Gold Belt Tour - 11/19/19 version

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The Gold Belt Tour is a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway and a National Scenic Byway. The tour loops through the towns of Cañon City, Florence, Victor, Cripple Creek, and Florissant. The dual sport portion loops through Cripple Creek and Victor via Shelf Road and Phantom Canyon Road. The dual sport tour is often rideable in early spring.

The dual sport tour is easy dirt and paved County Roads and a few short sections of US Highway 50. The total riding mileage is about 70 miles (depending on side excursions), so it can easily be ridden in a day. There are many restaurants and cafes in Cripple Creek and a few places in Victor, so stopping for lunch can be an expected treat. I prefer the German Deli in Victor - excellent sandwiches and delicious desserts.

I usually haul my bike down to Red Canyon Park and park near the toilets a few miles in on the main park road. The ride on Highway 50 from Salida to Cañon City and return is a bit chilly in early March... The temperature at Red Canyon Park is usually 10 degrees or more than the Highway 50 route.

The map clip on the right --->  shows the dual sport tour route. Click the map to see a larger jpg version showing the entire area (print for reference).

Click Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway Map to see the entire Gold Belt Tour map.

Click Gold Belt Recreation Management Area to see the BLM web page.

Click Gold Belt Tour to see the Gold Belt Tour web page.

Click Gold Belt Tour ride report to see an ADVrider trip report.

A gpx file of the DS ride is available here. <--- Right-click and save.

DIRECTIONS TO RED CANYON PARK: From U.S. Hwy 50 in Cañon City, you can turn north onto Dozier Street (at Wal-Mart) or head north on Raynolds. Travel north on either road as both will curve to the left and intersect Field Avenue.

Turn north (right) on Field Avenue and travel on this two-lane road for about 2.3 miles. It will join Fremont County Road 9 (also called Red Canyon Road) at a Y intersection. From here, continue north for about 7 miles. Turn left into the park.

See Dual Sport Riding in Central Colorado for information about other areas and rides.

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