Gold Camp Road Mountain Bike Tour: Colorado Springs descent

Thirteen miles downhill through dynamite-carved tunnels on a historic gold route

A mountain bike tour from Colorado Springs that climbs via Old Stage Road then descends 13 miles down Gold Camp Road, a historic gravel path from the Cripple Creek gold rush era. The ride takes 3 to 3½ hours at a leisurely 2% grade with minimal obstacles, passing through tunnels blasted in the late 1800s and panoramic views of the front range. Guide, bike, water and all safety equipment are included. The pace is your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic bike ride down Gold Camp Road

• Transport up Old Stage Road
• Bike down Gold Camp Road
• View historic Gold Camp Road tunnels
• Enjoy panoramic Front Range views
• Breathe crisp mountain air

The experience

The tour starts with a van ride up the Old Stage Road to gain elevation, then you spend the rest of the day riding downhill. Gold Camp Road itself is a gravel descent that follows the path of the historic "Short Line" railway, which began hauling minerals and people from Cripple Creek to Colorado Springs in 1901. The tunnels you pass through were blasted by dynamite to cut through the ridge, and they're the most distinctive feature of the route: narrow passages carved straight through rock, with daylight visible at each end.

At a 2% grade on gravel terrain, the ride is steady but not strenuous, and the minimal obstacles mean you can focus on the views rather than technical riding. You'll see the front range spread out across the distance as you descend, with the crisp mountain air and the quiet of the old rail corridor. The whole experience lasts 3 to 3½ hours depending on how often the group stops and how fast riders want to move.

Your guide leads the tour and carries water for the group. All safety equipment, the bike and transportation up the mountain are provided. The route suits all fitness levels because the downhill grade does most of the work, and the pace stays leisurely enough that you can take in the history and the landscape without racing.

What’s included

• Mountain bike and helmet.
• all safety equipment.
• water.
• live English-speaking guide.
• van transportation up Old Stage Road to the start of the descent.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 31 May 2027

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Pikes Peak Bike Tours

Is this one for you?The guide leads in English, so you follow the commentary and the group's pace without translation or confusion. The leisurely 2% downhill grade means the ride works for anyone comfortable on a bike, regardless of how often they ride.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How steep is the ride down Gold Camp Road?

Gold Camp Road descends at a 2% grade on gravel, which is gentle enough that gravity does the work and riders control their own speed without needing advanced skills or heavy braking.

What are the tunnels on Gold Camp Road, and why are they there?

The tunnels were blasted through the ridge in the late 1800s during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush to make room for the "Short Line" railway that carried minerals and supplies between Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs starting in 1901. You ride through them as part of the descent.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour lasts 3 to 3½ hours from start to finish, including the van ride up Old Stage Road and the full descent down Gold Camp Road.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a mountain bike, all safety equipment, water, the guide, and transportation up the mountain via Old Stage Road. You only need to bring yourself and a valid ID.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

Yes, the tour suits all fitness levels because the route is mostly downhill at a gentle grade with minimal obstacles, and the pace is set by the riders themselves rather than by a fixed schedule.