The Lookout Mountain bike trail ascent is a Colorado Classic
Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we will offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).
If there is one bike ride in the metro area that looms above the rest on objective and experiential levels, it is the classic Lookout Mountain ascent just west of Golden.
From the start of the ride, which is marked by two stone pillars erected in 1917, the ascent climbs 1,286 feet over not quite 4.6 miles, which equates to a 5.3% grade. The finish is at Buffalo Bill’s Grave, elevation 7,320 feet, where there are spectacular views of rugged foothills to the north, the town of Golden 1,600 feet below and downtown Denver 13 miles to the east.
But it’s not the numbers that make this my favorite ride in the metro area. The challenge of the climb, the gorgeous views along the way and the camaraderie you feel with other riders heading up the road make this a communal and special experience. There are places on the upper part of the climb where the road passes a dense forest, enveloping the rider in nature. You might even be able to smell the pine trees.
As befitting a classic ride of its stature, the Lookout ride has its own website, cyclinglookout.com, which has details regarding the climb, historical anecdotes and photos, directions, rider profiles, maps and other useful information.
Many riders enjoy the challenge of trying to break their personal best times. My days of personal records are gone, but I still love to push myself up that thing trying not to get passed by anyone older than I am.
Cyclists visiting Denver make a point of doing Lookout while they’re here, even visitors from Europe after having seen it on television when Lookout was part of the USA Pro Challenge bike series back in 2011-15.
“(It’s) probably the most iconic ride in the Denver metro area,” said Dan Dwyer, an avid cyclist and longtime employee at Peak Cycles in downtown Golden. “We have people who come in here specifically to rent a bike to do Lookout Mountain. I can remember people coming in from Europe saying, ‘We saw you guys on TV, just always wanted to come here. Those pictures were so beautiful.’ “
The first mile or so is a steady climb along the eastern flank of the mountain — technically this section is on Mount Zion, a subsidiary peak connected to Lookout — where you can gauge your uphill progress by looking down on Golden. After that, a swing to the west presents you with four switchbacks along with great views overlooking Clear Creek Canyon to the north. Soon the road brings you back across the eastern flank of the mountain at the beginning of mile 3 for about half a mile. Here you pass under the giant M that has been maintained by Colorado School of Mines students on Mount Zion for more than a century. You’re halfway to the top.
The road then turns west again for the climb up to Windy Saddle, which connects Mount Zion to Lookout at 6,900 feet. At the saddle, you still have another mile and a half to go with 400 more feet of climbing, including three tough switchbacks just above Windy Saddle, before becoming a little less steep near the finish.
There are several ways to do a Lookout ride. There is a parking lot near the pillars, and after the climb you can descend to your car by the ascent route. I prefer to continue riding across Lookout to U.S. 40, which parallels Interstate 70 in Mount Vernon Canyon, because descending by that route feels a lot safer than descending via the switchbacks on the ascent route (plus, it gives you more mileage). At the Morrison interchange, I head north via Colorado 93 and the bike path along U.S. 6 to 19th Street, which will take you back to the pillars parking lot. Just be aware that the climb up 19th is very steep, so it’s a tough way to end a ride.
Another fun way to do Lookout is to start and finish in downtown Golden, where there are great opportunities for refueling and rehydrating your tired body. You earned it.
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