Looking for Colorado info.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
While your planning on the Crawford-Gunnison loop may I suggest Gunnison-Lake City-Creede-South Fork-Pagosa Springs-Durango? From there you can head north on 550 to Ouray-Ridgeway-Dolores River Valley-Colorado National Monument. IMO, the route from Hwy 50 to Creede is one of the prettiest around...not as 'monumental' as some other rides but encompasses quite a bit of eastern San Juan mountains. One other aspect of the trip you hadn't thought about is the number of large American Rivers that start in Colorado and which you'll be passing through. At Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park you'll see the headwaters of the Colorado, @Leadville the Arkansas, Gunnison the Gunnison, Creede the Rio Grande, Pagosa the San Juan. About the Royal Gorge...I took a large group of friends across it a couple years ago...it's quite something to see flat-landers flat-line crossing the 1,000'+ bridge on their bikes!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
Just my 2 cents. The 149/160/550 route can't be beat. Take 50 over Monarch Pass to Gunni. At Blue Mesa go south on 149 to Lake City. You will continue over Slumgullion Pass (steepest paved road in Colo., 9% grade, 12,300 elevation) and Spring Creek Pass (Continental Divide) before descending in Creede (riding along Rio Grande River) and South Fork where you will take the 160 over Wolf Creek Pass and eventually down to Durango which is nice place to take a long break. From Durango, you go north on 550 over Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass before dropping down to Silverton (9400 elevation). You continue north on 550 over Red Mtn. Pass and descend into the amazing scenery surrounding Ouray. Continue on 550 north to Montrose. You will cover what I believe is the most beautiful scenery in the state and a half dozen of the top passes (Monarch, Slum, Wolf Creek, Red Mtn., Molas, etc.). It's monsoon season, so expect afternoon rains along the Silver Thread and Million $ Highways in the San Juans. SJ Ron
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
