California -> Colorado -> Georgia

[needles]

Hey All-

Looks like a great site! I'm from San Jose, California. I am going to be riding my V-Strom back to Georgia 5/29-6/10 to see my family but stopping in Boulder to see my buddy from college.

I was planning on coming from Moab via 50 into Colorado over Monarch Pass then 24 to 70 into Boulder. Any suggestions on a better route? I figure take 2 days to Boulder from Moab as Colorado looks to have a lot of good riding.

I've been scanning the weather and the lows in the higher places (Leadville and Monarch Pass) seem to be floating in the 30's & 40's with rain. Is that typical this time of year? Am I likely to get stuck in a snowstorm? I've ridden through much of the Sierra Nevada here in California, so I'm used to the mountains. Are there things in Colorado to keep an eye out for that might be different than California? Are the passes as unforgiving as the weather makes them out to be?

Any suggestions on the route out of Boulder to Kansas?

Thanks!

Dan

[pilot]

In Utah try and hit 12 through Escalante--you won't regret it. Then cut across south and go through Monument Valley. Head over into Colorado any number of ways and pass through Ridgeway and Telluride. I'll leave some other fun roads to others to post up. No need whoring myself out to you, ha.

Have a great ride. And yes, bring good rain gear (don't forget extra gloves and socks).

[CaptGoodvibes]

Hey Needles! I lived the last 15 years off and on in the Santa Cruz mountains. If you want some of those kinds of roads, PM me and I'll fill you in on a few that you will like.

[needles]

Hey Needles! I lived the last 15 years off and on in the Santa Cruz mountains. If you want some of those kinds of roads, PM me and I'll fill you in on a few that you will like.

Cools! Where would you go for roads like 9 & 35? I'm less of a goat trail-er as I'm going to need to make some distance, but want to see some cool stuff.

How much is snow/black ice, grit & gravel in corners this time of year? Is it much like the Sierra Nevada this time of year?

[asp_125]

Hah, we might pass each other. We're riding out to Durango this weekend!

From Moab one option is to go southeast thru Cortez to Durango, then north on US 550 (the million dollar highway) over Red Mtn Pass to Montrose before turning east over Monarch. Stop at Black Canyon of the Gunnison or the Blue Mesa Reservoir if time permits. Turn north at Poncha Springs towards Buena Vista. If time permits do a side trip on 82 to Independence Pass if it's plowed and clear. Otherwise continue north on 24 up through Redcliff and Minturn; nice sweepers and twisties. Then slab it east on I-70 over Vail Pass, Copper Mtn, and into Frisco. Turn south onto US 6 at Dillon and go over old Hwy 6 and Loveland Pass. Rejoin I-70 and exit at Idaho Springs, connect to the Central City Parkway north, and ride CO-119 (Peak to Peak hwy) to Nederland, then head east down Boulder Canyon into Boulder.

[asp_125]

Not much danger of black ice, beware on the +10,000ft passes if weather is immanent, this time of year could bring fast moving snow squalls. Most blow over within hours. Sand / gravel is always present in the high country, on the two lane twisties. Most of the route I've mentioned is pretty clear now.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Welcome! Sounds like an awesome ride. Have fun, and be careful!

Try this site:
http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/

Best of luck!

[CaptGoodvibes]

Hah, we might pass each other. We're riding out to Durango this weekend!

From Moab one option is to go southeast thru Cortez to Durango, then north on US 550 (the million dollar highway) over Red Mtn Pass to Montrose before turning east over Monarch. Stop at Black Canyon of the Gunnison or the Blue Mesa Reservoir if time permits. Turn north at Poncha Springs towards Buena Vista. If time permits do a side trip on 82 to Independence Pass if it's plowed and clear. Otherwise continue north on 24 up through Redcliff and Minturn; nice sweepers and twisties. Then slab it east on I-70 over Vail Pass, Copper Mtn, and into Frisco. Turn south onto US 6 at Dillon and go over old Hwy 6 and Loveland Pass. Rejoin I-70 and exit at Idaho Springs, connect to the Central City Parkway north, and ride CO-119 (Peak to Peak hwy) to Nederland, then head east down Boulder Canyon into Boulder.

Damn Jeff! beat me to it... This is just about what I was going to suggest ;)

[asp_125]

Welcome! Sounds like an awesome ride. Have fun, and be careful!

Try this site:
http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/

Best of luck!

Great site! I could waste many hours of work time on there.

[needles]

Thanks All! The weather looks good (aside from Tuesday). I might take an extra day in Moab so the sun is shining when I'm coming through. Colorado is too good to miss by a full day of rain.:)

Looking forward to it!

Dan

[needles]

Hey All-

I'm in Colorado! I'm in Montrose tonight and thinking about this route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=1982293411549492930,40.397790,-105.674340&saddr=Montrose,+CO&daddr=38.470794,-106.578369+to:Trail+Ridge+Rd%2FUS-34+%4040.397790,+-105.674340+to:Boulder,+CO&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=1&sll=39.46288,-106.86173&sspn=3.596176,8.393555&ie=UTF8&z=7) for tomorrow.

Thoughts on it vs going via Idaho Springs?

Dan

[CaptGoodvibes]

Good plan. Here's what I would do instead... (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=17670752546271465686,38.488100,-107.858960%3B15237530991236132523,38.521170,-106.081920%3B6158690632512762295,39.221260,-105.993580%3B11541718351193941553,39.591750,-106.095170%3B14694568767562831970,39.607764,-105.956770%3B12610125484253691463,39.680381,-105.894598%3B600521225357064540,39.761070,-105.683100%3B10410609683541259046,40.089910,-105.957250%3B8446882385479937345,40.376786,-105.520818%3B12976149438870083818,40.167090,-105.461023%3B2157953220277705511,40.221420,-105.271590&saddr=E+Main+St%2FUS-50+%4038.488100,+-107.858960&daddr=US-50+%4038.521170,+-106.081920+to:CO-9%2FUS-285+%4039.221260,+-105.993580+to:Dillon+Dam+Rd+%4039.591750,+-106.095170+to:US-6+E+%4039.607764,+-105.956770+to:US-6+%4039.680381,+-105.894598+to:E+Park+Ave%2FUS-40+%4039.761070,+-105.683100+to:W+Agate+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.089910,+-105.957250+to:E+Elkhorn+Ave%2FUS-34-BR%2FUS-36+%4040.376786,+-105.520818+to:CO-7+%4040.167090,+-105.461023+to:5th+Ave+%4040.221420,+-105.271590+to:40.016046,-105.280266&mra=mi&mrcr=10&mrsp=11&sz=13&sll=40.034975,-105.281296&sspn=0.079385,0.187283&ie=UTF8&ll=39.414977,-105.606079&spn=2.56321,5.993042&z=8)

[Warren]

Good plan. Here's what I would do instead...

That is a great route. If you go that way keep your speed down once you get over berthoud pass. It is mostly straight roads to Grand Lake anyways and Grand County Cops don't have much to do this time of year. Watch out for pot holes and sand on Berthoud pass. It is fun, but just keep your eyes open, especially near the top of the pass. There are some big pot holes on the first and second switchbacks on the downhill side of the pass and also in the last switchback on the same side.

[needles]

Thanks for the tips Y'all. I had a great ride doing the above Google maps link. Ran into a light snow shower @ Loveland Pass, but that's part of the fun!

Once I sort through the pics, I'll post some up.

Thanks,

Dan

[needles]

Any thoughts on Denver -> Kansas?

[asp_125]

Any thoughts on Denver -> Kansas?

Yes... don't do Kansas! No, really... unless you're trying to make time. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz
:)

[asp_125]

I dunno how you are doing for time. But you should go north through the Black Hills of SD. Then slab it through Souix Falls, Omaha, and KS City. Then either through Arkansas or through St Louis & Tennesee and to Deals Gap before hitting Georgia.