6 Best Paved Rides Near Denver, CO
Colorado is a real ADV rider’s playground, with its seemingly endless off-road trails and tracks. But the state has plenty to offer for all motorcyclists, not just dirt devils.
Denver, the Centennial State’s capital, is an ideal location for basing your Colorado motorcycle tour. From the Mile-High City, you have fast and easy access to thrilling asphalt roads that take you over mountains, through canyons, and across deserts.
Your only problem is picking which roads to ride. To help you plan your trip, here are six of the best paved rides out of and near Denver, CO.
Peak to Peak Highway
The Peak to Peak Highway is a roughly 60-mile road, stretching from Ester Park in the north to Black Hawk in the south. The road traverses SR 7, 72, and 119 as it curves and meanders its way through forested mountain slopes.
This route is a true classic, having been established in 1918 as Colorado’s first officially designated scenic byway. That’s for a good reason, too, as the views of the Front Range are just as stunning as they were more than 100 years ago.
If you are riding a dirt-capable bike, there are plenty of off-road trails crisscrossing the Peak to Peak Hwy, allowing you to get on the dirt. Staying on the asphalt, however, takes you to many pullouts with vistas that will have you picking your jaw off the ground.
The pavement on this route is in good condition. It does throw switchbacks your way, but they’re not overly challenging, so all riders who can comfortably handle their bikes can certainly motor from peak to peak.
Walden Loop
Motorcyclists looking to spend an entire day on the road can tackle the Walden Loop. This 220-mile ride begins and ends north of Denver in the towns of Fort Collins and Loveland.
Starting from Fort Collins, you’ll motor along SR 14/Poudre Canyon Rd through the majestic scenery of the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. This section of the route is relatively relaxed, allowing you to appreciate the rugged charm of your surroundings.
A break in the loop’s namesake town of Walden lets you grab lunch and prepare yourself for the climb up the mountains on US 34, better known as Trail Ridge Rd. Sharp hairpins, steep climbs, and a couple of gorgeous mountain lakes await you.
The entire Walden Loop is paved, but the surface can be very rough in places, so prepare accordingly. Additionally, parts of the road may see snow in both late spring and early summer, and are closed for the winter.
Trail Ridge Rd
If you don’t have time for the entirety of the Walden Loop, at least hit the aforementioned Trail Ridge Road. This route covers the 48 miles of US 34 US 34 from Grand Lake to Estes Park.
As I already noted, the mountain views here are mind-blowing. As the highest continuous paved road in the U.S., Trail Ridge Rd rewards you with far-ranging vistas across the Colorado Rockies. Make sure to pack your camera and make regular stops at the pullouts.
Near the road’s western terminus, you’ll find Lake Granby and the Shadow Mountain and Grand lakes. They offer welcome variety to the rugged scenery with their blue waters.
Trail Ridge Rd is closed from October to May (and occasionally even earlier or later depending on the weather) so this has to be a summer ride. I’ll also give you the same warning about rough asphalt and sharp curves as with the Walden Loop.
Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
Should you not have time for a long ride, the Lariat Loop Scenic Byway can still satisfy your motorcycling needs without taking all day. This 40-mile loop out of Golden is a short but thrilling jaunt into the mountains.
A fantastic mix of broad sweepers and very tight hairpins makes for engaging riding as you navigate the road. Despite not being too far from civilization, you’ll still get to enjoy far-reaching, beautiful views.
Although you can ride the Lariat Loop in half a day, you should schedule some time for a stop at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on Lookout Mountain. Pay your respects and learn more about this Wild West legend before you continue the ride.
The pavement on the loop is maintained in relatively decent condition. However, the very sharp corners do require some skill to carve through.
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
If you don’t recognize the name Mount Blue Sky, you might know it better by its previous name of Mount Evans. Nomenclature aside, a ride to scale the highest mountain in the Rockies at 14,130 feet makes for an unforgettable motorcycling undertaking.
The roads up and down Mount Blue Sky (SR 103 and 5) span 49 miles, taking about two hours to conclude. They throw a tantalizing cavalcade of climb and switchbacks your way before concluding with incredible scenery from the top.
I should warn you, though, that the pavement can be rough and there are few guardrails preventing you from plummeting down a steep drop. The weather up in the mountains is also extremely volatile. Mother Nature may slap you with high winds, rain, thunderstorms, and snow on any day of the year.
Snow, however, is guaranteed in the winter, and the Mount Blue Sky Rd heading to the peak is closed in winter. At the time of writing, the road is closed altogether for maintenance and is scheduled to reopen on Memorial Day 2026.
When the road is open, it requires a reservation for vehicles. You can purchase your motorcycle ticket at Recreation.gov for $3 (at the time of writing).
Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway
The 115-mile Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway takes you through several marvelous mountain passes. Going from I-70 south of Frisco to Aspen and back north to Minturn, this road plows through the Fremont, Independence, and Tennessee passes.
In the middle of the ride, you’ll arrive in Leadville, the highest incorporated community in America at 10,200 feet. Yet, even this town seems to occupy a much lower altitude when contrasted to the peaks all around that rise to 14,000 feet.
Needless to say, the scenery is without equal.
There are also many fascinating sights along the ride, such as the ghost town of Independence, the Twin Lakes, the Camp Hale National Monument, and the Leadville Railroad. With the ride itself taking around five hours, this is truly an all-day ride.
You should take your time and ride cautiously, too, as the road can be treacherous in places. There are few guardrails and you run the risk of hitting ice all year round. Additionally, the road over Independence Pass is very narrow and can’t accommodate more than one vehicle at a time in certain sections.
Enjoy Denver After the Ride
Once the ride is over, return to Denver to spend the night and evening. The city regularly ranks among the best cities for motorcycling in the U.S.
That’s not just because of the road, either. The city is full of excellent eateries and places to see. Explore local history at Larimer Square or Littleton Museum, go listen to music or watch plays in Denver’s many cultural venues, or tour the city’s more bizarre sights, like the International Church of Cannabis.
For more ideas for your motorcycling escapade, check out our list of 10 fun things to do around Denver.