This is not a ride I recommend doing as part of Ironman training six weeks before a race. But since I did it yesterday, and since some campers might want to do it “because it’s there”, I’m including a route description.
SNOWMASS VILLAGE TO ASPEN
The first segment is the other way out of town – the route leading to upvalley rides, which include Maroon Bells (Maroon Creek Rd), Ashcroft (Castle Creek Rd), and Independence Pass (Upper Roaring Fork, Hiway 82). This segment will take us from Snowmass Village to the turn off near Aspen to Maroon and Castle Creeks. It is all on bike paths, with no traffic conflicts.
Well, the first .75 miles is on a road, downhill to Brush Creek. Out of the house, turn right, downhill, then left at the T onto Sinclair. Follow Sinclair about a half mile down to its end at Brush Creek Road. Cross the street, and find a bike path to the ride, contiguous to the road ust past the bus shelter. The bike path follows a wood fence along the golf course uphill into an aspen grove.
Cross over Brush Creek (the actual creek) and turn LEFT onto a bike path which doubles as a parking lot. You’re aiming for the path downhill which is partially hidden between the golf course fence and some condos. You know you’re on the correct path as there will be several short gravel segments, much trail damage from aspen roots, and lived-in condos on the right. The path does a lot of short steep up and down; stay on the asphalt, the concrete paths are for golf carts. The path comes to a road crossing; on the other side, head left. Again, a lot of ups and downs and curb jumping crossing driveways. Eventually, you’ll some to a steep hill, with no trees and several switchbacks. Then left over a bridge, and down into some woods, finally coming to a junction near the road; GO RIGHT, up hill. While this seems hard at first, it only gets worse at the top, with maybe 15 pedal strokes at a 23% grade. (Sometimes, if I’m feeling lazy, I’ll walk this part.)
Over the top, the path crosses a road; you can either head downhill on the road (my first choice) or cross over to the path on the other side. A lot of down either way, ending up on the back side of the Aspen Airport. If you’re on the road, get over to the path on the left as soon as you can. The surface is now concrete, and will meander around the construction lengthening the runway, eventually going thru a tunnel under the highway.
On the other side, a T junction; go right. More rambling up and down, across driveways and roads, and onto the Maroon Creek Bridge on a separated bike segment. Across the bridge, look up for the bus shelter labeled “Truscott”. The short story is, it’s named for my father (actually, for the public housing project and associated street named for him.) Keep heading parallel to the highway, under another tunnel and through more woods. eventually, a tunnel appears on your right, may be signed to Maroon/Castle Creeks. Stay straight if going to or thru Aspen.
ASPEN
The bike path continues its twisty route, aiming for a cliffside undercrossing of the highway at Castle Creek. It come out into the Marolt Open Space, which has LOTS of various bike paths thru it. Find and follow the signs for “Downtown Aspen”. You should go over a bridge (the creek) and end up in a residential neighborhood, going left.
Take the first right, onto Hopkins. This will be the Bike/Ped way. No cars! Head into town. If there’s somewhere you want to go, get a map. I’ve been going there for 40+ years, and I still don’t remember all the street names.
To go thru Aspen to the Pass, stay on Hopkins, and be careful when the cars appear. You’re aiming for Original Street, but it ought to be obvious, it will be the biggest one. This is actually Highway 82 out of town. Turn right, and then in two blocks, LEFT at the stop sign for Hiway 82 (it’s also called Cooper here). That’s it; just follow this road for 21 miles and 4,200 vertical feet up, and you’re at Independence Pass.
There are occasional toilets on the route, both porta-potties and campgrounds. There may be water at the campgrounds.
This road can be treacherous, from traffic; in its narrow segments; and downhill, especially if it’s raining.
My trip on Aug 24th was to watch the US Pro Cycling Challenge bike race. Here’s a link to an Aspen Times article about the scene at the summit, where I was:
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110825/NEWS/110829909/1077&ParentProfile=1058
My ride was on a mountain bike, and was no fun at all, especially in the rain going down with all the other bikers and cars. But I went 62 miles in 6 hours, 30 minutes; the last two time I did this was in 5 hours.
Here’s the link to MapMyRide for the route: