New route for final day of Ride the Rockies bike tour will avoid wildfire

The route-meisters for this week’s Ride the Rockies bike tour revised Friday’s final day route to bypass the High Park wildfire that’s blackened 47,000 acres west of Fort Collins.

Solid line is new route (dotted route abandoned)

Earlier in the week, organizers of the six-day tour of 2,000 bicyclists thought they might have to find another final destination or cancel the last day’s ride altogether.

The new route simply leaves Estes Park on Friday morning and heads further east before heading north to Fort Collins. At 47 miles, it’s shorter than the original 55-mile route. More importantly, it still ends at the Odell Brewing Co., the ride’s original destination.

The High Park wildland fire zone is about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, and InciWeb reports the most active zone is on the western flank.

Ride the Rockies Tour Director Chandler Smith told the Denver Post:

“This new route allows us to end at our original finish line without taking city or county resources away from the important work of fighting the fire. … Based on all available information, we believe this new route offers cyclists a strong sixth stage to the planned finished line, while minimizing potential health risks.”

In addition, shuttle vans will be made available for bicyclists who are concerned about the health risks from bad air quality around the fire.

Map of original Day 6 route

Map of revised Day 6 route