Tried this in the regional section and did not get much response. Taking a trip to Colorado this summer. Plans are to start in Durango and head north to the Salida area first night. From Salida to Steamboat and the third day from Steamboat to Montrose then across to Pueblo and back to Oklahoma. Any suggestions on places to stay or things to do on this route or any other routes I should take would be greatly appreciated.

 

That is a strange route. Your kinda zig zagging around (not sure if that's your intent). The most straight forward route would be Durango to Montrose to Steamboat to Salida to Pueblo. Durango to Montrose via 550 (Million Dollar Highway thru Silverton and Ouray). Salida to Pueblo is simply follow 50 along the Arkansas River. You have several choices to get to Steamboat from Montrose and to Salida from Steamboat if you decide to go this route. SJ Ron

 

I'd post it in the "Road Trips" forum. You'll probably get a good response there.

 

With those points, I'd suggest Durango to Salida, THROUGH Montrose (Giving you 550 through Silverton, the Million Dollar Highway, and Ouray, plus Monarch pass). Then Salida to Steamboat via CO-82 - Independence Pass, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Craig. Then Steamboat to Estes Park - Through Rocky Mountain N.P. (the Trail Ridge Road), then south from Estes on the Peak-to-Peak Highway (CO 7 and CO 119), to I-70. At that point, you could either take I-70 east for home, or cut through Evergreen, and take US 285 up to Pine Junction, and then head south to Woodland Park, through Deckers. At Woodland you could head east through Colorado Springs, and then home.

As I read what I've written, I have to say that entire route is like sex. The worst it gets will be spectacular.

Harris
Denver, CO

www.youtube.com/conedown

 

Bring;
Layers
Rain jacket or liner
Camera
Sunscreen (especially for your face)
Water

 

I'm a gambling addict, so I manage to fit Cripple Creek into my trips. Great ride around the mountain from ColoSprings to the small mining town.

 

You mention some very specific destinations, so that makes me think you might have specific reasons for going there. On the other hand, your last sentence seems to say you'd consider a blank slate proposal - so on that note, here goes. What's missing from your post, though, is how much time do you have.

Like SJR, your original route seems a bit "unique". I could easily spend a week just in SW CO, and I do every year. I 2nd SJR's idea to go north out of Durango over The Million Dollar Highway, then I'd suggest you go west at Ridgeway to Naturita and up to Grand Junction via Hwy 141. 141 will take you past Gateway where there is a fantastic car museum built by the founder of The Discovery Channel, that has the first Corvette prototype - that has an Oldsmobile medallion on it! Hwy 141 then continues up through Uncompahgre Canyon where you're riding along the river at the bottom of the canyon. Watch out for cattle, I've been caught up in herds being driven up the highway by cowboys on horseback - go slow, they'll move <lol>

Take a left at Grand Junction and visit the Colorado National Monument http://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm - hope you're not afraid of heights - and ride the road that hugs the face of that ridge line in the website's main photo.

A few miles east of Grand Junction is Hwy 65 that'll take you back south over Grand Mesa Summit, that peaks out at 10,839 feet. Come all the way back down to Montrose and turn east to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison - be sure to ride Hwy 92 that skirts the north edge of the park and for a potential celebrity sighting, go on up to Crawford where Joe Cocker has a ranch and is often seen in town. His sister used to own one of the 2 restaurants in Crawford but hers is now closed (too bad, they had great ice cream!).

East of the Black Canyon is the town of Gunnison - lots of lodging and eating options, and I highly recommend The Trough on Hwy 50 on the west fringes of town. Continuing east towards Pueblo and you'll pass through Canon City - don't forget to stop at the Royal Gorge and ride your bike over the suspension bridge that hangs nearly 1,000 feet above the river. Can't fish from the bridge though, it's posted <lol>

Another favorite loop of mine is bounded by Buena Vista, Fairplay, Breckenridge and Leadville, but it's definitely a case of "too much to do and too little time".

I realize none of this gets you anywhere near Steamboat, but for me it's kind of the issue that there's a lot of riding to get from "here" to "there", and why make the trek when there's a lot of "here" to ride. For me, rides north of I70 and rides south of I70 are two separate rides and 2 reasons to return to Colorado for more!

 

You're staring in Durango? Which way are you coming into Colorado - from OK? I'll just assume you want to start from here but coming from OK you would be missing some stuff if it wasn't planned. Anyway, here's my $.02 on this itinerary:

Day 1: Durango - Silverton - Ouray - Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Monument - Gunnison - Salida (if you stay in Gunnison there is a Travelodge on the west side of town - clean, good prices and nice people). Day 2: Salida - Buena Vista - Independance Pass - Glenwood Springs - East to about Wolcott - North to Steamboat Springs. Day 3: As contemplated, this will be a killer day - lots of miles...may I suggest another route? Steamboat - Kremmling - Berthoud Pass - West over Loveland Pass - Frisco - Breckenridge - Hoosier Pass - SW to Fairplay - SE to Hartsel - South on Hwy 9 to Hwy 50@Royal Gorge - West on 50 to Pueblo. if you plan on your route to Montrose you'll be covering lots of country that is nice but not as remarkable as that which I've outlined. Is there any way you can add one or two more days to your itinerary? That way you could spend less time just trying to get places and more time driving slower and seeing things. Believe me, 250 miles in the Rockies is NOT the same as 250 miles across the OK panhandle...you've got to do it slower. Send me a PM if you need more info and want to spend more time here.

One more option on Day 3: I live in Pueblo and understand that if you drive through here you will also miss some other outstanding rides. Here's my suggestion for Day 3 (picking up where you got to Fairplay)...continue to Buena Vista, south to Salida, east on Hwy 50 to Texas Creek...now turn south on Hwy 69 to Westclife...turn left in Westcliffe on Hwy 96, drive east 2 BLOCKs and look for Hwy 69 (you read that right...south on 69, west on 96 and then south again on 69!)...take Hwy 69 south to Walsenburg. You can stay in Walsenburg or continue south on I-25 to Trinidad (more hotels, better places to eat). From Trinidad you can go east on Hwy 160 to Springfield, CO...and continue South and SE into the panhandle. If you take this shortcut from Salida to Walsenburg you'll cut about 50 miles off your route and at least 1.5 hours.

 

Whiskers is right for the Day 3, but I would add that instead of staying on 69 in Westcliff, turn left onto 96 and stay on 96 for about 15/20 miles, then turn right onto 165. This will take you by Bishops Castle, a must see if you're in the area. Also goes through the San Isabel Nat. Forest and by Lake Isabel. Brings you out on I25 at exit 77 I believe.

The little cafe/store in Westcliff ( Miner's Store?) on 96 is not to bad. Not gourmet cooking, but pretty good food at a reasonable price. It's also the last stop for a while.

The wife and I did this ride from I25 to Texas Creek Monday. Snow still on the mountains. Absolutely spectacular. This is the view coming into Silvercliff. There's no way to describe the size of the view.

 

got to go to gateway via ouray. high mesa via delta, and colorado national monument at grand juction. creed to gunnison or gunnison to creed.