Colorado's Copper Triangle facts for kids
The Colorado's Copper Triangle is a super cool cycling route in Colorado, perfect for road cyclists who love a challenge! It's a big loop that starts near Copper Mountain, Colorado. Riders follow State Highway 91 south, then turn onto US Highway 24. They head north past Minturn, Colorado, and finally take a special bike path back to Copper Mountain.
You can actually start this route at any point along the loop. However, it might be easiest to find parking around the Copper Mountain area. This amazing circuit covers about 85 miles (137 km) of road. It also crosses four mountain passes: Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Battle Mountain Pass, and Vail Pass. The total climb during the ride is around 6,000 feet (1,829 m)!
Contents
What is the Copper Triangle?
The Cycling Route
The Copper Triangle route takes cyclists through some incredible parts of Colorado. It winds through three different mountain ranges: the Tenmile, Gore, and Sawatch ranges. Imagine seeing all those towering peaks as you ride!
Amazing Scenery and History
As you cycle along the route, you'll pass by a historic place called Camp Hale. This camp was used by the United States Army during World War II. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division trained there for mountain warfare. It's a neat piece of history right on the route!
The Annual Cycling Event
The Copper Triangle is a very popular route for people who love to bike. It even hosts a big yearly event called the Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle. This event is a special ride that helps raise money for a good cause.
Riding for a Cause
The annual cycling event supports the Davis Phinney Foundation. This foundation was started by Davis Phinney, who used to be a professional road bicycle racer. He started the foundation after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he was 40 years old. Parkinson's is a health condition that affects how people move. The Davis Phinney Foundation helps fund medical research to make life better for people living with Parkinson's.
Who Supports the Event?
The Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle event gets help from many different sponsors. Some of these include Saab, Crocs, and the Copper Mountain Ski Resort. The main sponsor is Colorado Cyclist. This company is one of the biggest stores in the United States for bicycles and bike accessories. It's located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
