Rampart range, CO Route/Race

[wdlandparker]

Well, seeing as the only decently long route in Colorado is The CDT and I live in the Rampart Range, I figured another route and/or (if enough people are intersted) race would be fun to formulate, plus I have way too much time on my hands.
Anyway, just looking for Ideas if anyone is willing to give them!

[ScottM]

I vote for a loop, maybe 300 or so miles.  That format and distance seems to be getting popular for bikepacking specific routes (Coconino, Dixie 311) and with good reason.

I've got a GPX file from a bikepacking trip where I started in Manitou Springs and rode to Kenosha Pass (then onto the CT).  But as I recall most of the singletrack that I hoped for didn't pan out, except closer to the Springs.

Keep us posted!

[Chad B]

I'd love to do something in CO early July. If you need someone to recon a loop, I'd be down.

[wdlandparker]

Well, as far as length I was thinking something in the 300-400 mile range,with about mostly dirt roads and singletrack, with a bit o' pave mixed in. Yeah, recon help would be appreciated!

[Carney]

I'm not sure where you're thinking of going but I've been looking at trying to start with the ring the peak route and then add on some miles to make it 200+.

[wdlandparker]

I was thinking riding north on rampart range road from garden of the gods, all the way to it's northern terminus where the colorado trail starts, take the colorado trail to where you can't ride it in the lost creek wilderness, then south to divide on a bunch or dirt roads/atv trails yet to be determined, and from divide doing ring the peak back to garden of the gods. An alternate to RTP would be taking a trail from near the catamount reserviors to glen cove, and from glen cove to Pikes Peak on the devils playground trail, and back to GOTG on the Barr trail.

Thoughts?

[Bob_P]

I was thinking riding north on rampart range road from garden of the gods, all the way to it's northern terminus where the colorado trail starts, ...
Thoughts?

I've often thought about this route, but starting from my house in Denver and going to my Mom's in the Springs.  Have you ridden the RR Rd?  Is it full of ATV'rs and motorcycles or is it OK for MTB'rs?  I have not heard of ring the peak. I like the sound of that... Any sites with a map?

[Marshal]

RR road is a smooth gravel road, lots of cars and trucks & dust on a hot day, that said it can be a pleasant ride at the right time(s).  There are lots of side trails and roads that could be linked "along" RR.  These side trails are mostly open to 4X4 and ATV but with some local knowledge and scout work one could make a nice parallel GPS track-route with gravel road, jeep trail, atv trail and some ST.

for ring the peak info start by checking out the routes page on this site

imo a 'mixed' route of dirt road, ST, jeep trails like wdlandparker is working on is the way to go in this area, very hard to do all ST but there are some great double track routes with gravel road connectors, a bit of ST and little re-supply towns/stops just waiting to be laid out

looking foward to seeing what comes up..........