Nate9k9 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Howdy, planning a trip to Colorado around mid-August. The plan is to ride all the good, paved roads in CO. We have about a week and a half to do so. We would be camping most of the trip. Anyone have advice on where to start, ride, camp, etc. We will trailer the bikes to west OK pandhandle and then start riding. Link to comment
TEWKS Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Pike's peak RT 550 million dollar hwy. RT 145 RT 141 up to Gateway Mt Evans Rocky mtn NP. Should take you about a week at a pretty relaxed pace. Pat Link to comment
snod Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Rocky mtn NP. Pat I would recommend doing Trail Ridge Road, US HWY 34 from Estes Park to at least Grand Lake, or go on to Winter Park, over Berthoud Pass and on back Denver. At least once a season I "do the loop" on the way to work. I go up Coal Creek canyon to Pinecliff, then to Nederland, on up Peak to Peak Highway to Allenspark, and on into Estes Park. I like to stop at the Bighorn Restarurant in Estes. Good breakfast place. It is on the West end of Elkhorn Drive. If you get into the park by 0700, you miss much of the traffic on Trail Ridge. If you don't have National Parks pass, you will have pay $10(?). Be prepaired for cold at 12k feet. Going early also helps you miss the frequent early afternoon thunderstorms. I have run into rain/snow/sleet in July and August, be prepaired! The Park Police really like to hang out on the flats on the West side. Getting a ticket in a National Park can be a very bad thing. I come on south to Granby, catch US 40 over Berthoud Pass(also goes over 11k feet), hook into I70 and on to work. I suspect that if it was my first time on those roads, I would spend the whole day making that loop. Lots to see, many scenic view pull outs, and technically challenging roads. Link to comment
David13 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 San Juan Skyline. And as many passes as possible. Take a look at the Butler map. They show and highlight the best roads, with description and all. dc Link to comment
JR356 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 http://www.butlermaps.com/Motorcycle-Road-Maps/1/Colorado-Map These are the best maps for great rides,maps are very durable and are geared specifically at motorcyclists. They also have a combo map and guidebook on sale now.check their main maps page. http://www.butlermaps.com/Motorcycle-Road-Maps/ These maps can often be found at BMW dealers. Highly recommended! JR356 Link to comment
Nate9k9 Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Tks for the advice. I will let yall know what routes we will be taking. Link to comment
Danny caddyshack Noonan Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Mt Evans +1 on that. Rode it today. Had to sit down for a minute when I got lightheaded. It's high up but really cool. 31 degrees cool and huge wind. Still cool. Link to comment
DFWBo Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Just got back from a similar ride. Since others covered riding, I'll touch on camping. Lathrop SP is OK, Eleven Mile was a bit better. Kebler Pass and Independence Pass have some very nice areas. I really enjoyed camping near Almont, but the road from Almont to Taylor Reservoir is under construction....Cottonwood pass is an option, and Taylor Reservoir is very nice. Blue Mesa and the Black Canyon were probably my favorites,but Monarch Pass was spectacular as well....anything on the Arkansas river is really nice. Cripple Creek is a cool little area with a bit of night life and gaming. Really depends on what you're looking for in a camping spot....amenities and entertainment or the pristine unspoiled beauty of the Rockies Link to comment
Nate9k9 Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Thanks for the info. Just picked up the Butler map of CO and riding guide too. Link to comment
Art.. Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Pike's peak RT 550 million dollar hwy. RT 145 RT 141 up to Gateway Mt Evans Rocky mtn NP. Should take you about a week at a pretty relaxed pace. Pat Yeah baby. We did RMNP last July. Took this pic off of one of the overlooks. Link to comment
Art.. Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Snow in July?? Uhhh, yeah.....only about 12 feet though.. Link to comment
Danny caddyshack Noonan Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 One more. Guanella Pass. Guanella Pass It has about a mile or so, maybe more, of dirt on the south side before you pop out on Co 285. Spectacular vista up on top, cool road. Nice ride on US 40 from Winter Park to 70. Big climb, great mountains. Link to comment
Nate9k9 Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 I'm am in the seriously mapping stage at the moment, your input is very helpful. Link to comment
Krakken Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 +1 for Butler maps. Most of your questions will be answered Link to comment
litigator Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 This was my plan for June 7 to 15, 2012. It includes 10 of the 14 best motorcycle roads in CO, according to the guy who wrote the book. 7 Day One: 120 miles Get organized at the airport and take a short 3 hour ride through Clear Creek Canyon and up the Peak-to-Peak Highway to Estes Park. Alpine Trail Ridge Inn, $135, 9 rooms booked, http://www.alpinetrailridgeinn.com/ Lunch depends on when we are ready to go. June 8 Day Two: 300 miles Cross Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park (12K+), Berthoud Pass (11K) Loveland Pass (11K) and at least one more at 12+ (Monarch Pass) to Gunnison. ABC Motel, $65, 9 rooms booked, http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60740-d83265-Reviews-A_B_C_Motel-Gunnison_Colorado.html Lunch at Breckenridge Brewery June 9 Day Three: 300 miles, West on 50, up 92 along the North Rim of the Black Canyon, to Delta, to Whitewater, down 141 by Gateway to Naturita, the 145 and 62 to Ridgeway and on down 550 to Ouray, Ouray Victorian Inn, $95, 9 rooms booked, http://www.victorianinnouray.com/home.html Lunch at Karen's diner in Gateway, http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Re...y_Colorado.html June 10 Day Four: 120 miles Down the Million Dollar Highway to Durango, and over to Mesa Verde National Park, arriving at lunch time to spend the afternoon seeing the cliff dwellings. Far View Lodge, $108, 9 rooms booked, http://www.visitmesaverde.com/accommodations/far-view-lodge.aspx June 11 Day Five: 280 miles Up the other side of the San Juan Skyway past Telluride and on to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, then up to Cedaredge for the night. Cedaredge Lodge, $90, 9 rooms booked, http://www.thecedaredgelodge.com/index.html Lunch at the Red Barn, http://redbarnmontrose.com/index.htm June 12 Day Six: 280 miles Over the fantastic Grand Mesa, over to Aspen and over Independence Pass (12K+), then up through Leadville (at 10K) and on to Eagle, in the Vail /Beaver Creek area. Eagle Lodge and Suites, $110, 9 rooms booked, http://eaglelodgecolorado.com/ Lunch at the Hickory House in Aspen, http://www.hickoryhouseribs.com/a.aspen.lunch.html June 13 Day Seven: 260 miles Up to Steamboat Springs, over the Cache de Poudre and back around to Estes Park. Alpine Trail Ridge Inn, $135, 9 rooms booked, http://www.alpinetrailridgeinn.com/ Lunch at the Drifter's Cookhouse in Gould, http://www.drifterscookhouse.com/ June 14 Day Eight: 185 miles Back down the Peak-to-Peak and up to the top of Mt. Evans (14K+), the highest paved road in America, then back to the Denver area to load the truck(s) to carry the bikes back. Country Inn and Suites, Denver Airport, (9 rooms booked) $125, http://www.countryinns.com/denver-hotel-co-80239/codenair Lunch at Kermitt's Roadhouse in Idaho Springs: http://www.kermitts.com/ Prices are per room, for one or two guys. At some point, I will need to know who wants to double up and who wants his own room. Cost will be between $450 sharing and $900 single per man for lodging. Single may not always be an option, depending on the final count of riders. I have booked all rooms with 2 beds. I can cancel rooms as needed until May, but adding may be a problem as time goes on. All the places have food, beer and wine at or very nearby. All, but maybe Cedaredge, serve breakfast. The hostess at Cedaredge is not a morning person. While I will keep the group open until February, it will be first committed-first confirmed. I'm sure that the trucking will have similar requirements. 1850 road miles in all. Except for the Poudre, which was closed due to wild fires, this is the awesome trip we just finished. Link to comment
Nate9k9 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Litigator, sounds like a well thought out plan, wish I was available to ride on the dates planned. My riding pard and I won't be able to make the trip until mid August. I will however use the information you provided, THANKS. Link to comment
Missouri Bob Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 The Park Police really like to hang out on the flats on the West side. Getting a ticket in a National Park can be a very bad thing. On the subject of speeding and tickets, let me add some warnings. My town, Nederland, has become a speed-trap. The limit is 25mph and it is zealously enforced. Between Ned and I-70, 30 miles south, is CO 119 through Gilpin county. The maximum speed permitted there is 45, and it seems that the Gilpin sheriff does not allow much leeway. The worst part of riding in Colorado during the summer is sharing the road with tourists who drive below the posted limit on two-lane roads. Bob Link to comment
Nate9k9 Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 Looking for a place to park my truck and trailer somewhere around the Denver area, anyone have room? Trailer (Kendon) can be turned up on end to save room. Tentative plan would be to leave truck/trailer at location from 15-24 August. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.