Colorado in August 2009

[Stephane]

Planning a trip to Colorado in August 2009.
Looking for advice on:

1) Great sites not to be missed;
2) Great roads not be missed;
3) Any advice on Colorado weather in August.

Thanks in advance!
Steve

[redclfco]

Colorado is full of great roads to travel, and if you search "colorado" on this and ADVenture riders, many are laid out to the tee.

Alot depends if you want a tourist loop, or you want to destination over several days or week.

One of my favoites goes like this!

Ft Collins (Fort Fun) up the Cache La Poudre Canyon to Northpark towads Grand Lake. Go South to Leadville, Then through Leadville to Twin Lakes, and over Independence pass to Aspen. Go west from Aspen to Carbondale, then South to the turn off for Kebler Pass (GS Dirt Fun!) Go East over Kebler, and end up in Crested Butte. Crested butte South East to Gunnison, Buena Vista to Leadville, to Grand lake to Trail Ridge Road to Estes park. Estes park southeast to Lyons, Lyons south to Bouder. Take it easy back to Fort Collins, or THEN plan a another loop! If you stop and enjoy this loop, take four days. If you just want to ride it to say you have been there, count on two days. Stay away from I-70 (BORING) and I-25 leads you down the road to front range smoggy hell. There is better ways to go.

Don't miss the explorer Bookstore in Aspen if you like the best of the best in books and pie.

Don't miss the Rio Grande Mex Resteraunt in Fort Fun

Don't miss spending some time in Crested Butte

Too many places to do this route justice...follow the links, you will find just about everything!

August is mighty fine weather...expect a shower in the afternoons, but other than that tourists season blocks the roads with idiots in cages...

Whew...I wore myself out...must be winterland in Minnesota!

[sibud]

Planning a trip to Colorado in August 2009.
Looking for advice on:

1) Great sites not to be missed;
2) Great roads not be missed;
3) Any advice on Colorado weather in August.

Thanks in advance!
Steve

My riding buddy and I will be in SW Colorado the last full week in August. Based in Ouray. Red has pointed out some great rides.

Advice on weather? Be prepared for anything. But the last 3 times we have been there the end of August, it is mostly sunny and dry with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms EVERY day.

[sfarson]

Stephane...

Visit the Colorado Scenic Byways site here:

http://www.coloradobyways.org/Main.cfm

Every byway is two wheeled bliss. They will take you to destinations and along historical routes. You'll have a great ride and trip.

[redrider]

Can suggest the following as Statdawg and I rode through here last July.

Durango to Silverton, Ouray and Montrose. Very good roads and the views between Siverton and Ouray will take your breath away as will the vertical off the 550.
Info can be had on the local websites and I most enjoyed the hot pools in Ouray.
Ride rt 50 out of Montrose till you can cross over to rt 92 which will take you through "Black Canyon of the Gunnison" not to be missed. You can then go through Paonia and pick up the 133 into Carbondale. Just a small part of one of the most beautiful states in the US.

If you choose camping be aware that it can go below freezing above 10K ft. Be prepared....I wasn't.

[redclfco]

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is right up there as a great destination, with free rustic GS camping along the base of the dunes. There is lots of pay camp spots next to the winnibagos, but free camping can be had with a GS, and challanging on an RT...Cottonwoods and privacy with the Dunes out your back door...

[OUTBACKUFO]

Places to see...

Rocky Mtn National Park... ride it on a week day early in the morning... watch out for Ice even in August up high... up to 12,000ft.

Glenwood Springs...
Worlds larges outdoors Hot springs pool. Yamah Vapor Caves.. Hanging Lake hike... the Fairey Caves... go on the wild tour. cheeper hotels than Aspen...

Stop and see the castle and historic inn in Redstone

Colorado National Park... good ride through...

Ride the Umcompange Range ride on CO 141 or 142...
CO HW 133
HWY 550
CO 13 from Rifle to Meeker is nice

to eat at

White House Pizza , in Carbondale
Bella Mia in El Jebel

Good brew pub in Durango and Glenwood

I do warn people about Kebler Pass.... in the summer the cars drive it normally a bit too fast on the dirt and cut the inside corners on the upper section in the Aspen groves...

Crusty Butt (Crested Butte) is a fun town so is the bar in Silverton.

[bikerfish1100]

are you talking days of August or weeks of August? it makes a difference.

[glennhendricks]

Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista to Taylor Park is a great ride, dirt road and not a huge amount of traffic. From Taylor Park you can go north to the Aspen area via jeep roads.

Eat Breakfast at the Sunshine Cafe in Dillon.

Stop at Coors Tavern in Pueblo and ask for a 'slopper'. Open face cheeseburger served in a bowl filled with green chili. For that matter nearly any bar in Pueblo serves sloppers.

Red Mountain Pass is very good. Shrine Pass over the back side of Vail is a nice dirt road.

Peak to Peak highway from Central City to Estes Park is a really nice two lane with great views of the divide.

[Stephane]

are you talking days of August or weeks of August? it makes a difference.

At this point it looks like it will be a 2 week stint there.

Steve

[THOMPSONR]

We have gone to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National park every year for the last 6 years two of those years we went twice. We just love Estes and the Rocky Mountain Park and canÔÇÖt get enough of it! I would only add if you go there you need to ride US 34 Loveland to Estes through Big Thompson Canyon. Hwy 7 also beautiful drive. If you ride GS type bikes Fall River Road is a gravel road one way to the top of R.M.N.P.

Truth of the matter all of Colorado is beautiful full of great roads nice folks and much more than anyone can see in a couple of weeks. Hope you guys and gals livin out there know how jealous I am. Only good thing is I am only 8 hrs away!

If you go south and you do one thing off the bike ride the Durango Silverton Steam train. Oh my God the scenery on that trip is over the top and you get to sit and take it all in! I wont tell you to have fun you cant help but have fun!


One of the many stops in Rocky Mountain National Park

[THOMPSONR]

Couldnt not post one more RMNP near Alpine Center

[bikerfish1100]

this is the Fall River Rd..

(didn't have my GS yet, but the KLR was an easy fun ride up it)

next time you head up 34 to Estes, take the turn-off at Drake to Glen Haven. MUCH better than the top half of the canyon, with none to little of the traffic. And, you get this view at the top...

(tho the Duc and my son are not likely to be there)

2 weeks will give you lots of time to play around- and that's a real good thing!

[THOMPSONR]

Have been on the Drake to Haven many times tight turnes and love the switchbacks near Haven but the Canyon cant be missed. Do em both!!!!



Photo of creek that runs along the Drake to Haven road.

[184480]

If your out this way on Aug. 1 you could do the 100,000 Foot ride. Its a great day of riding a planned route of about 500 miles around scenic Colorado with breakfast, lunch and a catered dinner. T-Shirt too!
Click link for more info:

http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/28/37/