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Colorado National MonumentA Desert Bighorn Sheep
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Colorado National Monument
Bicycling
 

NEW BICYCLIST RESTRICTIONS IN TUNNEL! See blue text below.

Bicycling the Rim Rock Drive is popular and challenging. To insure your safety, please share the road with drivers and follow these regulations:

 
bikes on rim rock drive
Bicyclists on Rim Rock Drive

 

 
  • Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic laws including speed limits, passing zones, stop signs, and staying on roads.
  • Bicyclists are required to ride single file at all times within the monument.
  • Always ride as far to the right as is safely possible.
  • Please allow vehicles to pass you. 
  • Do not pass vehicles in the tunnels.
  • Bicycles or riders must be equipped with lights visible from the front and rear for safe passage through the tunnels.
  • Bicyclists are required to stop at Stop signs when entrance stations are staffed.
  • Bicyclists are required to pay entrance fees.
  • On the east side of the monument, cyclists may encounter large trucks that use four miles of the monument's roadway to access the community of Glade Park.

By itself, the Rim Rock Drive is just 23 miles long, but it joins with connecting roads outside the monument for a grand loop of 33 miles. Whether you decide to ride the entire circuit or only a part of it will depend on how much time you have and how fit you are.

For the grand loop, the aggregate climb for a complete trip is 2300 vertical feet, due primarily to the steeper grades just inside either entrance. Allow three hours.

Off-road mountain biking is not permitted in the monument, but several adjoining areas are ideal for it.

bicyclist
Share The Road
Special considerations for motorists and bicyclists
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Did You Know?  

Did You Know?
The Collared Lizard is one of the boldest lizards in the desert Southwest - although this one seems to be rather retiring.

Last Updated: May 06, 2009 at 10:58 EST