Great Colorado Roads

1200 Views 22 Replies 15 Participants Last post by wingnutzz, Feb 9, 2009

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2009

I am planning a trip out west and I am in need of some suggestions, or better yet, Garmin routes, for paved, not to be missed, high mountain roads and points of interest in northern Colorado. I thought I would check with the experts first before winging it. Anybody care to share?

TIA

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PODO

· #2 · Feb 7, 2009

Check out our friend Dave T. a.k.a. Wingnutzz sig line on Colorado rides @

http://coloradodave.net/CO-UT Ride/CO-UTride.htm

I'd sure try to ride Independence Pass, Highway 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen. It's still one of my personal favorites.

There are soooo many roads. Trail Ridge thru Rocky Mtn Natl park is the highest continuous paved road in America. Or you can try your mettle on Mt. Evans which is the highest paved road in the country.

Good luck in your quest. If you have any more questions regarding specific roads let us know.

Winger22

· #3 · Feb 7, 2009

Try this like for Western Colorado rides.

http://rockies-gold.net/MontroseRides/2008_MontroseRides.htm

wingnutzz

· #4 · Feb 7, 2009

The guys have provided my links to you. The rides on my web site need a little updating, but the info is still good. On the Rockies-Gold link, great rides in western Colorado, but check out the other Colorado Rides page also -- good info there too. GPS files for my Rockies-Gold rides can easily be downloaded from the web site.

Check them out and if you have any questions let us know.

ElBando

· #5 · Feb 7, 2009

Ride the Million dollar highway from Ouray to Durango, stop at Silverton, nice. Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park is nice too.

COscooter

· #6 · Feb 8, 2009

A few other links....

http://www.motorcyclecolorado.com/index.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/states/co.html

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 8, 2009

podo said:
Good luck in your quest. If you have any more questions regarding specific roads let us know.

Good stuff! Thanks for the info!

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 8, 2009

wingnutzz said:
web site.

Check them out and if you have any questions let us know.

I've drooled over your web page for years! Many of my southern Colorado rides have come straight off your web pages. :bow:

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 8, 2009

ElBando said:
Ride the Million dollar highway from Ouray to Durango, stop at Silverton, nice. Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park is nice too.

I've ridden The Million Dollar Highway in the past. The Trail Ridge Road is a must on my northern Colorado tour.

Thanks for the info!

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 8, 2009

jsmull said:
http://www.motorcyclecolorado.com/index.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/states/co.html

Thanks for the links! Just what I'm looking for!

2002Silver

· #11 · Feb 8, 2009

A few personal opinions.

Trail Ridge is spectacular scenery and not to be missed. But it's a putting along road, not a "riding" road. Avoid summer weekends at all costs. Weekday mornings are best, be prepared for cold temps up high, maybe even snow or ice.

As someone who lives here, I like the less well known stuff. Lizard Head Pass is a great alternative to the Million Dollar Highway. Great scenery, but since it's down in the valley, great riding as well. Terrific sweepers.

My absolute favorite "hidden treasure" is 145 from near Gunnison down to South Fork, or vice versa. Amazing variety of scenery. Along the way Lake City and Creede are cute and relatively low key.

North of I-70 I like 131 from Wolcott to Steamboat Springs, maybe over to Walden and 125/40/9 back down to Dillon.

Note that all these are very scenic, but not the jaw dropping stuff on Trail Ridge or the Million Dollar Highway. The tradeoff is "ohmigod" versus great riding, and much less traffic.

Want an offroad adventure that most anyone can do? Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista towards Crested Butte has a nice unpaved, wide, and smooth, bit on the west side of the pass. If that was fun, Keebler Pass from Crested Butte west is only a little harder. NOT SCHOFIELD, which is seriously difficult/dangerous, even on a dirt bike. In general don't go offroad in Colorado without specific knowledge/local inquiry/good weather.

Feel free to PM me if you want more ideas, after you get a basic idea. I've done 95+% of the major paved roads east of I-25, most more than once.

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Falcon Wing

· #12 · Feb 8, 2009

2002Silver said:
A few personal opinions.

North of I-70 I like 131 from Wolcott to Steamboat Springs

DITTO on that road. Very nicely paved, and I have been on there on a Sunday and not passed or seen another vehicle from I70 to Yampa!

dstevens

· #13 · Feb 8, 2009

2002Silver said:
A few personal opinions.

Trail Ridge is spectacular scenery and not to be missed. But it's a putting along road, not a "riding" road. Avoid summer weekends at all costs. Weekday mornings are best, be prepared for cold temps up high, maybe even snow or ice.

As someone who lives here, I like the less well known stuff. Lizard Head Pass is a great alternative to the Million Dollar Highway. Great scenery, but since it's down in the valley, great riding as well. Terrific sweepers.

My absolute favorite "hidden treasure" is 145 from near Gunnison down to South Fork, or vice versa. Amazing variety of scenery. Along the way Lake City and Creede are cute and relatively low key.

North of I-70 I like 131 from Wolcott to Steamboat Springs, maybe over to Walden and 125/40/9 back down to Dillon.

Note that all these are very scenic, but not the jaw dropping stuff on Trail Ridge or the Million Dollar Highway. The tradeoff is "ohmigod" versus great riding, and much less traffic.

Want an offroad adventure that most anyone can do? Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista towards Crested Butte has a nice unpaved, wide, and smooth, bit on the west side of the pass. If that was fun, Keebler Pass from Crested Butte west is only a little harder. NOT SCHOFIELD, which is seriously difficult/dangerous, even on a dirt bike. In general don't go offroad in Colorado without specific knowledge/local inquiry/good weather.

Feel free to PM me if you want more ideas, after you get a basic idea. I've done 95+% of the major paved roads east of I-25, most more than once.

Road up from Pagosa Springs thru Creede to Gunnison, went past the headwaters of the Rio Grande. That is a very nice road but my personel favorite in western CO is the Unaweep Scenic Byway( hwy 141 near Whitewater) south to hwy 145 to Ridgeway on hwy550

ZL1BBO

· #14 · Feb 8, 2009

OH YEAH YOU HAVE TO RIDE INDEPENDENCE PASS!!

I fulfilled a life long dream last year June and flew from South Africa to join folks on this forum for Rockies Gold. It was a blast and yes use the routes and suggestions from Dave aka Wingnutzz. If I had the chance I would do it again.

Titus Andronicus

· #15 · Feb 8, 2009

Fastest CO road

If you like to ride fast, crazy fast then 141 South of Grand Junction is the best road on earth. There are very few crossing roads and the pavement is positively delicious as far as no tar snakes or other junk.

The first 44 miles goes to Gateway which is a tourist trap in training. That part of the ride is a little slower than the last half. The last part runs from Gateway to Naturita. Naturita is an old uranium mining town with nothing of importance. Gas is available as is a old style candy/junk store. There I met an older man (85) with a small white dog who said that he had never been anywhere else and didn't feel like he had missed anything.

The ride from Gateway to Naturita is the most splendid ride I have ever taken in 40 years of riding. It parrallels the Dolores river and winds its way along ground level and the up through wind carved pink and red stone up to elevations of about 200ft and then back down. You can ride as fast or as slow as you ever dreamed of going with absolutely spectacular views.

If anything I am understating how wonderful the road is. There are plenty of designated places to stop and take pics etc. I never stop but then again I have a need for speed that must be fed.

Titus Andronicus
"There's someone in my head and its not me" -- Pink Floyd

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keysyrider

· #16 · Feb 8, 2009

What is the weather like in September in Colorado?

kickstart7

· #17 · Feb 8, 2009

keysyrider said:
What is the weather like in September in Colorado?

i have seen it snow in sept .but if it does'nt snow 70's-80's if you have not drove through a lot twisties stay on i-70

4:

wingnutzz

· #18 · Feb 8, 2009

2002Silver said:
My absolute favorite "hidden treasure" is 145 from near Gunnison down to South Fork, or vice versa. Amazing variety of scenery. Along the way Lake City and Creede are cute and relatively low key.

It is a great ride -- route is CO-149 vs -145.

Dr2

· #19 · Feb 8, 2009

kickstart7 said:
i have seen it snow in sept .but if it does'nt snow 70's-80's if you have not drove through a lot twisties stay on i-70 4:

Well, that's probably the first time I've ever heard anyone (especially from CO) recommend that anyone stay on the freeway. Talk about

4:!! Are you sure you're from CO?

My opinion: The weather in September is generally "perfect". If you don't have experience in the twisties, now's a good time to get some. Ride your own ride. You don't see the "real" Colorado from the freeway.

Now Kickstart, go to the closest Colorado Tourism Board office, turn in your "resident card", and sign up for your new Kansas address! :joke: Just kidding!

QuickScribbles

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 8, 2009

Great stuff guys! Keep it coming!

BTW, I've rode a few twisties in my day so it's not likely I'll stay on any slab long... :wrong:

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