Don't miss rides in Colorado (possibly also Utah and Wyoming)

[Dirt_Dad]

Dirt Mom and I have ridden the Northeast US and Canada for four of the last six years. It's great up there, but time for something new.

We were both in awe of the photos we saw coming out of the 2013 Tenere gathering that happened out in Colorado. It really inspired us to want to ride out there. I believe this will be our year, but I know next to nothing about riding Colorado. What are the sights and rides that must not be missed?

Of the photos we saw from the 2013 event, all of that looked great. There may have been one or two sections I noticed that I might have had DM park the bike and I would re-position it for her, but overall I didn't see anything that appeared to be an extended section beyond her comfort level.

We're both into grand views. In the east, the road up Mt. Washington, The Cabot Trail, and the extreme twisties of WV are the type of rides we seek out. I assume this means riding up Pike's Peak would be a "must do" out there. We'll be fully loaded with gear for a three week ride, so nothing overly challenging on big bikes will be on the agenda. Most any dirt road a Soccer Mom with a load of kids could do in a Grand Cherokee is fine. Twisty pavement is always a treat. Mud is probably not a good idea and sand is 100% unwelcomed.

So...what should not be missed?

I'm curious about Utah and Wyoming if we run out of stuff to do in Colorado and have some time to check them out.

 

[True Grip]

Hard to go wrong anywhere out there. I'm sure the locals will be of more help but 550 is the obvious choice road. Its called the Million Dollar highway for the views. Last Dollar Rd. is a nice dirt road that goes to Telluride from hwy 62 west of Ridgeway. I liked Hwy 50 west thur Canon city then to Salida (neat town) stay on 50 thur Gunnison. West of Gunnison is Blue Mesa Resevior go South on 149(Blue Mesa Cutoff) to Lake City. Plan to spend the night at Alpine Moose Lodge. Don't tell Dirt Mom the owner Bruno is a 5 star chef. When you check in make reservations for Dinner. You will not regret it and Momma will love you. Don't worry about your dress you'll be fine.

 

[mbabc]

Hey Jon,
Brennan, Anthony, a couple others and I are headed that way in late August. We bought the Butler maps, the Complete Guide to Motorcycling Colorado and we're making plans now. We're basing out of Pitkin and doing the easier passes and big bike friendly dirt. I'll pm you some threads of interest on the other adv site.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Hey Jon,
Brennan, Anthony, a couple others and I are headed that way in late August. We bought the Butler maps, the Complete Guide to Motorcycling Colorado and we're making plans now. We're basing out of Pitkin and doing the easier passes and big bike friendly dirt. I'll pm you some threads of interest on the other adv site.

Sounds great. Thanks, Mark.

 

[MurphCO]

How much time do you have to ride?

Is it a basecamp and ride all day situation or like on your way through ?


Southwestern Colorado is the pinnacle

 

[eemsreno]

As far as paved roads go don’t miss Rocky Mt. Nat. Park.
You can ride to the bottom of the Black Canyon.
Mt. Evens is the Highest paved road in North America but I have been up it 3 or 4 times and have never found it all that pretty. Worth doing it though.
Cottonwood pass is a fun road.
Highway 92 north of Blue Mesa is great!
Dolores Canyon road it a unknown gem and one of my faves.
Mesa Verde Nat. Park is very good.

Don’t be fooled by pictures of off road riding in Colorado, It can be very dangerous and way more difficult that any picture would ever reveal.
There are classic passes that are all doable on a Tenere but be warned they are dangerous and tuff.
Tin Cup Pass
Mosquito Pass [highest jeep pass in North America]
Cinnamon Pass
Engineer Pass
Imogene Pass
Tomichi Pass
Ophir Pass
Hancock Pass
Weston Pass [easy]
Boreas Pass
Webster Pass

Easy dirt roads or passes would be
The road up to the Alpine Tunnel
Cumberland Pass
Hagerman Pass
Waunita Pass
Shelf Road
Italian Creek Road
Marshall Pass
The loop above Greede
The road up Mt. Princeton is just awesome!

Steve

 

[Ramseybella]

MDH 550!! ::026::

Ouray Amphitheater camp site 11 is nice site great view, if you can res one now!!

Utah is hard to get sites in Moab most of the time I camped at Warner lake CG in the La Sal mountains nice and cool in the summer smack dab in the middle of an Aspen forest,
take the La sal mountain loop.

Sort of out of the way but if you can get to the Grand Tetons and yellow stone NP's worth the ride.

Mesa Verde is a nice park you could shoot to Cortez (Green Chili Cheeseburger) then 145 to Telluride nice ride then 62 to Ridgway..

You get gas in Telluride you will see this little guy!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

How much time do you have to ride?

Is it a basecamp and ride all day situation or like on your way through ?


Southwestern Colorado is the pinnacle

I'm planning to take 3 weeks off. Assuming up to 8 days of that traveling between Virginia and the region. Will need to be at Ft. Carson area for up to two days visiting our special forces nephew and his family. Otherwise, the rest of the time is up in the air. Could do a basecamp for a while (hotels...we're both former military and not into camping), or keep moving. Only starting the research process now.

Steve - great info. Much appreciated.

Ramseybella - Awesome photos. That's the kind of stuff we'll be looking to see.

 

[Arkyrider]

Black Canyon - north side on Hwy 92 is , the best scenic side of the canyon is the north side, IMO
Independence Pass, Hwy 82 from Aspen
Hwy 65.....from Mesa toward Delta...goes thru Grand Mesa National Park
Hwy 24 from Leadville north toward Vail
Hwy 40 thru Winter Park
Colorado Natl Monument, Rim Rock Drive & Monument Road, Grand Junction / Fruita

Plus all others mentioned. Colorado has a lot of great roads.

 

[Ramseybella]

I'm planning to take 3 weeks off. Assuming up to 8 days of that traveling between Virginia and the region. Will need to be at Ft. Carson area for up to two days visiting our special forces nephew and his family. Otherwise, the rest of the time is up in the air. Could do a basecamp for a while (hotels...we're both former military and not into camping), or keep moving. Only starting the research process now.

Steve - great info. Much appreciated.

Ramseybella - Awesome photos. That's the kind of stuff we'll be looking to see.

Thanks,
Did a lot of miles on the Triumph so much to see and not enough time to see it.
Hoping to do something special this year just don't know what.
Most of my special moments come just out of thin air going down unknown roads..

I agree 92 is a choice run I would then turn right on 133 to Carbondale then south to Aspen Awesome!! on 133 about 12 miles south of Carbondale there is a free campground in a thick Aspen forest McClure Pass camp ground, table, fire ring vault toilets no water but it is sweet and clean, camped twice never a problem has like 20 camp sites right off the highway.
One of the best free sites I have seen so far! ::008::
We live in some Beautiful country, to Damn bad it's run by idiots..

 

[AVGeek]

Colorado was amazing. I agree with True Grip, Last Dollar road was a blast. I did Cinnamon Pass with him and Buelligan, and I only really had difficulty with the 3 switchbacks on the backside. I skipped Engineers, but did do Ophir (the only place I dropped my bike). Basing out of Ouray for the Rally was incredible. If you do wander down to Utah, check out Valley of the Gods road, and the Moki Dugway. The Four Corners area is desert, so will be hot during the summer (I saw temps up to 118* coming home from the rally), but is a means to pass through to get to northern Arizona and Flagstaff, Sedona, Jerome and Prescott (great areas to ride in the summer). If you go north instead, a swing up to Idaho, Wyoming and Montana puts you in reach of Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and the Going to the Sun Road.

Here is my YouTube channel, where I have videos from the Rally (just scroll down to the bottom): https://www.youtube.com/user/AVGeek94

 

[eemsreno]

If you would like to get a first hand taste of the remote best of Colorado to see if you can ride this type trails.
Rent a jeep or side –side and try it first, much safer for the lady and she would get to see the Real Colorado.
The best of the best.
Pearl Pass
Schofield Pass
Red Cone
Black Bear Pass
Imogene Pass
Holy Cross City
Mt. Bross
Mt. Antero
There is a lot of really good ones

 

[bruised]

Pikes peak was fun awesome blue sky up there if your in the area the grand mesa is worth the trip

 

[klunsford]

Hey Jon,
Brennan, Anthony, a couple others and I are headed that way in late August. We bought the Butler maps, the Complete Guide to Motorcycling Colorado and we're making plans now. We're basing out of Pitkin and doing the easier passes and big bike friendly dirt. I'll pm you some threads of interest on the other adv site.

If you go any later, you probably will not be able to get over the continental divide in the national park out of Estes Park, CO

 

[Dirt_Dad]

If you would like to get a first hand taste of the remote best of Colorado to see if you can ride this type trails.
Rent a jeep or side –side and try it first, much safer for the lady and she would get to see the Real Colorado.

That is a fantastic idea, and right in our wheelhouse. We did the jeep thing around Sedona 20 years ago and had a blast.

DM is good at handling the Tenere, but can't get much foot to the ground. It does make for the need to pick a line with extra care.

 

[eemsreno]

If you go any later, you probably will not be able to get over the continental divide in the national park out of Estes Park, CO

Here is the 3rd week in Oct. 2010 on Trail Ridge Road. We made it through.

 

[MurphCO]

Knowing that you will be at Ft Carson makes a difference location/route wise, a buddy of mine is a company commander in 10th Group.


There are basically 4 routes West from the front range:

I-70 out of Denver, an interstate, still has very scenic portions especially through Glenwood Canyon

285 out of Denver, efficient in getting to some of the places being suggested, especially if you are in Denver and want to avoid I-70

Hwy 24 out of Colorado Springs, nice riding and puts you at the same place that 285 out of Denver does, South Park

Hwy 50 out of Pueblo, nice riding and takes you to southwestern Colorado most directly.



Suggested rides near Ft Carson:
Take Hwy 24 west out of the Springs, and head to Divide, then turn towards Cripple Creek. From Cripple Creek head towards Victor, from Victor take Phantom Canyon Rd. Phantom Canyon dumps out on Hwy 50, where you can turn back East to 115 and head north back to Ft Carson. Phantom Canyon is dirt, but easy dirt with some great picture opportunities in granite tunnels. See my avatar, that's on Phantom Canyon Rd. This can be done in an afternoon.

https://goo.gl/maps/to3NZ

I'll get on a PC and route a couple of things to consider

 

[MurphCO]

another good afternoon ride:

from Ft Carson to Woodland Park, Rampart Range Road and loop back via 67, or vice versa, and back to Ft Carson...Rampart Range Rd is dirt, but again easy dirt/fire road

https://goo.gl/maps/SfFPe


Ft Carson to Mt Evans, Highest paved road in North America

https://goo.gl/maps/gOxw9

a bit longer from Ft Carson using my route^^ here, you could shave some time if you wanted to by going via interstate like this:

https://goo.gl/maps/eXRXe




heading west for southwestern Colorado from Ft Carson, this route takes you over Cottonwood pass, the back side this direction is dirt, but easy dirt nothing challenging, then through Gunnison, blue mesa, and Black Canyon. I stopped the route at the overlook because you have options at this point.

https://goo.gl/maps/MnfPZ

from there depending on what you want to see or where you want to go, you can either head back to Hwy 50 and towards Southwestern Colorado (highly suggested) or hit some of the other stuff people have suggested in the Aspen/Carbondale/Glenwood Springs area.

from the overlook at Black Canyon to Ouray:
https://goo.gl/maps/HwmNl




more later

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Wow, ask and you shall receive. You guys are a wealth of information.

A lot to digest here. Really appreciate all the info. I'm positive I'll have plenty of questions, but I need to immerse myself in all this before I can formulate any intelligent ones.

 

[justbob]

I dont think anyone has mentioned my favorite ride in the U.S., Hwys 14 and 14 A from Ranchester to Cody Wyoming, both for the flow of the road and for the scenery.
And continuing on from Cody up Hwy 120 to Hwy 296 which is the Chief Joseph Hwy to Hwy 212 over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge. Awesome awesome ride.