Where to ride in Colorado

OldRider

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We have a small group of three riders going to Colorado the end of August. What area would you guys suggest we stay in? We want to stay in one location and go take a different ride each day for five days. We are wanting to ride off road, gravel and dirt roads and maybe even some single track trails. We don't want anything real technical, just easy riding with some good scenery. We'll all be on KLR650's.
 

SkunkWorks

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Cripple Creek area, or Canon-City area has lots of easier dirt stuff with great scenery.

Hard to beat Ouray, Telluride, Lake City area though for spectacular scenery.

Plenty of dirt all over Colorado..................You'll want to keep coming back.
 

Paul466

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Littleton, Colorado
Ouray area is one option, Steamoat spring has lots of options plus you can ride COBDR south from there. I highly recommend Moab Utah area if you have enough time. Are you guys camping or hoteling? Might want to secure places to stay since tourism fills up lots of options. As far as camping there is plenty free spots to pick from.
 

Arkyrider

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Van Buren, Arkansas
I think staying around Montrose would be a good location. You would be close to Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Telluride, Lake City, and Gunnison. Easy rides to Ucompahgre National Forest, Rio Grand National Forest, and San Juan National Forest. You would be close to Black Canyon (north side is better scenery imo) and the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction (great scenic ride on pavement). Several people from here stay at Taylor Reservoir (NE of Gunnison) because they can ride ATV and dirt bike trails all the way to Aspen (which is 135 miles from Montrose). i try to avoid staying in Gunnison, always seem to be higher priced than other areas. Don't know much about Keystone other than close to Breckinridge.
 

OldRider

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Good, bad or who knows, we booked a house in Cortez. We want to ride a couple of days over in Moab, ride the CODBR North from the Four Corners area, run up to Telluride and over to Ouray and play around in the San Juan Mountains in that area. Will we be happy???
 

SuckSqueezeBangBlow

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Whitby, Ontario
Good, bad or who knows, we booked a house in Cortez. We want to ride a couple of days over in Moab, ride the CODBR North from the Four Corners area, run up to Telluride and over to Ouray and play around in the San Juan Mountains in that area. Will we be happy???
Yup, that is a good base. You can still go up the Million Dollar Highway, Utah is close, Telluride, etc. It will be a good starting place.
 

magic

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I am surprised that nobody mentioned the Alpine Loop. Your KLRs should be able to handle it.
 

OldRider

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I've rode in Colorado several times, but have always stayed on the blacktop. I usually stay in Ouray or Gunnison and take day rides from there. We're wanting to ride mostly offroad this trip. The White Rim Trail in Moab is high on our list of places to ride.

How are the backroads heading East out of Silverton?
 
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