Hundreds of cyclists to take part in Pikes Peak Apex

By Nia Bender

COLORADO SPRINGS –  Roughly 210-cyclists from across the country are here in Colorado Springs to take part in a four-day mountain bike challenge at various locations in El Paso County. Several streets, parks, and trails will be impacted by the “Pikes Peak APEX” starting today and running through Sunday.

They’ll start in Palmer Park and then move to Rampart Range Road and Garden of the Gods Park for day two. Days three and four will be in Bear Creek Regional Park and move west. During the event, there will be various rolling street and trail closures in place.

The Pikes Peak APEX is a project of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance that aims to strengthen the outdoor recreation industry for the Pikes Peak region. Micah Rice, Executive Director of the Pikes Peak APEX, says,

“All of the money raised goes back into the trail system here in the Pikes Peak Region. We already put $6,000 into improvements here in Palmer Park that the city and some other organizations have used to work on the trails.”

Here’s the event schedule and more information about closures and alternate trails can be found by clicking here.

Thursday, Sept. 24

Palmer Park will be closed from 5 a.m.-5 p.m. The event will extensively utilize the park’s road and trail system.

Friday, Sept. 25

Riders will utilize the west side of Garden of the Gods Park, Rampart Range Road, Rainbow Gulch Trail and the perimeter of Rampart Reservoir. There will not be any full road or trail closures, however, racers will be traveling at high speeds in these areas and non-participants should use caution and, if not spectating, strongly consider using alternate routes.

In Garden of the Gods Park, flaggers will help enforce a rolling closure from 8-8:30 a.m., stretching from the park entrance at Beckers Lane, near the Garden of the Gods Trading Post, to the intersection of Garden Drive and Rampart Range Road. While this is not a full closure, traffic in and around Balanced Rock will be impacted during this time. Traffic may also be held for short periods on Rampart Range Road throughout the day.

Saturday, Sept. 26

The race will begin in Bear Creek Regional Park east of 21st Street. There will be rolling closures on 21st Street from 8-8:30 a.m. to allow riders to cross the road. From the park, riders will access Lower and Upper Gold Camp Road, followed by Frosty Park, Jones Park and Upper and Lower Captain Jacks Trails. Downhill vehicle traffic will be held at the Gold Camp/North Cheyenne Canyon Road parking lot from 8-9:30 a.m. Uphill traffic on Captain Jacks Trail is not allowed between 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Non-participants should use caution and, if not spectating, strongly consider avoiding this area during the race. All racing will end by 3 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 27

The race again begins in Bear Creek Regional Park east of 21st Street. There will be rolling closures on 21st Street from 8-8:30 a.m. to allow riders to cross the road. From the park, riders will cross Gold Camp Road to High Drive and also use the Captain Jacks, Spring Creek, Columbine and Buckhead trails. Uphill traffic on Captain Jacks Trail is not allowed between 8 a.m.-noon.

 

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