The Tour of the Moon cycling ride takes you through the Colorado Monument and all its surrounding beauty in the Grand Junction region of Colorado. The “official” ride takes place every autumn if you like to participate in cycling events throughout the region. The highlight of the ride is Rim Rock Drive. It is a 23 mile long scenic road, traveling between the park’s east entrance in Grand Junction and the west entrance in Fruita.
We’ve become ‘rebels’ to organized events and prefer to ride them on our own and we also recommend this as an option for you! I was worried about the vehicle traffic as most of the route is also a popular tourist destination but we lucked with very little traffic on a holiday weekday morning.
Let me make this clear – although beautiful, it isn’t easy – especially the first 15 miles which are all climbing. After riding a few miles to leave town, once you pay and enter the monument, the real climbing begins. As in, 2,000 ft gained in 10 miles. It is rough but your mind is transfixed on the beauty around you. Plus, I love experiencing new things and being surprised by what I see next. After those 15 miles of climbing, it is all downhill from there and many opportunities to stop at the points of interest along the way.
Good to Know
Distance: 42 mile loop
Trails: n/a
Elevation Gain: 3,107 ft
Terrain: Awesome pavement through Rim Rock Drive
Parking: Available at either park entrance or downtown Grand Junction
Facilities: Available at the Visitor Center
Fun Fact: This is one of our favorite road rides in Colorado and I definitely recommend putting this one on your bucket list!
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