A Short Ride to the Middle of Nowhere

[MotoNews]

Published in: Rides

The need to get away from the noise is so important. It’s soul rest. Whether you have a weekend or longer, Colorado has a ride that’s sure to breathe life back into you… even if the air is a little thin.

Colorado is known for its incredible scenery, and how easy it is to be right in the middle of it. Sometimes it feels like you’re looking at a mountain, and before you know it, you’re on top of it. Hagerman Pass is like that, a quick ride from Buena Vista, and you’re just outside the beautiful town of Leadville feeling like you’re smack dab in the middle of nowhere. About three hours from Colorado Springs or Denver, it’s sure to fulfill your craving for the outdoors, let you test your skills on some fun terrain and get home in time for dinner.

We started our journey from Woodland Park and took Highway 24, already a beautiful ride. Going this way you take a short jaunt on 285 and then head back north on 24. There are a couple of fun off-shoots that we ended up taking along the way, the most notable being CO-300 through Soda Springs; its beautiful winding roads and lodgepole pines were more than worth the extra time, and you still land right at the turn onto CR-5A. You’ll only be on CR-5A for a short time and then hop onto CR-4, which passes by Turquoise Lake. This could be as far as you want to go, it’s a beautiful place with lots to do and see. We chose the path less taken on this one, and continued west to where CR-4 and CR-9 split—you’ll want to pay attention here because it’s easy to miss—stay left onto CR-4 and let the climb begin! After a few miles CR-4 will become CR-105, right by the Native Lake Trail Head. 105 is the fun part, lots of rocks and small technical stints that will pose a little challenge for beginners and give off-road veterans something fun to test your skills on.

On the way, you might need a cup of coffee or a tasty burger, and Buena Vista is the perfect place for that. It has a great downtown filled with restaurants and shops. House Rock Kitchen is a welcome break and has some fresh grub that’ll keep you fueled for the rest of the ride. You can also get a stellar cup o’ joe at Buena Vista Roastery Café, a perfect stop for the ride home in the morning, as well. Be sure to take a back way out of town and enjoy the beauty of the river before returning to the highway. Hop on N. Colorado Ave (right by the Roastery) and head north. This will turn into CR-371 and wind along the Arkansas River. You’ll also ride through the Midland Tunnels and stay away from more of the traffic in that area. These small but beautiful side roads are some of my favorite hidden gems in Colorado. You’ll have the river just below you, and with the peaks in the distance, truly something to stop and enjoy.

Once you’ve made it to CR-105 there are plenty of places to pull off and set up camp, or simply enjoy the views. We camped about 15 minutes below the summit, with a beautiful view of Turquoise Lake and Leadville. You’ll need to find a trail and get off the main road a bit to find the best camping spots, but there was enough room for all five of us and our tents—you could even fit a larger group. Towards the bottom, where the roads are a bit tamer, most of the camping was spoken for, but closer to the summit there were a lot less people. It’s worth noting that the pass had just opened when we went (mid-July) and a few of the riders from our group went just a month earlier to a very cold and closed summit. Depending on what you’re looking for, it might be best to push this one towards the later summer months. But you can still see giant snow drifts in July, too. We hit a little rain, but for the most part the weather was perfect, with nighttime temperatures around 50℉.

The evening was spent riding from spot to spot, discovering a few different trails within minutes of our camp. Whether you want to do that or continue the climb up 105 is totally up to you. We had a later start that day, so it made more sense to stick close to camp and ride some of the other fun spots. Just below the summit were a few noteworthy areas with gorgeous pine trees and views of the lake. One of the nice things about this pass is how you can make it as technical or as easy as you want. We hung out and watched the sunset reflecting through the trees into the dust we’d just made. To say it was breathtaking doesn’t really do it justice.

Nighttime was beyond words. Gazing at the sky with so many stars, and the galaxies were crystal clear. It’s important to let yourself have those moments occasionally, and not pull out a camera or a phone. I’m often uncomfortable in the silence and darkness of the wilderness after being surrounded by so much noise all the time. The beauty of the adventure is being able to find some peacefulness in the world. Remember why we ride, why we get away; now more than ever we need these kinds of moments.

Everyone had places to be the next day, which is one of the great things about how close this ride is, so we were up with the sunrise to pack. But there was some time spent kicking up dust and watching the sunrise with a coffee before heading back to civilization. We stopped for breakfast at the Roastery in BV, good food and coffee are among the highlights of these short trips.

I hope you’re inspired to get out there and ride no matter how long you have. Put the cell phone down, grab a map, and go ride with your friends.

“I wish I had worked more and not ridden my motorcycle into the mountains,” said no one ever.

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Aaron Anderson is a full-time commercial photographer and adventurer, traveling around the country with his family in an RV, seeking the perfect cup of coffee and beautiful images. He's been riding anything with two wheels since he was a kid and has always had a passion for motorcycling in its many forms. AndersonVisuals.com

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