#RIDEPUEBLO
Park to Park
A lovely in-town loop.
by Grassroots Gravel
Gain:
584 feet
Condition:
Varied surfaces
Season:
Year-round
14.6 miles
Distance:
Start this ride right from Pueblo’s vibrant City Park. Opened in 1904, Pueblo City Park overlooks the Arkansas river and features a huge variety of trees and historic amenities including a zoo, a tennis complex, and a storied disc golf course. You’ll hug the Arkansas River for half the ride, then you’ll descend Red Creek Springs road in the second half of the route. Riders should definitely use the bike/pedestrian path on the east side of Pueblo Blvd. on their way from Red Creek Springs road back to City Park.
Tag your experiences on social with #ridepueblo and you could be featured or win prizes!
When headed out on your ride, you’re riding at your own risk. Be sure to:
check your equipment (Air, Brakes, Chain)
Wear safety equipment (helmet!)
Bring water and snacks (or plan a yummy stop!)
Check the weather/sun and prepare accordingly
Be familiar with your route and/or have your phone charged up
Learn more about Getting Started in Riding here
There are a whole bunch of ways to plan your ride and route. We like RideWithGPS. We could say that a bunch of times for a bunch of reasons. We like RideWithGPS because it’s simple and easy to access, works on any mobile platform, has awesome route-planning tools, and the free version has powerful ride recording and navigation features. Their paid version even has turn-by-turn cues.
Route highlights
The Arkansas River is the backbone of Pueblo’s non-motorized trail system. This vista is right along the Park to Park loop, just right of some ancient concrete buttresses that once held a span over the river.
Red Creek Springs is a gentle climb or descent with a personality that varies by the season, recent moisture, and the precision work of Pueblo County’s road crew. On many occasions, this stretch of red dirt can be utterly perfect. It’s important to be ready for washboard though…you can’t be too safe!
Take a look at that sublime gravel on Red Creek Springs Road! And depending on the season, you’ll see Pueblo’s restored fountain at City Park spraying its glory to the skies.
We love getting folks out on bikes. It doesn’t matter what pace you’re riding, or what equipment you’re on. If you’re there to enjoy the ride and you’re willing to put in work at your own level, we love that. Check out our group rides page here.
After Your Ride
Pueblo Riverwalk
The Riverwalk is located in the heart of downtown Pueblo. There’s a whole spectrum of food spots, art galleries, and more along the Riverwalk and Union Avenue.
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is at the core of Pueblo’s identity as well as its recreation. The Pueblo Whitewater Park is accessed from 4th street and is likely the largest in Colorado. Surf’s up y’all.
Lake Pueblo Trails
The Lake Pueblo Trails are located at Lake Pueblo State Park just a few miles from town. Us locals call it the "Res." We think you'll call it one of best trail systems in Colorado. Camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and mountain biking opportunities at the park make it one of the best multi-sport destinations in the state. Fun fact: Lake Pueblo is the most-visited state park in Colorado.
Photo Credit: Southern Colorado Trail Builders
Pueblo Agriculture & the Pueblo Chile
The Pueblo Chile has become a symbol of our city, and is the subject of heated debate. Get it? Heated? Locally and regionally featured in the classic Pueblo green chili slopper hamburger and in innumerable other recipes, this is a pepper you need to try.
Visit any locally-owned restaurant and you’re guaranteed to see it on the menu.
Photo: Scott Tribby Photography
How we plan and navigate our rides
Planning a great route is one of our favorite things to do here. Maps represent possibilities - whether they’re mounted to a sign, unfolded on a picnic table, or lit up on the computer screen.
We build all of our online routes using RideWithGPS. It’s simple to use and simple for folks to access. It has free mobile and desktop options so there’s an option for everyone.
The screenshot here is the Route Planner tool. It’s where you can try out different options and if you’re unsure whether you can ride a segment, there’s a “global heatmaps” feature that can show estimated rider traffic on the segment based on data from multiple sources (the thin red lines on the screenshot - the darker red, the more use).
A quick true story about RideWithGPS
A few years ago we rode the Colorado Trail (CT), a backcountry mountain bike and hiking route from Denver to Durango, Colorado. While on that ride, you can find yourself at any number of junctions, varying from gravel roads to singletrack and even the occasional paved detour. Sometimes it’s clear where to go because you see a small CT blaze sign on a post or tree. Other times it’s not clear or you weren’t paying attention. It’s then that you’ll be wandering on an abandoned logging road a mile past the correct turn.
Two fools in the dark but not lost at Stony Pass along the Colorado trail.
On that trip, we’d activate the app when we were skeptical and use it to find exactly where we were compared to the appropriate route. More than once it saved us loads of time and backtracking. Regardless of our level of experience, it was hugely helpful and reassuring.
This is a tool that can help folks feel confident in their route, even if they’re new to unfamiliar roads. Your ride may be on a commonly driven gravel road just outside of town. But it may feel far out there to you. Get out there. You’ve got this.
