Suggestions for day trips out of Keystone, CO

[lionlady]

I"ll be attending the AMA Women in Motorcycling Conference in Keystone, CO later this month.

I've already mapped out a couple of promising looking circuits. Another goal is to "bag" as many different high elevation signs as possible. My local club's year long riding contest is all about who can get the greatest total feet of elevation over the year. Mt. Evans and Pikes Peak are on my list, as well. (Ya'll say to allow a full day? Hmmm.)

P

[bikerfish1100]

if you want total greatest altitude in limited time, possibly forget Evans and certainly forget Pikes Peak. PP requires a large chunk of time (both climbing and getting to) for its numbers... you would be better served staying more local- Loveland (6), Fremont (91), Tennessee (24), Hoosier (9) & Monarch (50) are all within easy reach of Keysone.

Try this as a "southern route": from Keystone, head east on 6 over Loveland. I-70W thru the Eisenhower Tunnel, then depoart the interstte in Frisco, and head up 9 to Leadville. Stay on 24 to Buena Vista, then either head west over Cottonwood Pass. It's hard pack dirt on the western slope, paved on the east, some washboarding, but overall not a bad road (saw a Honda ST1100 on it last week). Flow that to Gunnison, then decide on either Monarch on 50, North Pass on 114 (a real fun route), or, if feeling very road hungry, head down 149 to Creed/Lake City over Slumgullion & Spring Creek Passes and return via 285 back up to Salida.

Going North, Trail Ridge in RMNP (34), Rabbit Ears Pass into Steamboat (40), Gore Pass (135) and Willow Creek Pass (125) are all beautiful rides. Also, taking Independence Pass (82) into Aspen then on over McClure (133) and slide down 92 toward Gunnison. Alternatively to enjoying 92 would be taking Kebler Pass into Crested Butte (connects just south of McClure Reservoir and comes into east side of CB. It's another easy dirt road)

[sfarson]

lionlady... Bikerfish (Joe) knoweth what he speaketh of. ;)

Although I think he means Paonia Reservoir instead of McClure. :bottle

[bikerfish1100]

lionlady... Bikerfish (Joe) knoweth what he speaketh of. ;)

Although I think he means Paonia Reservoir instead of McClure. :bottle

Paonia Reservoir. Yeah, isn't that what i said? (great road, stupidly low speed limits. Except for the occassional errant rock slide, it's great at about, well, let's just say "notably higher than posted" and it gets a really good rhythm about it).

Steve, i've got 3 days this week until i return to normal life. wanna ride?