The ride starts from Ski Haus. Ride south on Highway 40 to CO 131. Right on 131 to Oak Creek.
Slowly, this road is being improved to include an awesome shoulder all the way up Oak Creek Canyon to Oak Creek but for today's ride you can only enjoy this shoulder for a short distance from Steamboat Springs.
This ride is typical of Northwest Colorado with rolling terrain, moderate climbs, and great scenery. As you enter Oak Creek Canyon the road narrows. Keep an eye on traffic and try to position yourself so an oncoming car and a passing car aren't squeezing you on a non-existant shoulder.
For the most part, drivers are very considerate and will pass you with care but all roadies know there are the exceptions. A tip for this ride is to catch it after the morning and evening motor commuters have finished their drive. This section of road during the mid morning and mid afternoon hours is usually very calm and not busy offering a perfect time to ride it.
This ride also makes a fantastic loop by connecting to Routt County Road 14 which takes you by Stagecoach State Park and over Yellow Jacket Pass back to Steamboat Springs.
From Oak Creek you can also turn right on County Road 27 and connect back to Twenty Mile Road. Another option is to continue on 131 to the towns of Phippsburg, Yampa, and Toponas (continue past Toponas and connect to Highway 134 to ride over Gore Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass to create a Century Ride.
