Rocky Mountain Day Trip
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 104
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Rocky Mountain Day Trip
Hello all.
Leaving Omaha next Saturday Planning to arrive in Loveland CO that evening.
Need a good day trip for Sunday thru the Rockies.
Looking at the map Hwy 34 from Loveland thru Estes Park then on to Grand Lake
looks like a pretty nice ride.
Looks to be about 80 Miles to Grand Lake but I am guessing
it will take a good deal longer to ride than 80 miles does here in the flat lands.
From Grand Lake it looks like I have 2 options.
1 turn around and back track
2. Continue South to Winter Park Then I70 back into Denver and up to the Motel In Loveland.
Option 2 looks to be about 150 and might be a little too ambitious for a day trip.
I am not dead set on loveland as a starting point or even any of the destinations
but Omaha to Loveland is a little over 500 miles and that's about
my daily limit.
I will be 2 up and fully loaded so it would be nice to begin and end the day at the same motel
so we can unload the bike before heading for the twisties. Although we will still be pretty loaded
down with rain and cold weather gear so I dont know how much of a difference that will make.
Basically I am looking to ride up into the hills for lunch.
Then head back to town for dinner and drinks that evening before the sun sets.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Leaving Omaha next Saturday Planning to arrive in Loveland CO that evening.
Need a good day trip for Sunday thru the Rockies.
Looking at the map Hwy 34 from Loveland thru Estes Park then on to Grand Lake
looks like a pretty nice ride.
Looks to be about 80 Miles to Grand Lake but I am guessing
it will take a good deal longer to ride than 80 miles does here in the flat lands.
From Grand Lake it looks like I have 2 options.
1 turn around and back track
2. Continue South to Winter Park Then I70 back into Denver and up to the Motel In Loveland.
Option 2 looks to be about 150 and might be a little too ambitious for a day trip.
I am not dead set on loveland as a starting point or even any of the destinations
but Omaha to Loveland is a little over 500 miles and that's about
my daily limit.
I will be 2 up and fully loaded so it would be nice to begin and end the day at the same motel
so we can unload the bike before heading for the twisties. Although we will still be pretty loaded
down with rain and cold weather gear so I dont know how much of a difference that will make.
Basically I am looking to ride up into the hills for lunch.
Then head back to town for dinner and drinks that evening before the sun sets.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 382
Likes: 4
From: Pacific NW
Sir, to be honest...pick your road and you'll enjoy any ride in the Rockies. I visit my parents 2-3 times a year about 20 miles south of Loveland. All the roads are good! Anything going from the Front Range up into the mountains has streams, animals, high peaks, twisties, etc. That includes Canyon Rd out of Boulder, HWY 36 out of Longmont, Hwy 34 out of Loveland, etc.
Here's a loop I've done a few times:
From Loveland, HWY 34 up to Estes Park is amazing and Estes has a good main street with goodies for the Old Lady. Take Trail Ridge Rd to Granby for the highest through road int he country (Mt Evans, Co is the highest but it's not a through rd). Head through winter park into some twisties and then jump on I70 for just a few miles. Get off the interstate on Central City Pkwy to go through Blackhawk and then the Peak to Peak HWY back to Estes and down to Loveland. Total trip is 250miles or so and there's plenty of good stops for scenery and the Old Lady.
You won't be disappointed by any road just watch out for gravel. Most of the turns still have the winter gravel on them! The pic is the Peak to Peak from Nederland to Estes...in December!
Here's a loop I've done a few times:
From Loveland, HWY 34 up to Estes Park is amazing and Estes has a good main street with goodies for the Old Lady. Take Trail Ridge Rd to Granby for the highest through road int he country (Mt Evans, Co is the highest but it's not a through rd). Head through winter park into some twisties and then jump on I70 for just a few miles. Get off the interstate on Central City Pkwy to go through Blackhawk and then the Peak to Peak HWY back to Estes and down to Loveland. Total trip is 250miles or so and there's plenty of good stops for scenery and the Old Lady.
You won't be disappointed by any road just watch out for gravel. Most of the turns still have the winter gravel on them! The pic is the Peak to Peak from Nederland to Estes...in December!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 20
From: Nebraska
Peak To Peak
My wife and I were riding the rocky mountains over the fourth of July.
We love riding the peak to peak from Estes to Golden. Trailridge Road in the rocky mountain national park is awesome also.
If you only have one day, take the advice from the previous post. That way you get to see both rides. From Central City, Blackhawk, to Golden is an awesome ride.
We also love riding hwy 34 the Big Thompson Canyon from Loveland to Estes.
It's all good riding.
Enjoy, ride safe.
We love riding the peak to peak from Estes to Golden. Trailridge Road in the rocky mountain national park is awesome also.
If you only have one day, take the advice from the previous post. That way you get to see both rides. From Central City, Blackhawk, to Golden is an awesome ride.
We also love riding hwy 34 the Big Thompson Canyon from Loveland to Estes.
It's all good riding.
Enjoy, ride safe.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
To get the best out of your trip to the rockies, try to come on a weekday. Honestly, on the weekends the roads are full of travel trailers, fifth wheels, RV's, you name it. I don't ride into the mountains on the weekends anymore. Too much traffic.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 111
From: Sioux Center IA
I think staying there you will be able to hit quite a few good areas around there. I will be leaving a few days later than you and going down into the same area. But will be further west in Colorado. I would like my wife to come along, but I can't pursuade her. Staying at one location and unloading your gear would be a great way to ride around the area. To bad you couldn't get further west in one day
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
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Ended up following the route from the original plan.
Turned out to be a great ride. Weather was good.
I headed up into the park at day break so traffic was not an issue.
Put about 1300 miles on the bike.
Here are a few pics.
Turned out to be a great ride. Weather was good.
I headed up into the park at day break so traffic was not an issue.
Put about 1300 miles on the bike.
Here are a few pics.
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