My wife and I are heading to Denver Friday for some business and are looking to take a little trip to the mountains for the weekend. We're looking to head out of Denver on Saturday morning on Hwy 285 down to Buena Vista then up to Leadville then maybe on Sunday shooting up to Steamboat Springs area on our way back home. Just looking for some advise as to wether this road is worth riding and anything worth seeing on the way. Thanks

 

The route you are planning is a good one, but in that area I would suggest going North to Ft. Collins, then going to Estes Park and through Rockie Mountan National Park to Granby and back to I-70 and Denver.

Bill

 

On the way to sturgis we went from lodgemont to estes park up to the alpine visitors center then back down to loveland great ride ,took about a hour and half maybe two ,they charge $10 per person to go thru the rocky mnt nat park but well worth it,the roads were really great until about two or three miles away from the peak sections of road are gone so its dirt and gravel for a few short sections.

 

yea i've been up to estes and rmnp, both are beautifull areas. im trying to get more into the center of the state on this trip though.

 

From Leadville up through Climax to I-70 is a nice ride. Try the Golden Burro Cafe in Leadville if you can (it is still there).
In Steamboat, The TugboatGrill and Pub for breakfast ("Tugboat Breakfast"), and Dos Amigos for dinner (both located in Ski Time Square). I don't know if the Side Step Saloon is still on the main street in town but the wet burrito is the real deal. Have fun.

 

In Leadville eat at Quinceys Steakhouse. Great food good price. The ride up to Copper Mountain is great, I think it is up 91. I like the riding south of I 70. We rodeup to Steamboat its ok.