Rocky Mountain national park first time?..

[Ramseybella]

I am heading out next Friday AM for three or four days to RMNP with a buddy that has a street bike so no heavy dirt riding for me or him as we planned on this for awhile he has done hard pack.
What are the best roads to run from Santa Fe and not I-25!! :'(
Looking for some camp grounds as we didn't make any reservations. ::005::

Thanks..

 

[True Grip]

64 out of Taos is a great road. It goes thur Carson National forest it will take you to Pagosa Springs. If you go thur Toas eat at Micheals Kitchen. Good food especially if you like green chillis!

 

[jimsgone]

Next Friday, as in today?

If you're talking about the 18th, I've got a suggestion, of which i did on Memorial day....

84n out of Santa FE, 17e through Chama ( really pretty ride),

then 285n . Once you get near Denver figure out how to get to Peak-to-Peak highway in Idaho Springs...

all the way to Estes Park, and there you are!!!

Oh how I love living in Colorado!!! ::012::

 

[Ramseybella]

Thanks jimsgone!!

The 18th yes..
My buddy that I work with lived outside of Denver for 25 years and a monster touring U.S, Canada Goldwing rider laid me out a rout and some extra places to hit on the way like Mt Evens road including Peak-to-Peak highway and a bunch of other stuff that I most likely will not have time to see.
His wife is like a walking Rand McNally for motorcycle tours, I told her she should start a damn website.
Any other suggestions please feel free to chime in.
I know all the routs around New Mexico and most of southern to mid Colorado hope to hit Ouray from Carbondale on the way back some great rides ahead.. ::012::

See rout>>>>>> http://goo.gl/maps/MFzie

 

[jimsgone]

outstanding route! ::008::

If you've never been on the Million Dollar Highway you will be amazed !!!

 

[Tippo]

On your return trip turn left (south) in Hotchkiss on Rt 92 thru Crawford to Sapinero. Then take 50 to Montrose. Highway 92 follows the north rim of the Black Canyon (a small national park). It is Colorado's Tail of the Dragon. One of the best roads in Colorado and I've been riding and living in the area for over 40 years. The route you have planned thru Delta sucks. The rest of your route is fine.

Do you have reservations in RMNP? If not you may be SOL. I would get on that right now.

Jeff in Snowmass Village

 

[Ramseybella]

On your return trip turn left (south) in Hotchkiss on Rt 92 thru Crawford to Sapinero. Then take 50 to Montrose. Highway 92 follows the north rim of the Black Canyon (a small national park). It is Colorado's Tail of the Dragon. One of the best roads in Colorado and I've been riding and living in the area for over 40 years. The route you have planned thru Delta sucks. The rest of your route is fine.

Do you have reservations in RMNP? If not you may be SOL. I would get on that right now.

Jeff in Snowmass Village

I forgot that rout it is a fantastic sweepers Thanks..

Changed>> http://goo.gl/maps/qa4Os

 

[bruised]

If your in the area check out the grand mesa its worth the time

 

[EricV]

Have a great time. Be very careful inside the RMNP in terms of passing or speeding. The rangers will cite, and will stop you down the road for something another ranger witnessed. Tickets are federal, so no reciprocity, but $60 for passing some dumb bunny going 15 mph still sucks. Lots of traffic on the weekends and lots of people terrified of the mountains and tight curves.

 

[MurphCO]

Two people killed by Lightning the past two days, someone has angered the Monsoon gods

 

[Arkyrider]

Agree with Tippo, Hwy 92 along the north rim of the Black Canyon and then Hwy 50 to Montrose is a great ride.
Time permitting there are a couple passes you might want to check out: North of Buena Vista, about 20 miles, is Hwy 82 that heads toward Aspen that goes over Independence Pass. It's about 25 miles to the Pass. Second, coming out of Silverthorne take Hwy 6 over Loveland Pass. You will come out just east of the Eisenhower Tunnel with easy access back onto I-70.

 

[bloodline]

No showers in the park, just enclosures. Pack a sun shower. It's rather entertaining to watch people go in the shower enclosures and then walk back out after a few seconds with a very confused look on their face.

 

[Ramseybella]

Well it was a great ride but cut short due to my friend laid down his concours kawasaki on a fire road dodging an oncoming earth mover messing his bike and knee up first day looking for a camp sight. We Stayed one night camping north of Camp Hale..
The park was unusually completely full according to the park ranger and so was the surrounding camps, Motels and Hotels due to the tourist overflow and the rivers overflowing last year destroying homes along them and sending the families to Colorado Hotels and Motels by FEMA.
Oh and some huge convention in Cheyenne, WY..
Next time I am going alone no friends just me..

::021::