Golden to Estes Park
This ride starts at just under 6,000 feet in elevation and climbs repeatedly to over 9,000 feet bore descending back to 5,000 feet in Loveland, Colorado.
It begins by sweeping through Clear Creek canyon, alongside clear creek. This portion features several rock tunnels and casual 40mph curves. Clear Creek Rd is the major thoroughfare between Golden and Black Hawk so expect lots of tourist traffic and gambling buses. Once past Black Hawk, the ride becomes more scenic and more fun with tighter S curves and long views of various mountain peaks.
The ride up Highway 72 north of Black Hawk follows the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and has a 45 mph speed limit with several well-architecture S curves to keep your mind busy. This stretch is well traveled by motorcycles. If you find yourself behind a slow-moving tourist, pull off and snap some photos.
The final jaunt along Highway 34 follows the Big Thompson river through Big Thompson Canyon and offers beautiful scenery and exhilarating curves. As such, it is also well traveled by tourists so expect heavy traffic during the tourist season. The canyon offers some very tight S-curves at it's exit near Loveland. I found these to be the best part of the ride.
It begins by sweeping through Clear Creek canyon, alongside clear creek. This portion features several rock tunnels and casual 40mph curves. Clear Creek Rd is the major thoroughfare between Golden and Black Hawk so expect lots of tourist traffic and gambling buses. Once past Black Hawk, the ride becomes more scenic and more fun with tighter S curves and long views of various mountain peaks.
The ride up Highway 72 north of Black Hawk follows the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and has a 45 mph speed limit with several well-architecture S curves to keep your mind busy. This stretch is well traveled by motorcycles. If you find yourself behind a slow-moving tourist, pull off and snap some photos.
The final jaunt along Highway 34 follows the Big Thompson river through Big Thompson Canyon and offers beautiful scenery and exhilarating curves. As such, it is also well traveled by tourists so expect heavy traffic during the tourist season. The canyon offers some very tight S-curves at it's exit near Loveland. I found these to be the best part of the ride.
Ride Characteristics
![]() Curvy Roads: Some |
![]() Gas Stations: Some |
![]() Restrooms: Some |
![]() Food: Some |
![]() Scenic Areas: Slight |
![]() Elevation Change: Frequent |
![]() Off Road: Slight |
![]() Traffic: Some |
![]() Animal Crossings: Some |
![]() Hotels: Slight |
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