Overall Route Rating
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4.38 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.38
44 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jul 31, 2007

Rider Reviews

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Guest
June 21, 2010
This ride was a 9+ at least! Words do not do this…
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pods
63 McR Points
July 21, 2017
2017. Having ridden Estes Park thru Big Thopson…
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Written Directions

There are several starting points all along the route. You can start at Highway 6 in Golden through Black Hawk, Golden Gate Canyon in Golden, Highway 72 east of Arvada in Clear Creek Canyon, Left Hand Canyon in Boulder, Boulder Canyon or even Highway 7 coming out of Lyons. Each one of these roads travels west and connects with the Peak to Peak. You can move through the casinos of Black Hawk, the town of Nederland or start in Boulder. Any way you choose will provide an amazing run. Going from South to North you will eventually come out in Estes Park Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road.

Scenery

Depending on which canyon you start with you will go through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery close to the Denver-Metro area. The National Scenic Byway Program describes the Peak to Peak Highway as "The showcase of the Front Range. Less than an hour from Denver, Boulder, or Fort Collins, this 55-mile-long route provides matchless views of the Continental Divide and its timbered approaches. The string of popular attractions along the way - Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, Eldora Ski Resort - combine recreation with nature preservation. The gravel roads criss-crossing the main highway lead to high-country lakes, trailheads, campgrounds, the Moffat Tunnel's east portal, and ghost towns at Hesse and Apex. Established in 1918 this is Colorado's oldest scenic byway."

Drive Enjoyment

The roads will have some sand in the early spring but overall quality is quite good.

Tourism Opportunities

Several stops along the way to take pictures, take in the scenery or stop for a bite and drink. Take a run past several of Colorado famous 14'ers! One of our favorite stops is the wonderful town of Ward. John plans to retire and become Mayor there. Their 4th of July parade is not to be missed!

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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red bud
December 2, 2019
344 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring
you can see forever & snowed on us in august
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rtcoker
January 26, 2020
197 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
This is some great riding. Usually not many tourists, just locals. Highway 7 over Twin Sisters peak, to Allenspark. Then 72 to Ward, Nederland and then 179 on to Blackhawk. Great run. don't go all the way into Blackhawk, unless you want to gamble. Turn around and take Gap road east back down to pickup 72 near Coal Creek Canyon. Then turn left and take 72 back up top. Then take 119 east to Wheelman (don't go into Boulder unless you want to), and then take 122 back west through Sugarloaf back to Nederland. Go north on 72 to Ward and turn right on Lefthand Canyon Rd. Take it down until you come to James Canyon road. Turn left and take it through Jamestown back up over Bald Mntn to Highway 72 again. From there, your choice. Go back north to Estes Park, or south to Blackhawk. Add any of the above at any segment of your Peak to Peak run to add plenty of joy and grins. Those canyon roads follow rivers and they have been know to flood a time or two so be careful!
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lucas.polack
October 6, 2020
5 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
The Peak to Peak highway is fantastic on its own, but I always have more fun blasting up and down the canyon runs that get you there from the plains.
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