- Created: October 11, 2023 6:22 pm
- Updated: November 13, 2023 12:59 am
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 18 miles
- Time 29 min
- Speed 38 mph
- Min altitude 6253 ft
- Peak 8661 ft
- Climb 932 ft
- Descent 3084 ft
Colorado 72 (or Coal Creek Canyon Road) is a fantastic stretch of road that runs from just south of Nederland, CO east through Coal Creek and eventually to the west side of Arvada, CO. The road itself is great but being as close to town as it is, can be heavily trafficked during the weekends and even commuting times throughout the week. Driveways and other roads flank most of the route and getting a "clean run" in can be tough with limited passing zones. In the video I do say that the road is more of an Intermediate one, but given a slow / steady pace a newer rider could definitely handle this route. I believe I even came across one while filming this section of road and she was doing great just motoring along at her own pace. In the end, off hours during the week are the best time to ride this.
1. Coal Creek Canyon
State Highway 72 (SH 72) is a 51-mile-long (82 km) state highway passing through the foothills and the eastern edge of the Front Range. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 70 (I-70) in Wheat Ridge, and its northern terminus is at SH 7 east of Allenspark.
The route is a mainly rural, scenic, mountainous highway; not having many junctions. It begins at I-70 (Exit 266) in Wheat Ridge as Ward Road. It continues north through the western parts of Arvada where it becomes Coal Creek Canyon Rd. The highway continues west-north-west through Coal Creek Canyon and aptly named Wondervu, across the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at Pinecliffe, eventually joining the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway northbound. For three miles along the Byway it coincides with SH 119. The two routes diverge at Nederland. From Nederland, SH 72 continues north along the Byway past Ward to its terminus with SH 7 east of Allenspark.
Source: Wikipedia
Colorado 72 (or Coal Creek Canyon Road) is a fantastic stretch of road that runs from just south of Nederland, CO east through Coal Creek and eventually to the west side of Arvada, CO. The road itself is great but being as close to town as it is, can be heavily trafficked during the weekends and even commuting times throughout the week. Driveways and other roads flank most of the route and getting a “clean run” in can be tough with limited passing zones. In the video I do say that the road is more of an Intermediate one, but given a slow / steady pace a newer rider could definitely handle this route. I believe I even came across one while filming this section of road and she was doing great just motoring along at her own pace. In the end, off hours during the week are the best time to ride this.
