WATERTON CANYON
FALL GRAVEL RIDE
With Sober Outdoors!
OVERVIEW
We are kicking off our fall season with a mellow group bike ride up Waterton Canyon, one of the friendliest rides near Denver! This is a wide, hard packed gravel road that follows the South Platte River into a dramatic canyon, with almost no cars and a real chance of spotting bighorn sheep along the way! The grade is gentle and you pick your own turnaround, so newcomers can absolutely roll this. Fall is prime riding weather, and this canyon in September is a beautiful place to start our season together!
Come as you are!
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM meetup / 12:30 PM wrap
Location: Littleton, Colorado (Waterton Canyon, the start of the Colorado Trail)
Cost: $5 donation for adults, free for children under 18
(Use code SOFALL26 for free tickets if needed!)
Capacity: 22
Registration Deadline: 9.24.26 at 6:00PM
INSTANT REGISTRATION
Click the button below to register instantly, or keep scrolling to get the full breakdown of the event, what to expect, and all the good stuff befor e committing your calendar to something more meaningful than another “we should totally catch up soon” text thread.
Ready to lock it in?
QUICK STATS
Activity: Gravel or mountain biking on a wide dirt road
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (you choose your turnaround)
Distance: Approximately 3 to 12 miles round trip. The road runs about 6 miles to Strontia Springs Dam, and you can turn around anywhere.
Elevation Gain: Gentle and steady, roughly 700 feet over the full 6 miles out. Shorter options gain much less.
Estimated Time: 3 to 3.5 hours
Terrain: Wide, hard packed dirt and gravel service road, closed to public cars. Nothing technical on the first 6 miles. Mountain bikes and gravel bikes are ideal, and a hybrid can make the trip.
MEETUP LOCATION
Meeting Point: Waterton Canyon Trailhead parking lot, near the trail entrance. Look for the Sober Outdoors banner by the gate.
Address: Waterton Canyon Trailhead, Waterton Rd, Littleton, CO 80125 (off CO 121 / Wadsworth Blvd)
Parking and Permits:
Free parking at the trailhead lot, with restrooms on site. The lot fills on weekends, so arrive early. Overnight parking is not allowed.
Important: dogs are not permitted anywhere in Waterton Canyon, in order to protect the bighorn sheep herd, so please leave pups at home for this one.
Arrival Notes: Please arrive by 8:45 AM so we can do a quick bike and safety check and start together. Mornings are cooler and the canyon has little shade, so an early start beats the midday sun.
EVENT FLOW
9:00 AM | Meet at the Waterton Canyon trailhead lot, quick bike check, hellos
9:15 AM | Intention setting and a route and safety brief
9:30 AM | Roll out together up the canyon at a casual pace
10:30 AM | Regroup at a picnic area along the river. Stronger riders can continue toward the dam, everyone else can turn around
11:45 AM | Back near the trailhead, snacks and a closing circle
12:30 PM | Group wraps for the day
Keep your eyes on the cliffs. Bighorn sheep are often right along the road, and there are picnic areas the whole way up if you want to stop and take it in.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Substance free environment (always)
Group friendly pace with frequent regroups
A wide, car free gravel road that is genuinely beginner friendly
Great odds of spotting bighorn sheep, deer, and birds along the South Platte
You pick your own turnaround, so every fitness level fits
A gorgeous canyon and a crew to ride it with
WHO IT'S FOR
This event is for anyone who wants a substance free outdoor experience with good humans, on two wheels! If you are searching for sober events in Denver or Colorado, a sober adventure group that actually gets outside, or how to make sober friends who like to ride, this is your day! Great for people in addiction recovery, anyone building a sober curious lifestyle, and anyone who wants an alcohol free social life on a bike instead of a bar stool! The road is gentle and non technical and you set your own distance, so newer riders and seasoned ones both fit right in!
We ride as a group and no one gets left behind.
No experience necessary.
Just show up!
WHAT TO BRING
Bike: A mountain bike or gravel bike is ideal. A hybrid works too. Make sure your tires are in good shape for dirt.
Helmet: Required. Please bring a helmet that fits.
Water: At least 2 liters. The canyon is exposed with little shade and the air is dry.
Food: Trail snacks and something for a picnic stop along the river.
Clothing: Comfortable riding clothes and closed toe shoes. Padded shorts help on the longer option.
Layers: September mornings can start cool, then warm up fast. Bring a light layer you can stash.
Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap under your helmet.
Personal essentials:Phone, ID, a spare tube, and a small hand pump or basic repair kit if you have one.
Optional: Cycling gloves and a small saddle bag.
GEAR VALET
Need a Bike? We’ve Got You.
We have room for 4 to 8 mountain bike rentals through our Gear Valet, including a helmet.
If you’re interested in renting a bike through us, please add the bike rental at checkout AND email us at contact@soberoutdoors.org to let us know you’d like to rent one. We’ll need your bike size and a few other details to make sure we get you the right setup.
Important: We need both your RSVP and your email to reserve a bike. If we don’t have both, we won’t be able to provide a rental.
We don’t want access to a bike to be the reason you miss out on the ride. Let’s get you rolling!
CARPOOLING
NEED TO CARPOOL? NO PROBLEM! SIGN UP BELOW!
Carpooling is encouraged for this one!
Waterton Canyon is about 45 minutes south of Denver near Chatfield, and the trailhead lot fills up on weekends. Combining cars and bike racks helps the whole crew park and start together. If you can drive or have a rack, thank you, and our Elevate Rideshare program can help pair folks up.
Please sign up here to carpool!
(Skip if you're self driving and don't need a carpool!)
DONATIONS
Sober Outdoors events are free or low cost by design, and optional donations keep them that way!
If you are able, a small donation helps cover the real costs of getting our community outside and opens the door for someone else in the Denver and Colorado recovery community to join us. Give what feels right. Showing up is always enough.
You can add a donation at checkout or below — we genuinely appreciate it.
SAFETY + WEATHER
Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
Carry a fully charged phone.
The canyon is exposed with little shade, so hydrate and bring sun protection. The road is shared with hikers and horses, so we ride at a courteous pace and give wildlife plenty of space, especially the bighorn sheep. Remember, no dogs are allowed in the canyon. We keep an eye on afternoon weather and finish by early afternoon.
Ride within your ability. No one gets left behind.
Your safety and experience matter to us.
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Substance-free event (including alcohol and drugs)
Respect all paces and experience levels
We move as a group (no one left behind)
Leave No Trace
Kindness and privacy
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Have a question before you register? We're happy to help!
Reach out via the contact form on soberoutdoors.org or email us directly at contact@soberoutdoors.org or click below:
RSVP HERE
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RSVP HERE 〰️
RSVP
This is one of the most beginner friendly rides near Denver, with a sober community that shows up for each other. If you have been looking for sober meetups in Colorado or a recovery support community that likes to move, this ride is a joy. Bighorn sheep, river views, and zero pressure. Spots are limited, so grab yours.
Registration Deadline: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Waitlist: Enabled once full
NEED TO CARPOOL? NO PROBLEM! SIGN UP BELOW!
(Skip if you're self driving and don't need a carpool!)
EVENT CHAT
Use the Event Chat below to meet fellow adventurers, coordinate rides or gear, ask questions, and say hello to your new adventure crew!
Say hi!
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Sober Outdoors hosts weekly and seasonal substance-free events designed to create connection, consistency, and momentum in recovery. In addition to this event, we offer local hikes, social meetups, paddles, workshops, and community gatherings across Colorado and expanding chapters nationwide!
Our events range from beginner-friendly outings to more challenging backcountry experiences, as well as sober social gatherings in mountain towns and city spaces. Whether you are early in recovery, sober-curious, or years into sobriety, there is a place for you here.
If this event fills up or does not fit your schedule, check out the below to explore upcoming hikes, premium Uncharted Nature experiences, and new chapter launches. We encourage you to stay connected, check the calendar often, and plug into something that keeps you moving forward!
Recovery thrives in motion and community. We're here to make both accessible!
SUBSCRIBE
Stay connected to the Sober Outdoors community and be the first to hear about upcoming hikes, social meetups, premium Uncharted Nature experiences, and new chapter launches in your area. Our exclusive event mailing list delivers early access to registrations, local event updates, Gear Valet announcements, scholarship opportunities, and seasonal highlights!
If you want sober weekends that feel intentional, energizing, and community-driven, this is where it starts.
Sign up and never miss what's happening local to you!
SCHOLARSHIP INFO
At Sober Outdoors, we believe access to community and the outdoors should never be limited by financial barriers. Our scholarship program exists to ensure that anyone who wants to attend an event can do so, regardless of current financial circumstances.
Scholarships help cover event fees, premium experiences, and in some cases gear support. These funds are made possible by community donations and partners who believe in expanding access to substance-free spaces.
If cost is a barrier, you can request scholarship consideration during registration or by reaching out through the contact button below. Applications are simple, confidential, and reviewed with care. We do not require lengthy explanations — just honest communication.
If you are in a position to give, your donation directly supports someone else's access to recovery-forward community and outdoor experiences. When you contribute, you are helping build a more inclusive sober ecosystem.
Access matters. Community should not be a luxury.
LIABILITY WAIVER
Sober Outdoors events take place in outdoor environments that carry inherent risks, including uneven terrain, changing weather, wildlife exposure, and physical exertion. To ensure transparency and shared responsibility, all participants are required to review and agree to our liability waiver prior to attending events.
The waiver outlines the nature of outdoor risks, participant responsibilities, and safety expectations. It also confirms that participants are attending voluntarily and understand that Sober Outdoors is a community-driven nonprofit organization facilitating substance-free experiences.
Completing the waiver is required before participating in any event. You will receive instructions during registration or in your confirmation email. If you have questions about the waiver, safety practices, or expectations, please contact us directly through the button below.
Our goal is to create experiences that are welcoming, well-organized, and responsibly led. Clear agreements help protect the community and allow us to continue hosting safe, sustainable events.