We originally rode this route in May of 2023.
The route is a slight variation on the Grassroots Gravel "Half" (74 mile) course, which we wrote recently on event day- October 10th, 2026.
See the actual event's route here. (Grassroots Gravel course loop starts and finishes in downtown Pueblo, goes in the opposite direction and includes an additional climb through Beulah.)
If you are looking to do riding in the Pueblo area and you enjoy an organized event with aid stations/support, we couldn't recommend this particular event more!!
The route is beautiful, the riding surfaces superb, and October weather is generally excellent. The atmosphere is supportive and they do it right with fun music and yummy post-ride food. Basically, you're set up to have an absolute blast!
There was an abundance of animals on this ride. We saw a flock of wild turkeys, a road runner, grouse, pronghorns and llamas (as well as lots of horses and cows). It was really fun to be on the lookout throughout the ride for another glimpse of cool wildlife.
The rolling terrain on this route was an absolute delight. We noted the elevation gain of nearly 3,000 ft but it never felt like a grind. It had enough variation that it felt like a mild roller coaster ride the whole way. There was one really fantastic downhill section at mile 33-35 that made us feel like kids again. Shoes unclipped, legs flying out wide just laughing as we descended on a great road.
Overall, the riding surfaces are terrific: Wide, packed dirt roads without chunk. No single track and nothing technical in all the miles!
In 2023, we did this ride on Mother's Day weekend and there is always something special about the first smell of pine forest after winter. We would get whiff's throughout the ride and it made us smile realizing that winter is finally over and we've got 6 months of play time ahead of us.
Recently, we did it in early October and the temperatures were still surprisingly warm- in the 80º's!
There were very few cars on this route and cars and trucks that did pass us were generally respectful, slowing down and waving as they passed.
In 2023 there was a 5 mile stretch of fairly brutal washboards around mile 52-57. (It happened right as you've just descended down a pristine section and had so much fun and then it comes to a screeching halt as you hit the rumble of washboards.) In 2026, the road surface was significantly better, but our upper bodies still felt a little beat up by the end of the course.
At the very end, there is a short section (just under 2 miles) on State Highway 96 that takes you back to your car. There is a big shoulder and there didn't seem to be a ton of traffic but it is always an adjustment to go from a quiet dirt roads to a fast-moving paved highway.
In 2026, the Aspen Acres Fire damaged areas near Beulah. It is heart breaking to see the destruction to land and property. If you want to help, please donate to the United Way of Southern Colorado's Wildlfire Relief Fund.
Do this ride if you want a delightful 80% gravel route from the Pueblo area that has rolling terrain, beautiful high desert scenery and lots of southern Colorado wildlife.
We parked and started this ride from a roadside parking area for the Red Gate Trailhead. Parking was fairly limited, but we easily parked 3 cars there on a Saturday morning. There are no bathrooms or services here, so make a bathroom stop beforehand and come prepared with the water and food you will need.
There are absolutely no services on this route. Bring everything you need to be self-sufficient including plenty of nutrition and water. A hydration pack might be preferable as water bottles can get bounced right off your bike (speaking from experience...)
We would only recommend doing this ride in the early Spring or Fall when high temps are below 90º. High heat would make this both uncomfortable and/or dangerous. In the Spring, we found it a perfect place to go when higher elevation is still under some snow and Denver was cooler and more wet.
If you are looking for camping in the area, we stayed at Lake Pueblo State Park which was a short distance away from the start of the ride.
We recommend El Pompano for yummy and authentic Mexican food in downtown Pueblo.
For excellent coffee, go to Solar Roast Coffee.
Both places support the Grassroots Gravel Events and are biker friendly!
Laura & Rose
Laura Karpinski and Rose Barcklow are the creators of Gravel Bike Adventures. Click on the About page to learn more about them.
