Boulder, CO - Fourmile/Gold Hill/Sunshine

Overview:
Classic Boulder loop with over 3,000 feet of climbing in just 21 miles. The upper portion of this ride is all dirt roads so many people prefer to do it on their mountain or cross bikes.

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: 21.20 miles.

Total Elevation Gain: 3,425 ft.

Description:
Start at the end of Broadway Road where it meets Highway 36. Go left (north) on Highway 36 and continue for approximately xx miles where it tees into Ute Road (which is still actually Hwy 36) just outside of the town of Lyons. Take a left (west) and Ute Road turns into Main Street as you pass through the town of Lyons, then continue on 36 (northwest) until you reach Apple Valley Road, about a half mile outside of town. Go left on Apple Valley to begin the first of the “fruit loops” and continue until it winds its way back to Highway 36. Take a right (east) on Hwy 36 back into the the town of Lyons, but this time continue straight (south) past the light at Main Street at which point the road becomes 5th Avenue. Continue straight on 5th Avenue and it turns into Highway 7 near the southern end of town. Then about a half mile beyond that, take a left on Old St. Vrain Road to begin the second “fruit loop.” Follow Old St. Vrain until it winds back around into Hwy 7, then take a right (northeast) on Hwy 7 and continue back to the town of Lyons. You’ve just finished both of the Fruit Loops.

Once you’re back in Lyons, take a right on Broadway (east). It turns into Main Street after a few blocks then it becomes Ute Road (or Hwy 36) as you head out of town the way you came in. However, instead of taking Hwy 36 back to Boulder, continue east on Ute Road (aka Hwy 66) toward Longmont.

Variations:
Some people prefer to turn around at the end of Apple Valley Road and retrace their way back to Lyons rather than taking 36 back into Lyons. Depending on the day and time there can be quite a bit of traffic on 36. The same is true at the end of Old St. Vrain Road, often riders turn around rather than taking 7 back into Lyons. The only problem with these variations is that you’re not really doing the Fruit Loops, rather you’re doing the Fruit out-and-backs… not quite the same ring.

Google Earth:   View on Google Earth

MotionBased:   View on MotionBased

Download Ride Data:   GPS Device   GPX   HST   CRS