Miles of Road Biking Await in Frisco
If your pleasure is biking on a nicely paved surface, then come enjoy the Summit County Recreational Pathway and miles of scenic road rides in the area. Don’t want to work that hard (this is a vacation after all)? Several Frisco bike shops like Rebel Sports and Pioneer Sports offer rental bikes and shuttles to the top of Vail Pass so riders can enjoy the scenic and gratifying cruise downhill into Frisco without breaking a sweat.
Two Classic Frisco Road Bike Rides
Loop around Dillon Reservoir (Lake Dillon)
Most of this loop is on Summit County’s paved Recreational Pathway with just one section on the west side of Swan Mountain Road sharing space with motor vehicles. There is a significant climb up Swan Mountain Road, but the view at Sapphire Point makes it worth the rock star effort. Make a day of it and bring a lunch for a break by the lake for this moderate tour (18 miles and 1,100 feet of climbing).
Copper Triangle
This is a classic road bike ride with great climbs, beautiful views and the historic mining town of Leadville thrown in for good measure. With 79 miles and 5,900 feet of climbing, this advanced ride is a locals’ favorite and the surroundings won’t disappoint. Please note that you will be sharing the road for most of this ride.
No Bike? No Problem!
Stop by our local bike shops, Rebel Sports, Pioneer Sports, Podium Sports, and Christy Sports, to rent a bike if you need one, tune your bike if you have one, or find out how you can access miles and miles of trails with a just short ride up the Recpath!
Recreation Pathways
Over 55 miles of recreational paths wind around and through Frisco and Summit County, connecting the neighboring communities of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Keystone Resort. The Summit County Recreational Pathway network is open to diverse, non-motorized uses such as biking, roller blading, running and walking so please expect and respect other users. The pathway even connects to many, many more miles of paved pathways in Vail/Eagle County or provides access to off road trails.
Frisco Paved Pathways
The Town of Frisco maintains 12 miles of paved pathways that are within town limits. The rec paths in Frisco take you through and around town, go past the trailhead to historic Mason Town, past an interpretive nature preserve area, and connect you to the Summit County Recreational Pathway System at a number of locations. Click here for a map of paved pathways in and around Frisco.
How to Access the Recreation Paths
The Recreation Path is accessible throughout Summit County. Here are a few suggestions:
- Leave your car wherever you are staying in Frisco or throughout Summit County and bike to the Recreation Path. Parking areas are often busy, and that’s no way to start a relaxing ride. Frisco is only 1.8 square miles in size so you are sure to be very close to the Recreation Path no matter where you are.
- If you must take your car to access the Recreation Path, here a few suggestions for parking areas:
- Dillon Dam Road has a number of parking areas for day use close to the Recreation Path.
- The Towns of Frisco and Dillon have parking close to the Recreation Path but both the Frisco Bay Marina and Dillon Marina have parking areas that tend to fill very quickly so please avoid the Marina lots.
- The Towns of Breckenridge and Silverthorne also have parking close to the Recreation Path.
- There is trailhead parking at the Dillon Nature Preserve, Sapphire Point on Swan Mountain Road, intersection of Highway 9 and Swan Mountain Road, and intersection at Highway 6 and Swan Mountain Road.
Pro tips – Plan your Recreation Path adventure for earlier in the day or later when it is quieter and try to avoid weekends or holidays. Is trailhead parking full? Move on to a different spot or figure out a different adventure because being outside is all about relaxation!
More Information on the Recreation Path
The Recpath is jointly managed by Summit County, the towns of Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne; Keystone Resort, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The Summit County Open Space and Trails Department manages over 38 miles of the Recpath that are outside of town boundaries. CDOT manages the Recpath from Copper Mountain to Vail Pass.
Please visit Summit County’s website for a map of the Summit County Recpath system or their Open Space and Trails page to learn more. Other local informational resources include bike shops in Summit County or the annual Bike Guide published by the Summit Daily News.
For more information about road biking in Frisco and Summit County, please visit the Summit Biking website.