Gravel road rides

GRAVEL RIDES ARE THE BEST: Enjoy anything from easier mountain-bike trails to chunky gravel to smooth-as-glass roads. Gravel roads offer quiet, scenic terrain with little to no traffic, and the Fort Collins area is full of them.

Head to www.gravelgraceland.com to get more ideas in the region. Whitney and Zack Allison, owners of Bike Sports at www.bikesportsco.com, provided the gravel road content and offer gravel road tours.

RIST CANYON BOTTOMS (19 MILES)

Explore the Poudre River Trail and various dirt trails heading west to Rist Canyon with a break at Me Oh My Pie in LaPorte. Head back into town via Bingham Hill. www.gravelgraceland.com/easy-routes/ rist-canyon-bottoms

Log On To Get Going

Log onto www.mtbproject.com for trail information or download the MTB Project app for quick and easy access to rides both in and around Fort Collins. Or check out www.visitftcollins.com/cycle-fort-collins for road, mountain bike and gravel resources.

CEMENT PLANT + TAFT DIRT (30 MILES)

Over 1,000 feet of climbing takes you through a series of dirt roads, around past Ten Bears Winery, and back to town. www.gravelgraceland.com/easy-routes/ cement-plant

GRAVEL GRACELAND RED FEATHER LOOP (47 MILES)

Get ready for 5,400 feet of climbing through breath-taking mountain country. Then stop into Red Feather Lakes for a cream soda or scoop of ice cream.

www.gravelgraceland.com/medium-routes/ stronggravel-graceland-red-feather-loopstrong