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Rist Canyon

Rist Canyon

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Rist Canyon

Name: Rist Canyon
Rating: 2

Recommended by 3 road cyclists

This Highlight goes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Roosevelt National Forest

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Location: Larimer County, Colorado, United States

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Best Road Cycling Rides to Rist Canyon

145

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1. Rist Canyon and Masonville loop via Bingham Hill — Fort Collins

79.3km

04:42

1,370m

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

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Hard

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2. Old Town Square – Bingham Hill loop from Mountain & Shields

84.8km

04:37

1,260m

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

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3. Long View Trail – Rist Canyon loop from Loveland

102km

05:20

1,230m

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

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Hard

Tips

Jamie S.

May 30, 2024

Rist Canyon is a popular and challenging climb known for its scenic views and demanding ascent. The route starts near Fort Collins, in Bellvue, Colorado and climbs a little over 10 miles, with an elevation gain of 2,700 feet, and an average grade of 5%, with sections up to 12%. The ride offers beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains, forests, and meadows, and you can often see animals like mule deer (so be careful if descending!). The road is paved but is sometimes quite narrow, but fortunately traffic is fairly light. The climb begins with a gradual incline that becomes steeper, with the middle section offering consistent grades that test your endurance. The final few miles are the steepest. Notably, the top of Rist Canyon is actually higher than Estes Park, making it a significant achievement. Many cyclists do this route as an out-and-back, but it’s also possible to loop it by rolling down to Masonville and tackling a few short climbs back to Fort Collins.

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Details

Informations

Distance 15.9 km

Uphill 800 m

Downhill 240 m

Weather

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Sunday 21 December

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Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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See rides here

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Location: Larimer County, Colorado, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Horsetooth Reservoir

Horseshoe Rock Trail (scramble section just before the summit)

Intersection of Horsetooth Rock & Falls Trails & great views

Young Gulch Trail

Old Town Square

Horsetooth Rock

Bingham Hill

Skyline Picnic Area

Sunrise picnic area & beach access

North Loop Trail

Second Dam

Cache la Poudre River

Rist Canyon

1. Rist Canyon and Masonville loop via Bingham Hill — Fort Collins

2. Old Town Square – Bingham Hill loop from Mountain & Shields

3. Long View Trail – Rist Canyon loop from Loveland

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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