Garden of the Gods
This ride begins at 6,600' in elevation and peaks at 8,500 feet before descending back to 6,500 feet at Garden of the Gods.
It begins at Sedalia which is about 20 minutes south of Denver and flows right into Pike National Forest. The roads from Sedalia and through the forest are in fair shape and there is a bustle of outdoor activities along the roadway, so take this one in Touring mode. I found potholes, wash outs, gravel and even large boulders on the roadway.
About 15 minutes after you enter Pike National Forest, the road will fork and become gravel. Take the right side of the fork to follow Pine Creek Road. Pine Creek Road is a gravel road and is about 4 miles long. This portion is packed dirt and is heavily graveled with a 15% down-slope.
Once you get over the gravel road, the ride dumps out onto the Platte River. Follow the river south to Deckers. This portion is beautiful but the roads are littered with small rocks and washout debris so proceed with caution.
When you reach Deckers, take a left and stay on US 67 toward Woodland Park. At Deckers, the road improves and the ride becomes quite brisk.
Midway between Deckers and Manitou Springs you will encounter a sign which reads "use extreme caution". At this point, the county began patching the roadway with tar and you get those slippery tar snakes. Slow down a bit and enjoy.
Lastly, the ride around Garden of the Gods is positively gorgeous. The road has a 20 mph speed limit and tourists are abound on every corner so take this one easy.
It begins at Sedalia which is about 20 minutes south of Denver and flows right into Pike National Forest. The roads from Sedalia and through the forest are in fair shape and there is a bustle of outdoor activities along the roadway, so take this one in Touring mode. I found potholes, wash outs, gravel and even large boulders on the roadway.
About 15 minutes after you enter Pike National Forest, the road will fork and become gravel. Take the right side of the fork to follow Pine Creek Road. Pine Creek Road is a gravel road and is about 4 miles long. This portion is packed dirt and is heavily graveled with a 15% down-slope.
Once you get over the gravel road, the ride dumps out onto the Platte River. Follow the river south to Deckers. This portion is beautiful but the roads are littered with small rocks and washout debris so proceed with caution.
When you reach Deckers, take a left and stay on US 67 toward Woodland Park. At Deckers, the road improves and the ride becomes quite brisk.
Midway between Deckers and Manitou Springs you will encounter a sign which reads "use extreme caution". At this point, the county began patching the roadway with tar and you get those slippery tar snakes. Slow down a bit and enjoy.
Lastly, the ride around Garden of the Gods is positively gorgeous. The road has a 20 mph speed limit and tourists are abound on every corner so take this one easy.
Ride Characteristics
 Curvy Roads: Average |
 Gas Stations: Slight |
 Restrooms: Some |
 Food: Slight |
 Scenic Areas: Some |
 Elevation Change: Some |
 Off Road: Slight |
 Traffic: Average |
 Animal Crossings: Average |
 Hotels: None |
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on May 19, 2012
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