Colorado Road Plans for June

[Goodman4]

I've nailed down most of the Utah and AZ parts of our SW trip in June, and I've got a tentative plan now for seeing some of the best roads in SW and central CO. I wanted to run them by you guys to see if there are any kinks or major omissions.

We plan to come up 550 from Durango after doing Monument Valley then stay in Montrose. Then ride E on 50 to do Hwy 92 (Black Canyon). Then take 133 up to Carbondale to come E across Independence Pass on 82. Then 24 to Colorado Springs to do Pikes Peak and relax a day before slabbing it home.

This is our 29th anniversary trip so we aren't pushing the miles super heavy, but we both like the twisties and scenery so that is a big factor.

Here is the second half of the route so far

Thanks,

Paul

 

[BakerBoy]

Paul, my favorite sections of Colorado roads are listed here: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?140894-Colorado-Best-Rides

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I have one suggestion. A STRONG suggestion.

Do NOT turn south on hwy 191 and cross back into Arizona. That section of 160 between 191 and the four corners is awful. Just continue East, Hwy 163 turns into 191 turns into 162 turns into 41 at the Colorado border. Then you can turn right (SW) on 160 and see the 4 corners monument if that is your goal. It is worth it to do that small backtrack.

On 163 just North of Monument Valley you will pass Mexican Hat. The rock formation will be on your right after you leave town.



After Mexican Hat a short side trip left on Hwy 261 then a left to Goosenecks State Park might be worth your time.







I strongly approve of your road choices in Colorado, it is impossible to see it all. Your route is a good one.

When you leave Montrose on Hwy 50 headed to Hwy 92 are you going to visit The Black Canyon of the Gunnison? It is a worthwhile stop.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I've been thinking about making Colorado my summer riding goal, so these look like good links. I'm going to bookmark this thread, but be advised, looks like you'll have to register with ST-Owners dot com to see that second set of rides in Baker Boy's post.

 

[Twigg]

Colorado DOT has a bunch of scenic routes, with descriptions, on the website.

 

[Goodman4]

I have one suggestion. A STRONG suggestion.
Do NOT turn south on hwy 191 and cross back into Arizona. That section of 160 between 191 and the four corners is awful. Just continue East, Hwy 163 turns into 191 turns into 162 turns into 41 at the Colorado border. Then you can turn right (SW) on 160 and see the 4 corners monument if that is your goal. It is worth it to do that small backtrack.

On 163 just North of Monument Valley you will pass Mexican Hat. The rock formation will be on your right after you leave town.



After Mexican Hat a short side trip left on Hwy 261 then a left to Goosenecks State Park might be worth your time.





I strongly approve of your road choices in Colorado, it is impossible to see it all. Your route is a good one.

When you leave Montrose on Hwy 50 headed to Hwy 92 are you going to visit The Black Canyon of the Gunnison? It is a worthwhile stop.

Thanks, Redfish. Goosenecks looks worth seeing and is very close. I have already adjusted the 191 S section out per your advice. What is there to see at 4 corners itself? Is that really worth doubling back for?

As to Black Canyon, that is on our optional list and I hope to get to do that. It's a little late in the trip, so we'll see how that goes.

Thanks for your other advice when we started the planning, too. Your advice and then specifically directing me to Mark's trip report was core to the plan. I have patterned most of our Utah routes after it. I appreciate that a lot. I have looked at the guided tour you took at Page and have a question. How much time did that take and how much walking? We'll be in Page on Sunday night after the North Rim and that will be the evening of our anniversary, so we won't want to push too late in the day to get in the way of dinner.

 

[Goodman4]

Paul, my favorite sections of Colorado roads are listed here: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?140894-Colorado-Best-Rides

Thanks, I looked all these up and it makes me feel better about the main three choices I had. Also I will try to add the Divide to Cripple Creek ride you have listed if possible. My hope for Colorado is to enjoy the sampling enough to make another trip in 2016 to do RMNP and many of the other great rides you have here.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

The Four Corners Monument...

I don't want to offend anyone so I will try to be civil.

The novelty of standing in 4 states at once is obvious, but how much is it worth? The monument itself is about all it could or should be, I am glad I saw it. Once. You will pay a Navajo Land Usage Fee. It is fairly insignificant in the budget for a vacation like you are taking but it really irritates me. In order to see these FEDERALLY determined STATE boundaries you have to pay the Navajo Nation.

Once there you will be surrounded by Genuine Navajo Merchandise.

If you have never seen it, by all means do so. Once.

It may be worth your time. This is how happy it made Pop:



I will never set foot there again. YMMV.

 

[Bugnatr]

I agree with Redfish except if you have somewhere better to go skip 4 corners. Boring roads to get there and nothing but a tourist trap. We were there around 8 am and no charge to get in and no trinkets on sale yet- too early I guess.

I won't set my feet there again either.

 

[Goodman4]

Good advice. I'll keep Four Corners optional. Thanks!

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Paul;

Just a couple comments from someone with not much experience with Colorado, after looking at your route. I made the trip last September, with a couple buddies. It was my first time in Colorado. I WILL be going back.

1) Colorado 92 on the north side of the river was one of my favorite roads on that trip. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray is the most scenic road I have ever been on. You will enjoy the hell out of both of those, but for slightly different reasons. 550 has unreal scenery, but may have plenty of traffic, so be careful when gawking at the beauty. 92 will probably have less traffic, and while the scenery is still fabulous, it is a road that contains enough entertainment that you may want to increase the pace a bit, if you know what I mean. You WILL like both of those roads.

2) The road up Mount Evans is beautiful. If you get that far north, it's worth doing.

3) I see you're going through Kansas City. You MUST have the ribs at Oklahoma Joe's. (OK, all you barbecue experts, go ahead and rip away. I like their ribs. You may like others better). If you use their carry-out service, call ahead, and your order will be ready for pickup. That will save you at least a half hour of standing in line. My FJR riding buddy and I have discussed making the 840 mile round trip in one day, just to have their ribs for lunch. I know, we're not very bright. But we like the ribs.

Enjoy the trip, and I'll be looking forward to your road report when you're back.

 

[Powershouse]

+1 on the Goosenecks stop. Surprised there was no mention of the Mokee Dugway.

 

[LCB]

+1 to Black Canyon of the Gunnison

+1 to Mt Evans (and it's close to Loveland Pass, US 6)

+1 to NOT bothering with 4 Corners, it wasn't worth it...

+1 to CO 92 & CO 133 (fun!)

Add to the "If we have time" list:

CO 65 - Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (watch for critters)

Mesa Verde Natl Park (you're going right past the entrance)

I 70 thru Glenwood Canyon (a feat of engineering)

If you don't have one already, get a National Park Pass - best $80 I spend every year!

When it comes to twisties & scenery, Colorado is hard to beat. When you go back (and you WILL go back...) to find new roads or re-trace some of the old ones, it never gets old or boring.

 

[Tyler]

+1 on the Goosenecks stop. Surprised there was no mention of the Mokee Dugway.

Mokee Dugway is an incredible ascent in a very short amount of mileage and the view is amazing... but it is hard-packed dirt (except for in the corners where there is pavement but lots of dirt/rocks/sand too) and washboard rough... might not be real enjoyable 2-up. YMMV.

 

[ndivita]

Oklahoma Joe's has undergone a name change.

https://www.joeskc.com

Still great. But there are many great places to get bbq in and around KC if that's your deal.

 

[Goodman4]

As to Moki Dugway, I had never heard of that and it looks awesome. I've watched several videos of cruisers doing the road so I am thinking it probably isn't too difficult. Tyler, those pics are better than any others I've seen online of the dugway. Great capture of the size and beauty. Tammy gets very nervous on gravel though. I am pretty comfortable on it, and only have trouble on the large thick gravel. I scared her once on the VTX near home on a road about 5 years ago and can't get her past it. She's done ok since then a few times, but I don't know if she will be up to this.

The day we will go by Moki will be the day of our anniversary, so I guess I could say 29 years is enough and just go across it without warning her.

But after 29 years she is much more likely to kill me than divorce me and I really want to see those Colorado roads.

I guess my best bet is to see how the ride is going and if we are feeling adventuresome, I will ride the 7 miles up to see it. Since our route is 163 and I have to turn around and go back anyway, I can take her to that first pulloff and decide whether to go on up and back with her, skip it entirely, or drop her off while I go the 2 miles up and back by myself and then pick her up. I think she'll still be there as she's stuck around for a lot more than that.

make me not as certain.

 

[Goodman4]

Paul;Just a couple comments from someone with not much experience with Colorado, after looking at your route. I made the trip last September, with a couple buddies. It was my first time in Colorado. I WILL be going back.

1) Colorado 92 on the north side of the river was one of my favorite roads on that trip. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray is the most scenic road I have ever been on. You will enjoy the hell out of both of those, but for slightly different reasons. 550 has unreal scenery, but may have plenty of traffic, so be careful when gawking at the beauty. 92 will probably have less traffic, and while the scenery is still fabulous, it is a road that contains enough entertainment that you may want to increase the pace a bit, if you know what I mean. You WILL like both of those roads.

2) The road up Mount Evans is beautiful. If you get that far north, it's worth doing.

3) I see you're going through Kansas City. You MUST have the ribs at Oklahoma Joe's. (OK, all you barbecue experts, go ahead and rip away. I like their ribs. You may like others better). If you use their carry-out service, call ahead, and your order will be ready for pickup. That will save you at least a half hour of standing in line. My FJR riding buddy and I have discussed making the 840 mile round trip in one day, just to have their ribs for lunch. I know, we're not very bright. But we like the ribs.

Enjoy the trip, and I'll be looking forward to your road report when you're back.

I'm pretty sure Mt Evans will have to wait till the next trip.

I'll keep Joe's in mind when going thru. Been to lots of places in KC since my brother lived in Independence and I spent a few weeks there a few different summers.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I chose not to do the Moki Dugway for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason was that I was afraid Dear Old Dad would beat the crap out of me if I led him up that dirt/gravel road. Yes, I am scared of him.

To answer your earlier question about Antelope Canyon, yes there is some walking but it is not terrible. You have two options, Upper Antelope and Lower Antelope. I chose Lower Antelope and I have been through it twice. I think it is the more beautiful of the two and it is the least accessible. There are some ladders both up and down but it is not bad. It is well worth the walk. When you are in the canyon itself the last thing you will notice will be how far you have to walk. It is truly a magical experience.

If it helps any (and I hope it does) I have a couple of RRs on Colorado, The Big Ditch, and some other stuff Out West. They are "Redfish Climbs Colorado" and "Redfish Hunter Goes West." My pics are not as good as Tyler's but they may help.

This is the crack in the ground you enter:





The ladders are more like steps. Note the "I'm gonna kick your butt" look on the faces of my Dad and Cousin.





The canyon is just West of the Navajo Power Generating Plant. If you find the Plant, and you cannot miss it, you have found the canyon.

 

[Spud]

Nice route. The whole section from Durango up around Black Canyon then HWY 92 (one of the best anywhere) around Carbondale then up over Centennial Pass after Aspen is fantastic. If you have time for a side trip near Pikes Peak, consider stopping at Cripple Creek for lunch. Bizarre--a little casino town up there all alone. Quite a fun ride to get up to it. https://www.visitcripplecreek.com/attractions