Take a ride through downtown Denver and enjoy the city’s sights! On this 13.1 mile loop, you’ll experience the best of our city’s history, landmarks, arts, and architecture.
The ride has been designed with your comfort and safety in mind, using bike paths and dedicated bike lanes as much as possible. There’s an approximate 200 foot elevation gain, making it accessible for riders at many levels. It’s a great route to experience on an eBike, as the pedal assist gives you a boost when you need it most.
Sights Along the Route
The bike route starts at GoodTurn Cycles Denver in the historic Steam on the Platte building at 1401 Zuni.
- Ride through the Auraria Campus, home of Metro State University, University of Colorado Denver, and Community College of Denver. Sights include historic St. Cajetan and St. Elizabeth Catholic churches. You’ll pass by the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Convention Center, and everyone’s favorite: The Big Blue Bear.
- Passing through Civic Center Park, you’ll have views of the Capitol building, the City and County Building, Denver Public Library, and Denver Art Museum. As you ride along 11th Avenue, you’ll experience rich Capitol Hill history.
- Cheeseman Park is a beautiful ride, but did you know it was once a cemetery? And bones have been dug up as recently as 2010? Past the park views, you’ll travel through uptown alongside some of Denver’s best restaurants.
- Your ride will take you by a major downtown attraction, the 16th Street Mall and its shops, restaurants, and free shuttle service.
- As you enter Denver’s Rino neighborhood, you’ll experience it’s signature graffiti and street art as well as breweries, coffee shops, and restaurants.
- Just past Coors Field, you’ll have easy access to a newer addition to Denver, The Dairy Block and its hotel, restaurants, and market space.
- The route continues on to Union Station. Originally built in 1881, it burned down in 1894. The version you’ll ride by was built in 1914, but what you’ll notice most is the more recent renovation, transforming it into a major hub for travel and the redevelopment of an entire neighborhood.
- You’ll enter the LoHi neighborhood from the connecting bridges, built in the early 2000s. The 90,000 square foot building that currently houses REI’s flagship store was built in 1901 to generate electricity for the Denver Tramway Company rail system.
- The final leg of the route takes you through Confluence Park, where the South Platte River and Cherry Creek meet, providing space for tubing, kayaking, and canoeing in the heart of downtown Denver.
- As you head South on the South Platte Trail past the Pepsi Center, Elitch Gardens, the Aquarium, Mile High Stadium, and you’ll find your way back to our new location 1401 Zuni Street.
Be sure to stop in our Denver shop before or after your ride for products, services or more bike route suggestions. You could also add: Ready to take on a mountain trail? Here are some of our staff favorites.
Here’s a .GPX file for your convenience. Add it to your map app, and let us know how you enjoyed this ride!
