High Grade and Confluence Loop

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Denver, CO, US

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Route Overview

Neil M Hanson

Author and General Pot Stirrer

74 mi.

4,842 ft.

This 75 mile route incorporates one of the Denver area's premier climbs (The High Grade) with a loop through Golden and then downtown Denver.

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Route Details

**This is one of the premier climbing rides in the Denver area, combined with a nice tour past the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a skirt around Golden, a delightful ride to downtown Denver, and then an easy jaunt up the Platte River Bicycle Trail to end the day.**

# Route

This route begins along the Platte River, starting at @point[Aspen Grove shopping center](d,27.38), though there is also a brewery option very close by for start and stop. We like Aspen Grove because there's a Panera there where we can relax and have a bite to eat when the ride is over. **This ride can get hot on the High Grade climb, so I like to start the ride by 6:00 AM at the latest.**

The route warms up with a couple miles up the @slice[Platte River Trail (Mary Carter Greenway)](d,423.38,3170.14) to the C-470 trail, where you turn left, cross the bridge, bear right into Chatfield State Park, then get a tiny little climb up the backside of the dam just to warm up a bit. Watch for the little side street off to the right (possible gate to go around) then a fairly quick left and a fairly quick right to get down to Wadworth, where you'll go around another gate and then across onto Deer Creek Canyon Rd.

Follow @photo[Deer Creek as it begins to climb](2717010), and expect a slight headwind as the nightly downdraft of cool night air will continue until an hour or so after sunrise. Don't miss the @point[left hand turn](d,18194.31) @photo[onto Deer Creek Rd](2717014). A couple more miles of gentle slope, then a @slice[hard right hairpin turn](d,21578.19,23062.89) and you're facing a wall of climb that'll give you a couple miles of everything from 5% to 13%, then it will gentle out a bit for several miles to 4% - 8%.

The road here has no shoulder at all, but there is also extremely light traffic, and the drivers are generally expecting to see cyclists along the road. The sun will be on your left shoulder for some of the toughest parts of this climb, and it can get darned hot in the summer, so be ready for that.

The climb is absolutely beautiful if challenging, and you'll have the company of many other cyclists as this is one of the premier training climbs in the Denver area. *A note though, I strongly discourage descending down this route, as the switchbacks are treacherous. I have two friends that have crashed descending this one, and know of others. There are too many fun ways to come back down.*

At the top of the climb an old Grange Hall is on the right, and some local folks maintain coolers that they stock on weekends with a contribution box in case you need to refill the water bottles, but in any case, it's always nice to sit and relax on the picnic benches that are there in the shade. You're at about 8700' or so, and it's almost always cool.

Leaving the Grange, continue into Conifer, passing under 285 then turning right onto highway 73. It's a gentle descent (with just a couple up-bumps) all the way to Evergreen, where you'll turn right on highway 74. *Note that traffic along @slice[this stretch](d,36008.15,50066.46) has been getting heavier in recent years, so be forewarned.* There is a stop along this stretch for food or supplies if you need as well.

After turning right at Evergreen, begin a wonderful drop down through Bear Creek Canyon beside Bear Creek. The daily mountain airflow generally kicks an updraft up the canyon starting around 10:30 or 11:00, so if you can get down the canyon before that you'll avoid the headwind.

Several lunch options present themselves along this road, @slice[from Evergreen to Kittridge to Morrison](d,50097.27,67329.38). We always stop at a little place in Morrison.

Turn left before leaving town and begin the ascent back up past @photo[Red Rocks Amphitheatre](2717034) (watch to your left) and eventually passing under I-70 and then descending into Golden. *Note that @slice[this climb](d,67351.28,72710.58) is steady, but not too steep and not too long. After the High Grade grind from the morning, it will feel like a walk in the park!*
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Here in Golden is a chance to add another great climb onto this route, up Lookout Mountain and back down old 40 along I-70. I don't include that loop in this route, but know that it will add about 16 miles and 1800' of climbing to the route.
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@slice[The route from Golden to downtown Denver is a very gentle descent along easy streets with very light traffic.](d,77083.73,96253.86) The streets are all bicycle friendly, with just a couple little spots where you need to take extra care.

Once in downtown Denver, ease over to your right and onto the @point[Platte River trail](d,96349.46) again, turning right on the trail to head south, and enjoy an easy pedal along the Platte River on the bike path back to where you parked the car. The trail will cross the river many times, and there are several nice parks along the ride.
## Notes
*Note that if you didn't stop in Morrison for lunch (or even if you did) you'll find some great lunch options here in downtown Denver.* There's a @poi[Starbucks](4249061) at the big REI flagship store at Confluence Park (about where you'll get on the trail) and MANY other options within an easy pedal of where you meet up with the trail.

*One final note: If you ride on the weekend, be sure and save room for a @poi[smoothie at Hudson Gardens](4249062), which you'll pass on your left just a couple miles before the ride is finished.*

As I say, we usually have a post-ride sandwich and tea at the @poi[Panera](4249063) there at Aspen Grove, but there's also a @poi[Ted's Montana Grill](4249064) there if you're good and hungry, and a very nice brewery option (@poi[Breckenridge Brewery](4249065)) and wine option (@poi[Carboy Winery](4249066)) less than a mile north and a couple miles north is old town Littleton, with many additional options.

**Finally, if you're a visitor to Denver, remember that you'll begin your ride at 5300' of elevation, and climb to nearly 9000', so expect thin air.**

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High Grade and Confluence Loop

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