The second in a series of route descriptions intended for riders in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Except for the initial few miles, this route is about as simple as it gets – pure out and back.
From the west/downvalley end of Lower River Road: instead of turning left/south/across the bridge to Old Snowmass, go up a driveway about 40 yards to a parking area and an entrance, on the right, to the Rio Grande Trail. Turn left/west/downvalley onto the trail, the wooden fence should be on your left.
After about a mile, there is a trail intersection. To your right, up a little hill, is the Basalt/Old Snowmass trail. While this will take you to Fryingpan, it is both hilly, and very easy to get lost on. Instead, take the left fork, continuing on Rio Grande. It’s very easy to go top speed on this section, but watch out for other trail users. After a mile or so, you’ll see the Wingo Trestle Bridge crossing the highway. Just before the bridge, go through a cap in the fence (watch out for the gravel!) thru a parking area, turning left (more gravel!) and left again down to the highway. There, turn right/west/downvalley onto the shoulder of Highway 82. This is a rocket route, smooth pavement, straight, just watch out for cars turning into and out of the driveways on the right. A mile or so to the traffic light at Two Rivers Road, turn right. In 50 yards there is a little parking/picnic area with maybe the only public flush toilet and water source between Aspen and Glenwood; take advantage if you need to.
Another half mile, on new pavement, and your are at a four-way stop. Turn right, past the schools, going left at the next stop sign, winding down hill and to the left onto Riverside Drive, crossing (duh!) the second of the Two Rivers – the Fryingpan. A very short rise, and you’re at the road. Turn right. Now would be a good time to start a new interval, if you’re so inclined.
If the occasional cars in this first half mile spook you, you can ride on the sidewalk, but it ends shortly, and you are out of town, heading towards Ruedi Reservoir and beyond. Soon, you’ll see and hear the river on the right; get used to it, it’s there for at least the next 30 miles.
The first 12+ miles are uphill at a 1-3% gradient, so stay in the aero position all the way. Smile at the fishermen, and watch out for anyone fly-casting back at you. The upside down painted numbers every mile seem to be from an old half marathon race downhill, and also tell you just about how far it is until the *real* climbing starts.
Around MP 13, the gradient changes to a steady 6-7%, and you leave the river far below, heading up to the dam and reservoir. It’s only a mile of this, then the road eases up to 3-5% for a bit, before hitting two more 5-7% climbs topping out at MP 17, 8400’. End interval?
Check out the view, make sure you;re hydrated and fueled, and head down to the river once more. Three miles of 5+% drop, then two more miles of rolling. Notice when the road crosses into Pitkin County, maybe the richest jurisdiction in the nation, the pavement turns to crap.
A bridge over the bottom signals the end of the drop. A gravel road to the right leads to a small Forest Service Campground – you have to know it’s there, there’s no sign at the side of the road – with mosquitos (in season), pit toilets, and water. THis is 40 miles from Snowmass Village
From here, it’s about 10 miles and 1300’ up to the end of the pavement past MP 32, 9125’. The first five miles follow the river again, much smaller now and shrouded in fir trees. A couple of VERY small towns provide diversion (watch out for the Fox crossing).
Then, the valley opens up, offering expansive views of the peaks just west of the Continental Divide. Aspen trees line the route, and the road goes from good to bad and back again at random. Turn around at any time you get bored, or tired. The end of the road is anti-climatic; it just turns left up hill, then the pavements turns to gravel with no facilities or even much of a view.
A note on the weather. Due to the surrounding peaks and the surprisingly high elevation, it can often be chilly, cloudy, and much colder here than back down at the reservoir. Pack accordingly.
The trip back down hill requires attention, as the gradient – 2-3% is just fast enough to get me scared in the aerobars at times, especially with the jarring cross seams every 20 feet or so, and the periodic pothole.
Over the bridge again, and the climb out of the reservoir area. THis climb always seems easier going back then coming up, maybe due to the lack of the 12 mile lead in and the lack of anything steep than 5-6%. At MP 17, you may think you have an easy time back down to Basalt, but …
First, it’s surprising how steep the road you climbed up here was! It’s easy to let your speed get away from you, especially on a TT bike. Next, between MP 14 and 13, it is almost always treacherous from gusty winds funneled up the valley, over the dam and around the corners. Also, rocks often fall from the cliff to the right; keep a sharp lookout ahead. Finally, the prevailing afternoon wind here is directly upvalley, so instead of a gentle roll downhill, it’s a mental fight to keep going into that wind. The only way to avoid it is to arrive at the start of the downhill before 10 AM, only possible by leaving directly. from Basalt before 8.
Back in town, the way out is to the left after the first stop sign you see, back across the river and right curving uphill to the schools, down to the 4-way stop. Left there to the little park on the left just before the traffic light at the highway. Although it’s a little tricky, I advise turning left/east/upvalley onto Hiway 82 for a mile to the Wingo Trestle Bridge. Just before the bridge, head right onto the gravel road, then left uphill, getting off and walking 50 feet to the trail over the bridge across the highway.
You’re back on the Rio Grand Trail. Follow it for a couple of miles, and either drop down to Lower River Road for that route home, or stay on the Trail (which parallels the road), in either case, ending up at Woody Creek.
My ride today: 91 miles, 6 hours, uphills down as intervals at IM pace, downhills as rest periods. Total TSS about 200.
Here’s the link to the MapMyRide.com map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/17631896