By Ted Crawford
Special to the News

Hot temperatures on the plains motivate many cyclists to head for the hills. One ride everyone can enjoy is the beautiful bike path between Frisco and Vail Pass.

This route follows an old narrow-gauge railroad bed and parallels the cool running 10 Mile Creek. The jagged ridge along 10 Mile Peak is especially dramatic.

After crossing U.S. 24, follow the painted bike lanes through Copper Mountain to re-join the dedicated path near Union Creek. From here, the path lies between east- and west-bound lanes of Interstate 70.

Several organized cycling events utilize this path, including the Courage Classic, which will be held this weekend. For more information, call (303) 456-9704

IF YOU GO

Bicycle: Road bike, mountain bike, city bike.

Location: West of the Eisenhower Tunnel along I-70 between Frisco and Vail Pass.

Surface: Asphalt bike path, paved road.

Distance: Out and back is 24 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult with elevation, no technical sections.

Ride Time: 2-3 hours.

To Reach Vail Pass: From Interstate 70 going west, take exit 201 and go left under the highway toward Frisco. The parking area is on the immediate right.

OTHER RIDES

-Vail Pass West: From the Vail Pass summit at 10,666 feet, the route continues west. It's a paved access road to Black Lakes for about a mile before the dedicated path begins again. Caution should be exercised on the next stretch, which seems somewhat close to the highway when coasting at speed. The path jogs right and left under I-70 before a short climb to the old I-70 road. Continue cruising on dedicated path and marked roads through east Vail and along the golf course to end in Vail proper. It's about 16 miles from the summit to town.

-Frisco to Breckenridge: Summit county's bike path network also continues southeast from the trail head in Frisco. It's about 10 miles of dedicated path with a very slight elevation gain. This route is much easier than the Vail Pass but still rewards riders with majestic views of rocky mountain peaks.

-Dillon Reservoir Loop: A new Summit County Bike Trail Guide describes a route around Dillon Reservoir. From Frisco near the marina, the 18 mile route goes clockwise, crossing the dam, switching to road and path again before returning west with a climb on Swan Mountain Road. The guides are free and available at most bike shops.

For comments and trail suggestions pleas FAX Ted at (303) 892-5001 or e-mail him at tcrawford@dslbroadband.com.