John Brown Canyon-Gateway Gravel

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Mesa County, CO, US

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Route Overview

We Ride 4

Nonprofit addressing child obesity and healthy lifestyles by getting more kids riding bikes

22 mi.

3,229 ft.

Beautiful scenic climb through Gateway’s gorgeous John Brown Canyon.

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Route Details

This is an advanced route. If you like climbing, you’re going to love this route. It is both scenic and challenging. There are several sections where the grade turns up for extended periods into the mid to upper teens. You will love the smooth, seemingly hard-packed surface on the way up. But the way down is no cruiser ride. Those same steep grades going up are also steep on the way down and suddenly the hard-packed surface seems like a little bit of loose scree. So descend with extreme caution.

The climbing starts almost right away once you leave the grounds of the Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa. There’s a short stretch of paved road at the beginning of the road up the canyon. Then @slice[the first 2 miles](d,1644.7,4803.8) of gravel are relatively reasonable (5 - 7% grades). After that, the grade turns up considerably for @slice[the next 3.5 miles](d,4843.6,10465) before easing up a bit for @slice[the last 3 miles](d,10416.4,15253.6). Once you get to the top you will be rewarded with an amazing view across the plateau. You will see @photo[Mt Waas (12,306’) and Manns Peak (12,272’)](15770509), part of the La Sal Mountains off in the distance to the SW. The surface at the top of the climb to the turnaround point is hard-packed dirt road and the low grades are a welcome relief from the climb you just completed.

The turn around for this route is at exactly 11 miles. But theoretically, you could stay on this road all the way to @photo[Moab, UT](15770523) if you are interested in 55 miles (one way) and more than 5,200’ of climbing. Even though this road provides the shortest route from Gateway to Moab, it’s still pretty remote. On the day we rode this, we only saw 2 vehicles.

At approximately mile 9 you will cross the @point[Colorado/Utah border](d,14402.17). You have to look for it on the map as there wasn’t any noticeable markings on the road to indicate crossing the state line.

When you reach mile 11, turn around and follow the road back down the canyon.

There isn't anywhere on the route to refill water bottles, so you will need to carry everything you think you will need. We rode this route on a hot day in July with 2 water bottles. If you do more than the 22 miles that are mapped on this route, I would suggest carrying another bottle or bring a large capacity water bladder in a backpack.

**John Brown Canyon** - The road from Gateway up John Brown Canyon was originally built for @photo[Uranium/Vanadium](15770514) mining purposes. Union Carbide alone mined many thousands of tons for their mill in this area.

**The Town of Gateway** - The first known homesteaders came to Gateway in 1884. Gateway has played host to gangs of cattle rustlers who used these canyon walls as hideouts from the law, gold miners who tunneled deep into the earth with the hope of finding their fortunes, and ranchers who have grazed thousands of head of cattle across Unaweep Canyon’s windswept grasslands. In 1903, homesteading families built a small, dirt-floored cabin to be used as a schoolhouse. The next year, the post office was established and the name “Gateway” was given to the town, as it is a gateway to Colorado from nearby Utah.
Gateway quickly became a strong community based around cattle ranching, farming and lumber milling. Later, uranium mining was the economic driver for the community. Today Gateway is becoming revitalized as it has opened its doors to the tourist community.

John Brown Canyon-Gateway Gravel

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