Biking Old Fall River Road | Rocky Mountain National Park

Cycling up Old Fall River Road in RMNP on Memorial Day Weekend on my new Trek Checkpoint ALR 5. Checking out what the conditions are like at this time of year before the road is open to vehicles. I met a two other cyclists, Jim and Steve, and had great time riding riding with them, hope to ride with them again sometime!
Old Fall River Road is a one way road that opened in 1920. It's an 11 mile long and extends from Horseshoe Park at 8,500 feet to Fall River Pass at 11,796 feet where the Alpine Visitors Center is located. One of the highlights of this road is Chasm Falls. Due to the conditions we didn't quite make it to the top. A great ride when conditions are better would be to ride up Old Fall River Road and take Trail Ridge Road back down.
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Big Horn Sheep
0:51 - Large Elk
1:20 - Start of Old Fall River Road
1:59 - Trek Checkpoint ALR 5
3:04 - Chasm Falls
5:00 - Running into Snow
6:31 - Eating my first Honey Bun
6:51 - Final Thoughts
Distance: 22 miles (35.4km) round trip from Aspenglen Campground
Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet (701m) from Aspenglen Campground to where there was too much snow
Difficulty: Moderate
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy and light winds (beautiful day)
Temperature: 68F (-4C) at the start of the ride
Camera equipment used:
GoPro HERO8 Black

[@thevigarfeeling]

We will watch when we have finished packing the motorhome 😊

[@AustinsADV]

Thanks, sounds fun!

[@thevigarfeeling]

hey Austin sorry its been a while just catching up with your movies, didn't realize you was into cycling too! bike looks good, we have never tried that snack, but when we find it we will give it a go! hope your good, looks like some nice views there shame about so much snow in the road! but a well deserved cheese burger solves everything. take care Mike and Chelsea

[@AustinsADV]

Thanks Mike and Chelsea! It’s a very scenic road when it’s open. We have been out traveling, trying to post shorts when there is enough of a data connection.

[@ColoradoMartini]

The homeland. Fall River is a hard road to bike. I won't even do it in a car. LOL

[@AustinsADV]

At least give it a try in a car sometime, it’s a neat experience. The hard part is getting a timed entry permit to get in the park.

[@mattfoley6082]

Sorry the snow blocked you from the summit. I rode it back in 2003 in July, no snow. I loved how quiet and peaceful it was, like I had all that beautiful nature to myself.

[@AustinsADV]

Thanks, it’s very peaceful when it’s closed to cars. I went back up and rode the full loop on 4th of July weekend, all clear now.

[@atravelpath]

Great, must have been a rewarding ride back down, and a well deserved cheeseburger 🍔 Nice bike!

[@AustinsADV]

Thanks! Would have loved to take the paved road back down because the scenery is amazing, but I guess that will have to wait a while until they get the snow cleared. Cheeseburgers alway taste great after a long hike or bike ride.

[@e-bikeskibum7141]

When did you do this ride?

[@AustinsADV]

That was Memorial Day weekend last year. I have a feeling there is less snow this year based on hiking, but I haven’t been up that road yet.

[@e-bikeskibum7141]

@@AustinsADV Thanks!

[@ColoradoDreamin247]

So it's still closed to vehicles then?

[@AustinsADV]

Old Fall River Road is closed to vehicles, they are currently working on snow removal, the road crew told me over 20 feet of snow to clear at the visitor center, so it will be a while. Trail Ridge Road is open.

[@ColoradoDreamin247]

@@AustinsADV cool! Was just up in allenspark today trail riding. Probably going to estes park tomorrow.

[@AustinsADV]

@@ColoradoDreamin247 Sounds fun!