Bike Routes over or near Vail Pass
Vail, Colorado is known for it's world class skiing; regularly playing host to both professional ski races and happy ski tourists. But Vail also has some excellent high altitude cycling across and over its local mountains.
Incorporated as a city in 1966, Vail is small in size, squeezing 5400 of its population into only 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2). Tourists swarm the place during the winter ski season and again during the changing fall foliage season. This town can either seem very busy or nearly abandoned.
This August the USA Pro Challenge, professional cycling stage race, will return once again (3rd time) to race from the center of Vail Village up Vail Pass. An individual time trial will be held on Saturday, August 23rd. Last year, the pros reached average speeds of 22mph for 10-miles up this pass. You can go at it slowly or try your best to match their pace.
Summer months see a steady stream of cyclists over Vail Pass. The bike path, fully paved, is closed to cars for sections, making it a wonderful experience for cyclists wanting to enjoy the views along the deceivingly tough false flat or narrow and steep bike path to the summit.
If you are in the area, take the time to enjoy these seven rides near Vail.
Where to ride a bike in Vail, Colorado
There is more to ride in the area than just Vail Pass. Here are seven recommended road bike rides in or near Vail, Colorado:
Vail to Vail Pass
Distance in miles: 31.76 miles
Altitude gain: 3044 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 10,620 ft
Description: Vail Village center to top of Vail Pass (west side)
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail, Vail Pass rest station at the top of the pass.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail to Vail Pass Bike Ride route map and profile
*Tejay Van Garderen holds the record for fastest climb up Vail Pass from Vail Village (West Side) in a time of 25:01. The ITT route of the USA Pro Challenge does not go all the way to the summit.
Vail to Frisco and back
Distance in miles: 55.91 miles
Altitude gain: 5018 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 10620 ft
Description: Vail Village to Frisco Marina by bike over Vail Pass (both sides)
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail; Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks just past Copper Mountain, Frisco Main Street, Frisco Marina (return).
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village to Frisco bike Ride route map and profile
Vail Village - Vail Pass - Swan Mountain - Loveland Pass (return)
Distance in miles: 96.56 miles
Altitude gain: 9506 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11971 ft
Description: Vail Village over Vail Pass to Frisco, over Swan Mountain Rd past Keystone, to Loveland Pass and return back around Lake Dillon over Vail Pass again to Vail Village.
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail; Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks just past Copper Mountain, Frisco Main Street, Keystone Ski Resort (return).
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail to Loveland Pass route map and profile
Copper Triangle from Vail (east loop/ traditional)
Distance in miles: 78.7 miles
Altitude gain: 7515 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11353 ft
Description: Vail Village - Copper Triangle Loop road bike ride, traditional east loop
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail, Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks at the juncture with Copper Mountain, Leadville, Minturn, West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Copper Triangle route map and profile
Copper Triangle from Vail (west loop/reverse)
Distance in miles: 79.9 miles
Altitude gain: 7485 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11351 ft
Description: Vail Village - Copper Triangle Loop road bike ride, reverse west loop
Stops along the way: West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park, Minturn, Leadville, Starbucks at the juncture with Copper Mountain, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Sim's market in East Vail.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Copper Triangle route map and profile
Vail to Beaver Creek Resort
Distance in miles: 26.61 miles
Altitude gain: 2405 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 8672 ft
Description: Vail Village to Beaver Creek Resort short hillclimb. May extend this ride to Edwards.
Stops along the way: West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park, Avon, Beaver Creek Resort (quiet in summer), return.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village to Beaver Creek route map and profile
Bike Path neighborhoods of Vail
Distance in miles: 15.68 miles
Altitude gain: 1274 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 8822 ft
Description: Casual bike ride near Vail; local roads and Gore Creek bike path loop ride
Stops along the way: Vail Village and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village local and bike path ride map and profile
High altitude cycling
Pro Race in Colorado
If you are planning on attending the USA Pro Challenge race on August 23, 2014 in Vail, Colorado, please read this post: On the path of the USA Pro Challenge - Vail
SATURDAY, STAGE 6 : 10 miles Stage Map PDF Stage Profile PDF
Individual Time Trial up Vail Pass bike path (same route as previous years)
More recommended bike rides in Colorado at: COLORADO CYCLING
Related posts: Recommended Road Bike Rides Near Aspen
Vail, Colorado is known for it's world class skiing; regularly playing host to both professional ski races and happy ski tourists. But Vail also has some excellent high altitude cycling across and over its local mountains.
Incorporated as a city in 1966, Vail is small in size, squeezing 5400 of its population into only 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2). Tourists swarm the place during the winter ski season and again during the changing fall foliage season. This town can either seem very busy or nearly abandoned.
This August the USA Pro Challenge, professional cycling stage race, will return once again (3rd time) to race from the center of Vail Village up Vail Pass. An individual time trial will be held on Saturday, August 23rd. Last year, the pros reached average speeds of 22mph for 10-miles up this pass. You can go at it slowly or try your best to match their pace.
Summer months see a steady stream of cyclists over Vail Pass. The bike path, fully paved, is closed to cars for sections, making it a wonderful experience for cyclists wanting to enjoy the views along the deceivingly tough false flat or narrow and steep bike path to the summit.
If you are in the area, take the time to enjoy these seven rides near Vail.
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| Location of Vail, Colorado |
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| Bikes in Vail Village. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
Where to ride a bike in Vail, Colorado
There is more to ride in the area than just Vail Pass. Here are seven recommended road bike rides in or near Vail, Colorado:
- Vail to Vail Pass
- Vail to Frisco
- Vail Village - Vail Pass - Swan Mountain - Loveland Pass
- Copper Triangle traditional
- Copper Triangle reverse
- Vail to Beaver Creek Resort
- Bike Path Neighborhoods of Vail
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| Vail Pass, Colorado. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
Vail to Vail Pass
Distance in miles: 31.76 miles
Altitude gain: 3044 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 10,620 ft
Description: Vail Village center to top of Vail Pass (west side)
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail, Vail Pass rest station at the top of the pass.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail to Vail Pass Bike Ride route map and profile
*Tejay Van Garderen holds the record for fastest climb up Vail Pass from Vail Village (West Side) in a time of 25:01. The ITT route of the USA Pro Challenge does not go all the way to the summit.
Vail to Frisco and back
Distance in miles: 55.91 miles
Altitude gain: 5018 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 10620 ft
Description: Vail Village to Frisco Marina by bike over Vail Pass (both sides)
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail; Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks just past Copper Mountain, Frisco Main Street, Frisco Marina (return).
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village to Frisco bike Ride route map and profile
Vail Village - Vail Pass - Swan Mountain - Loveland Pass (return)
Distance in miles: 96.56 miles
Altitude gain: 9506 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11971 ft
Description: Vail Village over Vail Pass to Frisco, over Swan Mountain Rd past Keystone, to Loveland Pass and return back around Lake Dillon over Vail Pass again to Vail Village.
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail; Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks just past Copper Mountain, Frisco Main Street, Keystone Ski Resort (return).
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail to Loveland Pass route map and profile
Copper Triangle from Vail (east loop/ traditional)
Distance in miles: 78.7 miles
Altitude gain: 7515 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11353 ft
Description: Vail Village - Copper Triangle Loop road bike ride, traditional east loop
Stops along the way: Sim's market in East Vail, Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Starbucks at the juncture with Copper Mountain, Leadville, Minturn, West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Copper Triangle route map and profile
Copper Triangle from Vail (west loop/reverse)
Distance in miles: 79.9 miles
Altitude gain: 7485 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 11351 ft
Description: Vail Village - Copper Triangle Loop road bike ride, reverse west loop
Stops along the way: West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park, Minturn, Leadville, Starbucks at the juncture with Copper Mountain, Copper Mountain Resort (quiet in summer), Vail Pass rest stop at the top of the pass, Sim's market in East Vail.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Copper Triangle route map and profile
Vail to Beaver Creek Resort
Distance in miles: 26.61 miles
Altitude gain: 2405 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 8672 ft
Description: Vail Village to Beaver Creek Resort short hillclimb. May extend this ride to Edwards.
Stops along the way: West Vail rest stop at Dawg Park, Avon, Beaver Creek Resort (quiet in summer), return.
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village to Beaver Creek route map and profile
Bike Path neighborhoods of Vail
Distance in miles: 15.68 miles
Altitude gain: 1274 ft
Start Elevation: 8187 ft
Max elevation: 8822 ft
Description: Casual bike ride near Vail; local roads and Gore Creek bike path loop ride
Stops along the way: Vail Village and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Link to Map My Ride route map: Vail Village local and bike path ride map and profile
High altitude cycling
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| It rains most afternoons on Vail Pass so come prepared. On the "false flat old Rd 6 over Vail Pass. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The Gore Creek bike path in Vail Valley. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The smaller bike path over Vail Pass from Copper Mountain/Frisco. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Up and over Vail Pass at 16,662ft elevation (3,250m). Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
Pro Race in Colorado
If you are planning on attending the USA Pro Challenge race on August 23, 2014 in Vail, Colorado, please read this post: On the path of the USA Pro Challenge - Vail
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| Michael Rogers racing in the USA Pro Challenge in 2013 up Vail Pass. Photo© By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
Individual Time Trial up Vail Pass bike path (same route as previous years)
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| The Pro's route from Vail Village to the end of the road up Vail Pass (just past where the narrow bike path begins) |
More recommended bike rides in Colorado at: COLORADO CYCLING
Related posts: Recommended Road Bike Rides Near Aspen