Old Fall River Road

A gravel ride through Rocky Mountain National Park

Old Fall River Road is a very popular bike route. This makes sense given its location in one of the most visited national parks in the country. The classic route begins in Estes Park and follows Rocky Mountain National Park’s original gravel road as it climbs up to Old Fall Pass and back down on it’s modern (and paved) counterpart, Trail Ridge Road. for 43 miles the route winds its way through the various sorts of scenery that have made the park so famous. 

Being situated mostly in a np there are both pros and cons to this ride. Depending on the time of year the road can be closed to automobiles making it perfect for cyclists. There is also the Alpine Visitor Center at the midway point of Old Fall Pass where you can grab snacks, coffee, or warm your hands. But as with any national park you can expect a small entrance fee (even on bicycle). Traffic also heavily increases once the road is open to cars. these cons, however, become nominal when you consider that you’re experiencing historic gravel roads through a national park by bike. And with a little bit of planning most inconveniences can be avoided.