The best cycling routes in Albany County

Amazing pass! But be cautious about elevation sickness. The pass is at 3306 meters, and symptoms of elevation sickness usually become noticeable at around 2800 meters.

The Laramie River Greenway follows the Laramie River, so bikers can enjoy being near the water. The Laramie River begins in Colorado, near Rocky Mountain National Park, and runs north-northwest to Wyoming, through Laramie, and into the North Platte.

The entire Snowy Range Road is gorgeous, but this pass has to be its crowning glory. There is a parking area, so you can start a run here if you like; but if you start somewhere else and use this as the endpoint, you can have a relaxed, downhill run on the way back.

The entire Snowy Range Road is gorgeous, but this pass has to be its crowning glory. There is a parking area, so you can start a ride here if you like; but if you start somewhere else and use this as the endpoint of your ride, you can turn around and enjoy a long, relaxed coast on the way back down.

Of all the lakes you'll pass while riding Snowy Range Road, Lake Marie is the prettiest and most accessible from the road. This sort of scenery is exactly the reason for riding this road.

Barber Lake Road is quiet enough — and scenic enough — to be a fun ride, even if you're not on a road bike. Just know that if you're riding east to west you'll be pedaling almost constantly uphill, whereas going west to east is a consistent (and super-fun) downhill. It's a lot more satisfying to get the uphill out of the way at the start. Along the way, you'll pass the turnoff for the Snowy Lake Lodge, now a private property but still on the National Register of Historic Places; and believe it or not, this is a great place to spot butterflies, like the hoary anglewing, as well. If you feel comfortable going downhill fast on a busier road, you can even turn this into a loop by going up Barber Lake Road and down Snowy Range Road.

Barber Lake Road is a fun, winding ride with relatively little traffic. Its elevation gain/loss is also pretty consistent, so if you want to grind up this road, then let it rip as you descend the busier Snowy Range Road, it's a fun loop. Along the way you'll pass the turnoff for the Snowy Range Lodge, which was a working mountain lodge in Medicine Bow National Forest for years. It sits on the National Register of Historic Places, but is currently owned by a private family.

This is an easy, wonderfully scenic ride, great for beginners. The surface is mostly hard-packed gravel, but you may have to deal with some ruts left by all-terrain vehicles as well.