Which direction should we go to get back to Aspen Colorado to go over Independance Pass from Durango. Should we go west and hit Cortez and the 4 corners and up to Placerville and than back to Montrose and than over to Sapinero and up to Aspen this way? Or should we go east from Durango and up into Pagosa Springs, South Fork and up to Gunnison, and than through Crested Butte? I am sure they are both beautiful ways to go. We just don't have time to go through everything and want to get back up north to go into Mt. Evans and RMNP. Thanks for all your inputs

 

We plan on doing this in mid july

 

Dave, Do you want to go over Independence Pass on your way to Aspen from Durango? Or after Aspen? From your message below it appears you want to see Independence along the way, but the routes you are considering arrive at Aspen from the west, while Independence is on the east side of Aspen.

Would mention once arriving at Crested Butte on paved CO 135 from Gunnison, every other road is unpaved, including the Kebler Pass Road west out of CB you are thinking about.

 

You want to go North from Durango and aren't going to ride the Million Dollar Highway?

 

We are coming from the north through rifle and taking the million dollar highway to durango. I was wondering if I should go east or west from there to get back up to aspen. I never knew the road is unpaved on the west side of crested butte. That helps a lot

 

Go to aspen first and than over independane pass and up to vail from there

 

Most of the time, yes, one would want to go north and ride the Million Dollar, especially if one has not done so. But there are reasons the western sides of the San Juan Skyway are a part of the Scenic Byway. When riding north out of Dolores on CO 145 the scenery is world class... and the traffic non-existent, a key reason it can be a preferable choice. One can be in an uninterrupted riding zone on this leg of the skyway.

 

OK Davey, Given Aspen first, then Independence the next day as you ride east, here are your two choices from Durango to Aspen...

#1... West to Dolores, then north to Placerville, to Apsen, etc... 390 miles. Note, I don't go to Cortez, then the four corners, then backtrack to Cortez and north. Your'e looking at a 500+ mile day then, on mountain roads. An option to save time/miles is to avoid Sapinero and CO 92 along the north rim of the Black Canyon (going north to Crawford out of Montrose instead, then over to Hotchkiss... riding bland), but CO 92 is one of the great riding roads in the state. The map...

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=D...&via=2&t=m&z=8

#2. 384 miles. East to South Fork, then the great CO 149 the Silver Thread Scenic Byway towards Gunnison/Sapinero, don't go to Crested Butte, ride CO 92 to Hotchkiss, then 133 over McClure Pass to Carbondale/Aspen. The map...

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=duran...&ved=0CNABELYD

Both are about the same length in time/miles. Both are ultra scenic and riding great. Both follow the same route north of U.S. 50 (those pesky mountains get in the way of having numerous road/ride options), and both are largely heavy traffic free. Take you pick if you want to head east or west initially out of Durango (given you have already ridden the Million Dollar). The west choice is more alpine scenic, the east choice delivers three mountain passes, two worthwhile towns (Creede, Lake City), and the superb Windy Point Lookout above Lake City. But the pavement between Creede and Lake City is a little choppy.

 

That helps me tremendously guys. The way it is sounding to me is to go west from Durango and hit the san juan way. I am sure they are both scenic, but want good roads to. East to Creedance sounds a little rough. The scenery looks amazing. We will see how much time we have but i think meaning we are down that far anyways we should go see the 4 corners. Well know more than. Appreciate it

 

The ride between South Fork and up toward Gunnison is incredible. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is also a good look. Aspen has some of the best people watching in the west. There is a coffee shop in downtown Aspen where we would sit outside, drink coffee, eat a muffin and watch the people walk by.