – 63 miles – Trail Ridge Road – 12,183 feet
Granby to Steamboat Springs – 100 miles – Gore Pass – 9,527 feet
Steamboat Springs – Rest Day/Optional Ride – 65 miles
Steamboat Springs to Frisco – 98 miles – Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Frisco to Idaho Springs – 49 miles – Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
2003 Ride The Rockies – 404 miles
Cortez to Telluride – 77 miles – Lizard Head Pass – 10,222 feet
Telluride to Montrose – 65 miles – Dallas Divide – 8,970 feet
Montrose to Delta – 32 miles
Delta to Gunnison – 102 miles – North Rim, Black Canyon of the Gunnison – 9,130 feet
Gunnison – Rest Day
Gunnison to Buena Vista – 69 miles – Cottonwood Pass – 12,126 feet
Buena Vista to Copper Mountain – 83 miles – Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
2002 Ride The Rockies – 489 miles
Alamosa to Pagosa Springs – 99 miles – Wolf Creek Pass – 10,850 feet
Pagosa Springs to Durango – 67 miles
Durango to Silverton – 51 miles – Coal Bank Pass – 10,640 feet, Molas Divide – 10,899 feet
Silverton to Montrose – 59 miles – Red Mountain Pass – 11,090 feet
Montrose to Gunnison – 65 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles – Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Alamosa – 83 miles – Poncha Pass – 9,019 feet
2001 Ride The Rockies – 432 miles
Crested Butte to Buena Vista – 75 miles – Cottonwood Pass – 12,126 feet
Buena Vista to Edwards/Avon – 75 miles – Tennessee Pass – 10,424 feet
Edwards/Avon to Steamboat Springs – 81 miles
Steamboat Springs to Granby – 80 miles – Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Granby to Estes Park – 65 miles – Trail Ridge Road – 12,183 feet
Estes Park to Boulder – 56 miles
2000 Ride The Rockies – 458 miles
Trinidad to Walsenburg – 82 miles, Cucharas Pass – 9,941 feet
Walsenburg to Alamosa – 74 miles, North La Veta Pass – 9,413 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 83 miles, Poncha Pass – 9,010
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Frisco – 35 miles, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet (plus optional 15-mile ride around Turquoise Lake)
Frisco to Granby – 71 miles
Granby to Idaho Springs – 54 miles, Berthoud Pass – 11,315 feet
1999 Ride The Rockies – 437 miles
Durango to Cortez – 48 miles
Cortez to Telluride – 76 miles, Lizard Head Pass – 10,222 feet
Telluride to Montrose – 66 miles, Dallas Divide – 8,970 feet
Montrose to Gunnison – 65 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles, Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Canon City – 67 miles
Canon City to Colorado Springs – 50 miles
1998 Ride The Rockies – 353 miles
Boulder to Estes Park – 57 miles
Estes Park to Granby – 63 miles, Trail Ridge Road – 12,183 feet
Granby to Steamboat Springs – 80 miles, Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Steamboat Springs – rest day
Steamboat Springs to Avon – 89 miles
Avon to Frisco – 64 miles, Tennessee Pass – 10,424 feet, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
1997 Ride The Rockies – 418 Miles
Grand Junction to Delta – 90 miles, Grand Mesa – 10,839 feet
Delta to Montrose – 34 miles
Montrose to Gunnison – 65 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles, Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Frisco – 35 miles, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
Frisco to Golden – 70 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
1996 Ride The Rockies – 410 Miles
Cortez to Durango – 48 miles
Durango to Pagosa Springs – 70 miles
Pagosa Springs to Alamosa – 89 miles, Wolf Creek Pass – 10,857 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 83 miles, Poncha Pass – 9,010 feet
Salida to Canon City – 67 miles
Canon City to Colorado Springs – 53 miles
1995 Ride The Rockies – 380 Miles
Glenwood Springs to Rifle – 36 miles
Rifle to Craig – 89 miles – Nine Mile Gap – 7,485 feet
Craig to Steamboat Springs – 45 miles
Steamboat Springs to Granby – 80 miles – Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Granby to Idaho Springs – 55 miles – Berthoud Pass – 11,315 feet
Idaho Springs to Boulder – 75 miles
1994 Ride The Rockies – 403 Miles
Trinidad to Walsenburg – 82 miles, Cuchara Pass – 9,941 feet
Walsenburg to Alamosa – 75 miles, North La Veta Pass – 9,413 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 80 miles, Poncha Pass – 9,010 feet
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Frisco – 32 miles, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
Frisco to Golden – 72 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
1993 Ride The Rockies – 428 Miles
Fort Collins to Estes Park – 47 miles
Estes Park to Granby – 63 miles, Trail Ridge Road – 12,183 feet
Granby to Steamboat Springs – 80 miles, Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Steamboat Springs to Vail – 98 miles
Vail to Frisco – 68 miles, Tennessee Pass – 10,424 feet, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
Frisco to Golden – 72 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
1992 Ride The Rockies – 430 Miles
Durango to Silverton – 51 miles, Coal Bank Pass – 10,630 feet, Molas Divide – 10,910 feet
Silverton to Montrose – 60 miles, Red Mountain Pass – 11,008 feet
Montrose to Gunnison – 64 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles, Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Canon City – 68 miles
Canon City to Manitou Springs – 56 miles
Manitou Springs to Castle Rock – 66 miles
1991 Ride The Rockies – 443 Miles
Cortez to Durango – 46 miles
Durango to Pagosa Springs – 60 miles
Pagosa Springs to Alamosa – 90 miles, Wolf Creek Pass – 10,850 feet
Alamosa to Salida – 82 miles – Poncha Pass = 9,010 feet
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Frisco – 33 miles, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet, optional ride around Turquoise Lake, 19 miles
Frisco to Golden – 73 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
1990 Ride The Rockies – 391 Miles
Craig to Steamboat Springs – 46 miles
Steamboat Springs to Granby – 82 miles, Rabbit Ears Pass – 9,426 feet
Granby to Idaho Springs – 56 miles, Berthoud Pass – 11,315 feet
Idaho Springs to Estes Park – 80 miles
Estes Park to Greeley – 67 miles
Greeley to Boulder – 60 miles
1989 Ride The Rockies – 361 Miles
Grand Junction to Montrose – 67 miles
Montrose to Gunnison – 66 miles
Gunnison to Salida – 65 miles, Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Salida to Leadville – 59 miles
Leadville to Frisco – 32 miles, Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet, optional ride around Turquoise Lake, 19 miles
Frisco to Golden – 73 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
1988 Ride The Rockies – 391 Miles
Craig to Steamboat Springs – 45 miles
Steamboat Springs to Vail – 100 miles
Vail to Frisco – 68 miles – Tennesse Pass – 10,424 feet and Fremont Pass – 11,318 feet
Frisco to Granby – 75 miles
Granby to Idaho Springs – 56 miles – Berthoud Pass – 11,315 feet
Idaho Springs to Golden – 47 miles – Juniper Pass – 11,140 feet
1987 Ride The Rockies – 403 Miles
Durango to Silverton – 49 miles, Molas Divide – 10,910 feet
Silverton to Montrose – 59 miles, Red Mountain Pass – 11,008 feet
Montrose to Gunnison – 65 miles
Gunnison to Buena Vista – 83 miles, Monarch Pass – 11,312 feet
Buena Vista to Breckenridge – 59 miles, Hoosier Pass – 11,541 feet
Breckenridge to Denver – 88 miles, Loveland Pass – 11,992 feet
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