On Sunday, June 11, 2023, hundreds of cyclists embarked on a six-day journey across the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Day one took the riders from Fort Collins to Estes Park via Big Thompson Canyon.

On day two, a loop around Allenspark in the rain proved one of the many challenges cyclists would face in the Rocky Mountains.

Plans changed the night before day three when inclement weather raised safety concerns. The ride was changed from Estes Park to Grand Lake via Trail Ridge Road to Allenspark and toward Nederland on the beautiful Peak to Peak Highway.

From Nederland, riders were shuttled to Grand Lake, their intended day three ending. By day four, Wednesday, June 14, they were back on track riding 43 miles from Grand Lake to Winter Park.

After a night in Winter Park, riders were up early on Thursday, making their way into Black Hawk and Central City, where they would rest again in preparation for the longest journey, 91 miles from Gilpin County back to Fort Collins.

Daily routes began between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., closing by 2 p.m. Along the way, cyclists had access to aid stations, local ambulances, fire protection districts, hosting towns, and more. When asked how they felt after the unexpected change in course, most cyclists responded, “There’s always next year.”

Nearly 300 miles were covered by cyclists during Ride the Rockies 2023, gaining anywhere between 2,965 and 5,285 feet in elevation every day. Overall, spirits were high across an incredible journey through the Rocky Mountains.

To learn more about Ride the Rockies, please visit https://ridetherockies.com/.