With David Letterman’s recent retirement we figured it would be good time to create our own top ten list. So here is our very own list of top 10 roads from #10 through #1 with their associated tours listed beside them. Keep on Rolling…
AND THE LIST PLEASE…
Honorable Mention: Monument Valley at Sunrise After a sunrise breakfast overlooking a 150-mile view across Monument Valley cyclists descend past massive buttes and mesas in the soft early morning light. View Video of Sunrise Ride in Monument Valley |
The Chisos Mountains rise to an impressive top elevation of 7,825-feet above the Northern Chihuahuan desert of South Texas. The 3,000-foot climb from the Rio Grande through these mountains to the Chisos Mountain Lodge is an odyssey through what is considered the most biologically diverse landscape in North America. |
The most avalanche prone stretch of highway in North America. This is a road of soaring alpine peaks, deep chasms and fields of wildflowers. The road’s high points are Red Mt. Pass (11,018-feet), Molas Pass (10,970-feet) and Coal Bank Pass (10,640-feet). Colorado Cols |
#8 Colorado Trail: Spring Creek to Stoney Pass Among the wildest, most beautiful and inaccessible mountainous trails in the lower 48 states. The Colorado trail crosses high mountain passes, beneath numerous waterfalls and traverses fields of verdant wildflowers at elevations that rarely drop below 10,000 feet. Large fauna of most every-type inhabit this landscape. |
#7 Eastern Entrance Zion National Park Descending thousands of feet through Navajo Sandstone the eastern entrance to Zion National Park is literally tunneled and carved through dramatic cliffs. The result is an enthralling entrance to Utah’s most stunning National Park. |
#6 Going to the Sun Road – Glacier National Park An engineering marvel, the Going to the Sun Road, was built over 20 years and completed in 1933. It is perhaps North America’s most well know cycling destination. The road itself is ridden at first light and finds the cyclist climbing to an above treeline-glaciated landscape. |
A wilderness of redrock canyon country surrounds Highway 95. This country is comprised of buttes, spires, mesas, canyons, and is bookend by the Henry and Abajo Mountains. Highway 95 delivers cyclists to Glen Canyon and the beautiful abomination that is Lake Powell. If Edward Abbey’s mythical Hayduke is still living, it would be out here. |
#4 Trail Ridge Road – Rocky Mtn National Park The highest continuously paved road in North American with roughly 12-miles at 12,000-feet, Trail Ridge Road is a bucket list ride. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930’s the road is exceptionally well graded delivering cyclists to an above treeline landscape with relative ease. Expect to see large fauna such as elk and mountain goats along the journey. |
A tight meandering canyon that slowly opens and reveals soaring buttes, mesas, towers and monster views, the Indian Creek and Needles ride is a car-free gem that makes one want to sing with joy! |
#2 Utah’s Remarkable Highway 12 124-miles from start to finish, Utah’s Highway 12, is one of the most remote roads in the lower 48-states offering the cyclist unparalleled beauty and challenge. Two National Parks, a National Monument, Kodachrome State Park, and the Hog’s Back and Head of the Rocks segments together put this road near the top. View Video of Highway 12 |
#1 Dolores River & Unaweep Canyon Road Considered by many of Lizard Head Cycling guests as the most beautiful stretch of pavement they have ever ridden, the Dolores River Canyon is Colorado’s least known and most spectacular road. The New York Times featured the Redrock Canyons Tour in 2010, which includes this road. View Video of Dolores Canyon |