Paved Roads - Northern Front Range of Colorado
Twisty Turns to the TopRunning just east of and parallel to the Continental Divide is Peak to Peak Highway. Further east and downhill along the foothills are Highways 93 and 36. Connecting these two north/south arteries, like twisted warped rungs of a ladder, are six of the finest curvy canyon roads you’ll find anywhere. These paved snakes, and a few more south and north, will be your access roads to the dirt trails of the Northern Front Range.
Pictured: Lefthand Canyon
Paved Roads of the Northern Front Range of Colorado
The paved roads of the Northern Colorado Front Range are a bit more organized than the south. They almost make a grid that covers the area, but that doesn’t mean they’re straight. These roads follow the wild creeks that formed each valley while draining rain and snow-melt from the eastern side of the Continental Divide. That’s why when epic rains fell in September of 2013, many of these roads were washed away. But now, years later, that disaster has resulted in newly paved, and in many cases, newly engineered roads. New pavement is nice, but the newly engineered sweeping curves have really made many of these roads much more enjoyable to ride. Gone are the inconsistent arcs that make canyon roads sketchy, replaced with perfect “lean and grin” sweeping turns.
The paved roads provide plenty of options for access to and from dirt trails. In many cases you can ride up one canyon on a paved road, cut through the wilderness on a dirt trail (or two) and ride down a different paved canyon road and be home in time for dinner. Or if you’re interested in a longer day, you can take one of the other paved roads into the wilderness further north. The possibilities really are almost endless.
Click on a road link in the list to find the paved road that’s right for you.
