Damn !!!! Looks like you stole my pictures...we did basically the same routes....all great roads. But in the same trip a Colorado we incorporated, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah....3 glorious weeks on the roads. Being a John Wayne Buff...riding through Monument Valley was my dream ride.....absolutely gorgeous !!!!!

 

That's only a few of my photos....I started riding out there in 2000, 9 days every summer. Tried Winterpark as basecamp once, never again.

2017 was the best as I wend with my son who I last rode with before he went to Afghanistan.

2008 just west of Montrose CO. My 07 Ultra and his VFR
2017 at Mexican Hat Utah My 2012 CVO SG and his (mine) 2015 Bonneville.
He did Afghanistan as a Combat Engineer - Route Clearance. He's a beat cop now. Proud just doesn't seem like enough word. He's got more courage and character in his pinkie than I do in all my 270 lbs.

 

We have been to Colorado 4 times the past 10 years or so. We have done the home base route and we have also done the move around to a different town every night route.


The most relaxed trip was when we rented a 3 bedroom condo in Silverton, CO and used that as a homebase. Great rides to and from RMNP, close to Mt Evans, Pikes Peak and other places.


We also did a trip to the southwest area and spend a few nights in and around Durango. That was nice as well.


Hard to see all the beauty and to ride all the great roads of CO in just one trip, that's why we have broken up our trips to concentrating on one area each trip and trying to get the most of out that area. Save the rest of the state for another trip!


As someone else said, in the mountains like this, 250 -300 mile days while stopping to smell the roses is expecting a lot.

 

Subscribing

 

Resume, born in Colorado and lived in or within the state for all 53 years.

Check out the Mega Resorts too. Vail (full disclosure I live in Eagle County) Breckenridge, and Aspen are quite something. May not be your thing but the money you will see being spent is mind boggling.

Independence Pass, like RMNP, is packed most of the summer but manageable mid week. If you stay in the green section of the map there is not much bad.

Personal favs
McClure Pass from Carbondale to Delta
Million Dollar Highway-Maybe 200 trips over this road in my life and still gets my heart pumping.

Hidden Gems
Gateway area
Hwy 131 from I-70 to Steamboat

Post if you want more specifics.

 

There are plenty of great roads on the North side of I-70. Two must do roads that I can't get to show up because they are closed for the winter or are under construction this winter is Trail Ridge Road from Grand Lake to Estes Park and then Big Thompson Canyon (Hwy 34) from Estes Park to Loveland.

https://*******/maps/w9g7cCNPot12

https://*******/maps/vQk5az2dGg42

 

The links didn't work at all. Here are some nice roads in the northern part of the mountains. Like I said, from Grand Lake to Estes Park over Trail Ridge is a really nice ride. So is Big Thompson Canyon (Hwy 34) to Loveland.

 

My Colorado/New Mexico trip next year will be base camps in Durango Co. and Santa Fe NM. Thinking lots of stuff to see in those areas.

 

When we go to Colorado, we kick it off by participating in Pikes Peaks HOG Chapters annual 5n1 High Altitude Poker Run. On the 3rd Saturday (subject to change), in a single day their poker run starts at 5:30am at Pikes Peak HD in Colorado Springs, then by the end of the day you will have rode of 5 passes that are 10,000' or higher. Very fun event. Different passes each year and ends at a different place in CO each time. Once we are done with that, we ride in that area for a few days.

 

Subscribed.

We did CO for 2 weeks in 2016 and absolutely loved it. I agree with all the posts and would only add a few things.

If you do Pikes Peak, you might consider riding the cog train to the top. We really enjoyed it.

You should consider spending a few hours seeing the garden of the gods.

Rodeway Inn at Montrose is clean and affordable, I would recommend.

Hotels in ski resort areas like Aspen Breckenridge etc are expensive.

The north rim of the black canyon has gravel roads. Didn't bother me, but some may not like it. South Rim is better by far IMHO but North rim is definitely worth it.

Don't drive through Kansas unless you have to. But if you must, one thing you should visit is the Kansas Motorcycle museum in Marquette KS.


There is so much to see in CO you really can't go wrong. Take your time and enjoy it. My signature pic is the gravel road on the north rim of the black canyon. Its beautiful everywhere put thete