30 Mile Road, Out/Back 7500-8500 Elevation

The fifteen mile stretch of road from Woodland Park to Westcreek is one of the prettiest rides in the region. In a mountain valley at 8000 feet with green meadows and forest, this relatively flat road resembles the Kentucky hill country as much as Colorado.

Route 67 heads north from the stop light at the Gold Hill Plaza on Woodland Park's west side. Park (and eat) at the plaza then head the bike north on Rt 67. The road shortly starts down a mile long hill, which then flattens out but still drops 1000 feet over 15 miles.

The first half of this road is paralled by the paved bike path to Manitou Lake. However, traffic on the road is light and when riding downhill (north) a good rider might want to stay in the road where he can keep quite a fast pace. Manitou Lake is a scenic picnic area, and a good place for slower riders to turn around.

The stretch between Manitou Lake and Westcreek is a quiet and scenic valley of green meadows and forest. On the way back, the view in this valley includes Pikes Peak rising over the beautiful landscape, an image that lasts almost the whole way back to town.

The slight hill of the 15 mile return trip is no big deal, but the last mile before Woodland Park will require a little reserve energy.