Colorado routes?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 156
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From: Frederick MD
Colorado routes?
I plan to ride from Rapid City to Colorado this summer, and am looking for advice on good routes in the mountains that are scenic and fun, plus good places to stay a day or two. I'm thinking of going to Ft. Collins first. 14 and 34 look interesting and it looks like I could loop around both of them in a day or two. I'd like to bag Mt. Evans on the way, too, then maybe go through Breckenridge and Fairplay to Colo. Springs then home to Maryland. Any suggestions on routes or places to see/stay?
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Sturgis/Rapid City to Cheyenne is not going to be much. We usually do 85 through Lusk and Torrington, but you might want to do 16 and 385 to Custer, Hot Springs, then take 18 over to 85. There are a lot of nice places along the way to see this way.
From Ft. Collins take 34 to Granby (Trail Ridge Road) and 40 back down to I-70. This will put you right in the area of Mt. Evans. From there cut down 285 to Fairplay and 24 to Springs. While in Springs don't miss a ride to the top of Pikes Peak.
Be advised that with the exception of Rapid City/Sturgis to Cheyenne these routes are not very fast. All are high mountains with lots of curves and slow speeds. Plan your day so that you are near the base of Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak in the morning. You will likely have clouds, fog and rain on these peaks in the afternoons and could even encounter snow.
Be sure to have warm clothing that can be layered. All these routes are high, over 10,000 ft. in places. We were at the top of Pikes Peaks last year in August and it was 32 degrees at the top at 10:30 in the morning.
If you do these routes you will encounter some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, and some of the best motorcycle riding you will ever find.
Estes Park on 34 is kind of fun. Watch out for the elk, and don't try to pet them. They really are wild animals though they don't seem like it. In Colorado Springs you could spend a bit of time seeing Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, and hanging out Manitou Springs. If you are interested in rodeo, the Rodeo Hall of Fame is in Colorado Springs.
Hope this helps.
Bill
From Ft. Collins take 34 to Granby (Trail Ridge Road) and 40 back down to I-70. This will put you right in the area of Mt. Evans. From there cut down 285 to Fairplay and 24 to Springs. While in Springs don't miss a ride to the top of Pikes Peak.
Be advised that with the exception of Rapid City/Sturgis to Cheyenne these routes are not very fast. All are high mountains with lots of curves and slow speeds. Plan your day so that you are near the base of Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak in the morning. You will likely have clouds, fog and rain on these peaks in the afternoons and could even encounter snow.
Be sure to have warm clothing that can be layered. All these routes are high, over 10,000 ft. in places. We were at the top of Pikes Peaks last year in August and it was 32 degrees at the top at 10:30 in the morning.
If you do these routes you will encounter some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, and some of the best motorcycle riding you will ever find.
Estes Park on 34 is kind of fun. Watch out for the elk, and don't try to pet them. They really are wild animals though they don't seem like it. In Colorado Springs you could spend a bit of time seeing Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, and hanging out Manitou Springs. If you are interested in rodeo, the Rodeo Hall of Fame is in Colorado Springs.
Hope this helps.
Bill
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Frederick MD
Thanks
Sturgis/Rapid City to Cheyenne is not going to be much. We usually do 85 through Lusk and Torrington, but you might want to do 16 and 385 to Custer, Hot Springs, then take 18 over to 85. There are a lot of nice places along the way to see this way.
From Ft. Collins take 34 to Granby (Trail Ridge Road) and 40 back down to I-70. This will put you right in the area of Mt. Evans. From there cut down 285 to Fairplay and 24 to Springs. While in Springs don't miss a ride to the top of Pikes Peak.
Be advised that with the exception of Rapid City/Sturgis to Cheyenne these routes are not very fast. All are high mountains with lots of curves and slow speeds. Plan your day so that you are near the base of Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak in the morning. You will likely have clouds, fog and rain on these peaks in the afternoons and could even encounter snow.
Be sure to have warm clothing that can be layered. All these routes are high, over 10,000 ft. in places. We were at the top of Pikes Peaks last year in August and it was 32 degrees at the top at 10:30 in the morning.
If you do these routes you will encounter some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, and some of the best motorcycle riding you will ever find.
Estes Park on 34 is kind of fun. Watch out for the elk, and don't try to pet them. They really are wild animals though they don't seem like it. In Colorado Springs you could spend a bit of time seeing Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, and hanging out Manitou Springs. If you are interested in rodeo, the Rodeo Hall of Fame is in Colorado Springs.
Hope this helps.
Bill
From Ft. Collins take 34 to Granby (Trail Ridge Road) and 40 back down to I-70. This will put you right in the area of Mt. Evans. From there cut down 285 to Fairplay and 24 to Springs. While in Springs don't miss a ride to the top of Pikes Peak.
Be advised that with the exception of Rapid City/Sturgis to Cheyenne these routes are not very fast. All are high mountains with lots of curves and slow speeds. Plan your day so that you are near the base of Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak in the morning. You will likely have clouds, fog and rain on these peaks in the afternoons and could even encounter snow.
Be sure to have warm clothing that can be layered. All these routes are high, over 10,000 ft. in places. We were at the top of Pikes Peaks last year in August and it was 32 degrees at the top at 10:30 in the morning.
If you do these routes you will encounter some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, and some of the best motorcycle riding you will ever find.
Estes Park on 34 is kind of fun. Watch out for the elk, and don't try to pet them. They really are wild animals though they don't seem like it. In Colorado Springs you could spend a bit of time seeing Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, and hanging out Manitou Springs. If you are interested in rodeo, the Rodeo Hall of Fame is in Colorado Springs.
Hope this helps.
Bill
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Frederick MD
Mt. Evans to 285
I think we'll do that, go from Ft Collins to Idaho Springs, stay in Evergreen, get up and ride to Mt. Evans the next morning. I wonder if we can leave some of our bags (saddlebags and tourpak bags) at the gate and get them when we come back down. We did that at Mt. Washington. Then we can go to Colorado Springs by way of Fairplay so my daughter can say she went to South Park. Maybe Pike's Peak the next day, and definitely Garden of the Gods because it's so easy to go see. Maybe we can stay around Manitou Springs.
Last edited by cybricon; Jan 4, 2015 at 09:41 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Pikes Peak is all paved now.
If you mean to take 7 from Estes Park to Idaho Springs you will miss Trail Ridge Road and Rocky Mountain National Park. In my opinion this is a "don't miss" in the area. It is one of the greatest ride on the planet.
You can easily make it from Ft. Collins to Evergreen in a day by going through Granby.
Bill
If you mean to take 7 from Estes Park to Idaho Springs you will miss Trail Ridge Road and Rocky Mountain National Park. In my opinion this is a "don't miss" in the area. It is one of the greatest ride on the planet.
You can easily make it from Ft. Collins to Evergreen in a day by going through Granby.
Bill
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
When you go over Mt. Evans come out on hwy 285. From there take 126 (between Conifer & Baily) thru the Pikes National Forest to Deckers then through Woodland Park into Colorado Springs. Beautirul ride! Also be sure and follow billnourse's advice above!!!
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
I think you would regret getting so close but not going a little further west to ride the Million Dollar Hwy. (Hwy. 550). Stay overnight in Ouray at the Chalet Inn (clean and reasonably priced); it's right downtown and easily within walking distance of all the bars and restaurants. Then the next morning ride south through Silverton on the Million Dollar Hwy and then on to Durango. You won't be sorry.
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I plan to ride from Rapid City to Colorado this summer, and am looking for advice on good routes in the mountains that are scenic and fun, plus good places to stay a day or two. I'm thinking of going to Ft. Collins first. 14 and 34 look interesting and it looks like I could loop around both of them in a day or two. I'd like to bag Mt. Evans on the way, too, then maybe go through Breckenridge and Fairplay to Colo. Springs then home to Maryland. Any suggestions on routes or places to see/stay?
Thanks
Thanks
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Don't know when you plan to be here or how much time you will have, but there is a HD Forums ride August 10- August 17. This ride will be over 22 Colorado mountains passes that are at least 10,000' plus Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak. About 280-300 miles per day with some really great forum members and will get you to the best of Colorado Rocky Mountain riding including the route you inquired about in this thread.
If you have the time and it fits with your schedule, we invite you to join us. We have a Forum ride like this every year and the rides have always been great.
I will be posting the planned route in the Southwest area today under a sticky: Green Chile Run 2015.
Bill
If you have the time and it fits with your schedule, we invite you to join us. We have a Forum ride like this every year and the rides have always been great.
I will be posting the planned route in the Southwest area today under a sticky: Green Chile Run 2015.
Bill
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 98
From: NC
I think you would regret getting so close but not going a little further west to ride the Million Dollar Hwy. (Hwy. 550). Stay overnight in Ouray at the Chalet Inn (clean and reasonably priced); it's right downtown and easily within walking distance of all the bars and restaurants. Then the next morning ride south through Silverton on the Million Dollar Hwy and then on to Durango. You won't be sorry.
What he said ^^^