Shrikes & Bikes: A Colorado Grasslands Ride
June 6, 2026 | 8:00 AM | Genoa, Colorado

Join partners from across eastern Colorado for Shrikes & Bikes, a guided gravel cycling experience celebrating Colorado’s prairie heritage, rural communities, and working lands as part of the statewide Colorado 150 commemoration.

Hosted by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Eastern Colorado Grasslands Coalition, the Colorado State Land Board, and Colorado Preservation, Inc., this spring 2026 event invites participants to explore the sweeping shortgrass prairie by bike while engaging with the stories that define Colorado’s eastern plains.

Beginning in Genoa, riders will travel a scenic and accessible gravel route designed for novice and experienced cyclists alike. Along the way, participants will experience agricultural landscapes, renewable energy development, native wildlife habitat, and historic landmarks that reflect Colorado’s evolving story.

Special stops include the iconic Genoa World’s Wonder View Tower and the historic Hugo Union Pacific Roundhouse — both recognized on Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Endangered Places list. These landmarks highlight the deep transportation, homesteading, and railroad history that shaped settlement and commerce across the plains.

Additional route features include Homestead Farms, Walks Camp Park, and segments of the Smoky Hill Trail, offering riders an intimate look at how conservation, agriculture, recreation, and energy production coexist on Colorado’s working lands. Interpretive stops will provide opportunities to hear directly from ranchers, conservationists, land managers, and local leaders about stewardship of grasslands and the importance of sustaining rural economies.

Shrikes & Bikes is designed to welcome a broad audience, including novice gravel bikers, elected officials, conservation and agriculture partners, and community members interested in connecting with Colorado’s prairie landscapes. The event emphasizes collaboration, shared learning, and appreciation for the people and places that define the eastern plains.

As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood, this event offers a meaningful way to reflect on the past while looking toward the future — highlighting innovation in land stewardship, the resilience of rural communities, and the enduring importance of open spaces and wildlife habitat.

Come ride the prairie, experience Colorado’s living history, and celebrate the landscapes that continue to shape our state.