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Summary: |
Short
Rides:
Lookout Mountain
Ride |
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Rating:
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| Route: From Golden,
up Lookout Mountain and down into
Lakewood |
| Features:
Tight switchbacks
and slow winding mountain
roads |
| Distance: 12.0 Miles |
| Ride Time: Approximately 21 minutes |
| Season: March through October |
| Maximum Grade:
27% estimated |
| Change in Elevation: 1,750 feet |
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Overview: |
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This motorcycle ride begins on 19th St in Golden, Colorado, runs up and around Lookout
Mountain, past Buffalo Bill's Memorial and ends at US 40 to Colfax in
Lakewood, Colorado. |
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| Directions: |
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| From US Highway 6 in
Golden, Colorado, take 19th St southwest.
19th St will become Lookout Mountain
Road. Continue on Lookout Mountain Road
to US Highway 40. Turn left (east) on
US Highway 40. Continue on US 40 back
to I-70 frontage road. |
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| Maps: |
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Elevation Profile:
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This motorcycle ride begins at 5800 feet in elevation in Golden,
Colorado, climbs to 7,500 feet as it passes over Lookout Mountain and
descends to 6400 feet in elevation at US40 and Colfax Ave. The
maximum slope increase is 27% on the climb. |
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Photos: |
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At the entrance to the Lookout Mountain stand two markers: |
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View of Golden and the high-rises of Denver, Colorado, from the first
turnoff, just about 1/2 mile up the mountain: |
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My XJ600 at the same spot. The turnoffs are few but they are in
good condition: |
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This is what the roadway typically looks like. There's not much
room for cyclists and the road has a 20 mph limit. |
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View from Colorow Mountain Park trail head, midway
up Lookout Mountain, looking east. You can see Golden Colorado and
Metro Denver in the distance. |
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After the trail head, the switchbacks tighten up a bit and you make your
way to the top of the mountain: |
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Our Review: |
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This is a fun ride if you're looking for something to do after work or
want to get a ride in early Saturday morning. It begins in Golden at Highway 93 &
19th St and takes you up Lookout Mountain.
The speed limit up lookout mountain is 15 to 20 mph and
many of the curves are 340 degree switchbacks. You will encounter
cyclists on the way up and Colorado now requires 4' minimum when passing
a cyclist, so keep this in mind. Midway up this ride you'll find a
pull-off with a parking lot and some nice views of Clear Creek canyon
and the Denver Metro area below. This is where the photograph
above was taken.
The ride back down to US 40 has a 55 mph speed limit and is frequented
by State Patrol looking for speeders on I-70. Keep an eye out and
ride conservatively through this stretch.
This ride is short, easily accessible and a lot of fun on a quick,
agile bike. And as always be on the watch for
deer and tourists as both are always present on this ride, day or
night. |
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Points of Interest: |
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