The best traffic-free bike rides around Boulder

Fourmile Canyon Road is a popular cycling spot that connects Boulder Canyon all the way up to the "ghost town" of Gold Hill via Gold Run Road, Gold Hill Road, and the Peak to Peak Highway. This particular section of Fourmile is from Boulder Canyon to Poorman Hill Road, another popular gravel road that connects to Sunshine Canyon.

Sunshine Canyon is a popular ride that that takes you straight from downtown Boulder up into the foothills past popular hikes like Mount Sanitas and Lions Lair. This upper section of Sunshine Canyon is gravel, but it is generally well-graded, and hard packed; it is frequently completed by local cyclists on road bikes. The only place where the gravel can be a little looser and chunkier is toward the top of the canyon by Gold Hill, so be aware when ascending or descending.

The road up Flagstaff from Chautauqua to Chapman Drive, where you can continue to Artists Point overlooking Boulder, is an iconic Boulder climb. This fun, twisting road (whether you ride up or down) grants you great views over the city as you pass by large sandstone boulders and cliffs, stands of pine trees, and several viewpoints. Watch out for cars on both the ascent and descent, this is a very popular drive for tourists and locals alike and there are several well-trafficked hiking trails off of the road.

Super Flagstaff, or more commonly, "Super Flag," is the name of the tough climb from intersection of the road to the Flagstaff amphitheater and Artist's Point, and Chapman Drive to the true summit of Flagstaff Road, marked by a collection of mailboxes. From the bottom of Flagstaff Mountain by, Chautauqua the total ascent is 1,978 feet with the average gradient at 8.2 percent, but there is also a short, 1,000 foot section which goes at 20 percent. This infamous hill is a favorite among locals. From the top you can either turn around and head back toward town, or continue onward toward the remote-feeling Gross Reservoir on the other side of the mountain.

Gross Reservoir is a large lake on the other side of Flagstaff Mountain. There is a hard-packed gravel road on it's eastern shore which is a great place to snap a few photos after the tough climb up Super Flag and long descent down. If you are unwilling to take you bike on gravel, however, you still get great views of the reservoir and the surrounding area at the junction on the pavement.

Although many road cyclists prefer to ride on the narrow, twisting, and well-trafficked road, the recently re-opened Boulder Creek Path, which takes you up to Chapman Drive, is an excellent alternative to what can sometimes be a dangerous-feeling road down the narrow Boulder Canyon. The bike path, which is a mix of concrete and finely-crushed gravel, traverses next to Boulder Creek, crossing under the highway a few times. Sometimes on busy days you can actually move faster on the descent via this path because you're not sitting in traffic with the cars!

To the west of one of the Foothills Trail and its spur trails is the Hoback Ridge area. The Hogback Ridge Trail is a singletrack trails running through open meadows and some forest. This particular section of the trail hops on the ridge proper and offers 360 degree views of the area.

This is a fire access road that is gated at both the top and bottom. Only cyclists and hikers permitted. E-bikes are permitted. Includes some beautiful views across Boulder Canyon. Lots of shade. This is a great way to get to the top of Flagstaff without battling cars and narrow shoulders on Flagstaff Drive. I like to go to the top of Flagstaff via Boulder Canyon Trail and Chapman Drive and then fly down Flagstaff.