The Denver Post Ride The Rockies Announces 2020 Route

by Brian Mullin on January 11, 2020

route-map-full

2020 Route

The 35th annual Ride the Rockies features the stunning roads of southwest Colorado, with this year’s start and finish situated in Durango, one of the Centennial State’s most popular outdoor recreation and tourism destinations.

Along with easy access to some of Colorado’s best road and mountain bike riding, Durango offers visitors a plethora of recreation and leisure opportunities. Ride the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, raft the rollicking whitewater of the Animas River, or simply enjoy delicious food and drink at one of the town’s many great restaurants and bars. Durango has it all.

And for the second year in a row, the Ride the Rockies route is a loop, simplifying logistics while taking riders on a breathtaking adventure around one of the most scenic areas in all of Colorado. Besides Durango, other host communities along this 6-day, 418-mile clockwise tour include Cortez, Norwood, and Ouray County. Along the way are challenging uphill encounters with Lizard Head Pass, Red Mountain Pass, Molas Pass, and Coal Bank Pass, which together account for the bulk of the route’s 28,484 feet of climbing.

FULL ROUTE
Prologue (Optional)
Saturday, June 13
Durango to Pagosa Springs
62 or 79 miles/3,470’ or 4,750’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Southern Ute Reservation, Navajo Reservoir, Chimney Rock National Monument
Day 1/One- and Two-Day Ride
Sunday, June 14
Durango Loop
73 Miles/3,634’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Animas River, Southern Ute Reservation, La Plata Mountains
Day 2/Two-Day Ride
Monday, June 15
Durango to Cortez
69 Miles/3,610’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Lake Nighthorse, Cheery Creek Loop, Mesa Verde
Day 3
Tuesday, June 16
Cortez to Norwood
101 Miles/6,448’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Lizard Head Pass, San Miguel River, Norwood Hill
Day 4
Wednesday, June 17
Norwood to Ridgway
40 miles/2,990’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: San Miguel River, Dallas Divide, San Juan Mountains
Day 5
Thursday, June 18
Ridgway Loop
50 Miles/4,196’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Ridgway State Park, Uncompahgre Plateau, San Juan Mountains
Day 6
Friday, June 19
Ridgway to Durango
85 Miles/7,606’ Approximate Elevation Gain
Highlights: Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass

For further information, refer to ridetherockies.com

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