Curious if anyone has any recommended rides around the Pagosa Springs/Durango area. Yes, I know all about the Million Dollar Hwy but the wife is not interested, she wants a little mellower roads. We will be staying in Pagosa Springs and I have one trip routed to Durango but looking for one more as we will be there 2 days. The one I have I took from the HD map site and modified it some but there weren't a lot saved publicly so asking the good folks here. Something in the 200 miles range, round trip, with a nice place to stop for lunch would be ideal.

 

It’s been a while, but the ride from Santa Fe to Pagosa Springs is a nice ride.

 

South Fork is close. You could go SF to Lake City to Ouray. Gunnison has nice riding too.

 

You may also wanna checkout the HDF World Wide Interactive Map found HERE.

 

Hwy 160 (wolf creek pass) to South Fork then 149 north to highway 50 west to Montrose plenty to eat there. Then south on 550 to Ridgway there go west on 62 to Placerville then east or south on highway 145 back to Dolores then 184 down to 160 backrest to Durango... this is a real nice loop.
also look up the San Juan Skyway.. its some of the same roads I mentioned.
I done the route I mentioned 2 years ago it was really nice.
of course you could go 160 west to 184 to 145 was a nice eating place in dorlores on south side of the rode. Then on up to Ridgway and such? Can't go wrong with most riding there.

 

If you have the interest, Mesa Verde is an interesting place just west of Durango. Cliff dwellers. Was there a couple years ago but I think the speed limit is around 40 in the park and the dwellings are about 20 miles or so back in the park.

 

you're in CO and asking about CO?

San Juan Skyway all day.... and a +1 on Wolf Creek Pass. I have stayed in Pagosa Springs before and traversed Wolf Creek Pass in a cold, heavy rain. Dont miss the rain but miss the road.

going to CO to ride and skipping the Million Dollar Highway....

If you want mellow roads CO probably isn't the place to go riding. Some folks work their entire lives to get to a place like that to ride.

Enjoy the ride, CO is a great place to be on a bike.

 

I first rode the Million Dollar with my to be wife on the back. Having a rider was probably what made me a tad white knuckled.
Plus my bike is an 81 and at that age things seem to happen w/o warning.
But the last time there were crews building guard rails and it was no problem.
But there is another south out of Red River NM. The enchanted circle. It's a no sweat ride.