Colorado in May or June 2013 need routing advice

[oldryder]

Planning a road trip beginning and ending around Denver for late spring/early summer 2013.

Daughter will be flying in from Camp LeJuene and I will be trailering bikes from MN. I'm assuming I'd pick her up in Denver but am open to other options. will leave the tow vehicle and trailer at a hotel while we go riding.

Basic plan is to ride a big circle of something like 1500 miles over 5-7 days. Daughter will be on FJR again while I'll be on Goldwing with the wife.

In my college days I went over Loveland Pass and would like to do that again plus pass thru monument valley. other than that we're open.

couple questions:

will loveland pass likely be open and safe (no ice) by the end of May?

what routes and stops are recommended?

other comments or suggestions are welcome.

as always thx in advance. some readers might remember my report of training my daughter and my hope we'd get to resume our annual road trips during her military service. this will be her 3rd summer as a marine and we're finally going to get on the road again together.

 

[phroenips]

Planning a road trip beginning and ending around Denver for late spring/early summer 2013.

Daughter will be flying in from Camp LeJuene and I will be trailering bikes from MN. I'm assuming I'd pick her up in Denver but am open to other options. will leave the tow vehicle and trailer at a hotel while we go riding.

Basic plan is to ride a big circle of something like 1500 miles over 5-7 days. Daughter will be on FJR again while I'll be on Goldwing with the wife.

In my college days I went over Loveland Pass and would like to do that again plus pass thru monument valley. other than that we're open.

couple questions:

will loveland pass likely be open and safe (no ice) by the end of May?

what routes and stops are recommended?

other comments or suggestions are welcome.

as always thx in advance. some readers might remember my report of training my daughter and my hope we'd get to resume our annual road trips during her military service. this will be her 3rd summer as a marine and we're finally going to get on the road again together.

*Should* be ok, but a stray storm isn't out of the question at that time of year (really, it never is at altitude).

Check out some of the routes I put together for SW-FOG last year, which was based out of Salida, CO: https://www.sw-fog.com/routes.php

These are all loops centering around Salida, but should give you some ideas. If you can make it to the southwest part of the state, the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray is supposed to be magnificent (I have yet to make it down there even though I live in the state!)

 

[Jim in Phoenix]

Mainly keep an eye on the weather. I have made 3 trips to ride Colorado in early June and found Rocky Mountain National Park closed due to snow in 08 and open, and practically clear and snow free last year. You will find great riding wherever the weather permits. Just be advised that the road repair crews get out as soon as the weather permits and the Weather Channel does not track their activities.

 

[phroenips]

Mainly keep an eye on the weather. I have made 3 trips to ride Colorado in early June and found Rocky Mountain National Park closed due to snow in 08 and open, and practically clear and snow free last year. You will find great riding wherever the weather permits. Just be advised that the road repair crews get out as soon as the weather permits and the Weather Channel does not track their activities.

That's a good point. CDOT does a pretty good job on their site though

 

[marcusorelius]

Some of the Awesome sights around the million dollar hwy Area!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI7W5sbvypA

 

[GinaMcD]

We did the Million Dollar Highway from north to south in 2004, and south to north in 2007. Of all the CO roads we covered on those two trips, it's the one that stands out the most in my mind. Both trips were in early June and all the roads were open, but I've heard other years it's been a much different story. Have a great time!