Colorado is calling all cyclists to mount their saddle for an unmissable ride. From mountain-high climbs and scenic byways to city routes for families and casual pedallers, Colorado's cycle routes provide a stunning backdrop for all abilities.

Breckenridge & Frisco

For cyclists who enjoy riding Colorado's high country while sampling the area's brews, At Your Pace Biking provides guided day tours including Summit County Colorado Bike and Brews, from Breckenridge to Frisco. The 22-mile route encompasses thirty year old Backcountry Brewery in Frisco, Colorado's third craft brewery, Breckenridge Brewery and newest brewery, Broken Compass Brewing whilst passing impressing alpine landscapes and serene bike paths. Tours are customisable based on cycling ability with the option to omit Frisco and include Breckenridge Distillery where visitors can sample chilli vodka, spiced rum and Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Colorado National Monument

A popular yet challenging route, the 23-mile long Rim Rock Drive including Colorado National Monument features spectacular views of red rock canyons and monoliths, with the chance to watch desert big horn sheep and the elusive collard lizard. A longer grand loop of 33-miles which connects with roads outside the monument has an aggregate climb of 2.300 vertical feet which typically takes three hours to complete.

Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley

This area has the longest mountain bike trail system in the world and some of the best desert trails in Colorado with more than 750 miles of mountain bike trails in the valley, including the famed 401 with beautiful, knee-deep foliage, steep grades and outstanding high-alpine views; and Doctor Park, a local's favourite with a steep ascent up Spring Creek and fun, speedy descent featuring rocky and technical components juxtaposed with long sections of smooth riding. 

Denver

Colorado's cycle routes aren't just limited to rural spaces and mountains, with many visitors taking to Denver's 85 miles of paved trails that connect to hundreds of additional miles of dirt trails and to a number of city attractions including Cherry Creek Shopping District and Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. The city has a public bike share programme, Denver B-cycle, with several new stations around the city and 700 bikes for short-term rentals.

Fruita

Located close to the Utah border, Fruita is designated as one of the best biking locales in the USA. Excelling in high-desert mountain-biking terrain, the community is laid-back and bicycle proud. Fruita's trails suit beginners through to experts, winding to enormous flat-top mesas that uncover views of valleys and rocky red vistas whilst adventurous dirt trails and 2.4 acre bike park with dirt jumps.

Independence Pass

Independence Pass spans 37.6 miles between Aspen and Twin Lakes, rising to its summit at 12,095 feet. Along the road, cyclists can watch aspens and evergreens dissolve into one another and the peaks of the surrounding mountains cut jagged lines against the sky. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the ideal time to ride this route is just ahead of its fall closure to witness the aspens' colours change from green to a shimmering gold. The ride is expected to take 3.5 hours for proficient cyclists, with many spas in Aspen to relax in or a chilled-out Twin Lakes for an energy-replenishing feed while admiring the scenery.

Scenic and Historic Byways

Colorado's Scenic and Historic Byways meander through breathtaking scenery with a number of routes displaying a fusion of autumnal colours when fall begins. Cache La Poudre takes in the aspen and pine drenched valley of North Fork from Fort Collins; Peak to Peak near Rocky Mountain National Park is known as a popular route for triathlon celebrities to take with stunning views of rocky canyon walls and the Flatirons; Top of the Rockies is elevated at over 9,000 feet, crossing the Continental Divide as well as passing through Copper Mountain, Leadville and Aspen; The San Juan Skyway leads cyclists through historic mining towns and over high mountain passes and in fall it passes uniquely coloured trees that together form a landscape masterpiece and for a 230-mile loop adventure Beer and Bike Tours match the ride with sampling local craft beers from the towns it encompasses; and West Elk Loop near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park winds around two mountain towns famous for their biking cultures, Gunnison and Crested Butte. As the byways are open to cars these routes are recommended for proficient cyclists.

Snowmass

The resort town primarily famed for skiing debuted a new 25-mile loop trail this June across a range of high desert, mountain shrub lands and shaded forest, enhancing its existing 50-miles of lift-served mountain bike trails on Snowmass Mountain. Also new this summer Viceroy Snowmass is offering a fully customisable cycling program led by former pro cyclist and Tour de France competitor, Will Frischkorn.

Steamboat Springs

With an area as beautiful and expansive as Steamboat, the most efficient way to take in the views is on two wheels. With a plethora of biking trails on the mountain, cyclists can choose uphill and downhill trails that are intimately exposed to aspens, scrub oaks, pines, rocky terrain and rustic wooden bridges. Trails go deep into pristine land in Routt National Forest for those with mountain bikes to be at-one-with-nature.

Wine Country

Spanning Grand Junction to Palisade, a Colorado Wine Country Self-guided Bike tour offers a blend of leisurely loops and jaw-dropping scenery from April to October. From spending crisp mornings pedalling quiet country roads to afternoons tasting award-winning wines and seeing the sun set over vineyards, At Your Pace Biking's four-day tour including winery lodging gives leisurely/moderate cyclists a real flavour of the area. A 25-mile event, Tour de Vineyards, takes place annually on 17th September giving cyclists an opportunity to pass through Colorado's Wine Country on paved roads with a few hills to build up a taste for a glass of local wine at the finish line.

Colorado is a year-round destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational activities, an abundant arts scene, Western heritage, distinctive cuisine and 25 renowned ski resort areas. The state's scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, numerous peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet, known as 'Fourteeners'.

Further information can be found at www.colorado.com

Consumer social media handles www.facebook.com/coloradoukireland & www.twitter.com/coloradoukeire

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Sarah Barnett sarah@blackdiamond.co.uk / 020 7845 6378