Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway

[mtnairlover]

I've been riding/driving the scenic byways here in Colorado since January. Friday (the 25th) was my first ride on a byway. I wanted to see the Grand Mesa...it's the largest flat-top mountain in the world, plus it has breathtaking views. It's in western Colorado, so to get there and back in one day, we did have to take the highway to get there. The road begins at mile marker 49 on I-70, so that's about 220 miles west.

Anywho, enough of my babbling...check out some pix and/or my blog at mtnairloversview.wordpress.com (http://mtnairloversview.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/exploring-colorados-25-scenic-and-historic-byways-a-two-year-tour-by-sport-bike-auto-and-4x4-byway-5/). I'm riding/driving all 25 byways over the next two years.

There's a road that goes out to a point called Land's End along the byway. This road is 12 miles, but with about 5.5 miles of dirt. The views are spectacular at the point. The Grand Mesa rim stands at about 10,000 feet above sea level. The only thing that wasn't so nice about the views on Friday was the haze....

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_lands-end_zed_052512.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_lands-end-haze_052512.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_creek-waterfall_052512.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_duc_riders_mesa-sign_052512.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_bikes_riders_copper-mtn_052512.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/GM_raber-cow-camp_zed_052512.jpg

Edit: total round-trip miles on my odo = 595 miles

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/Grand%20Mesa/grand_mesa_google_map.jpg

[madvlad]

Very nice, wish I had the time to do this type of travel.

[mtnairlover]

If you've got a full day free, then this ride was 13 hours total. :)

[Matrix]

Sweet ride. Thanks for posting. A lot of highway but some pretty cool scenery.

[mtnairlover]

Yeah, that's the thing about trying to do the Byways tours. A lot of the time, because of where the byway is in Colorado, I have to plan a route that takes the least amount of time to get to the byway, which unfortunately means highway time. Meh...because it's Colorado, it's still worth it. :)

There are other Byways that I will be touring in June with the potential to have less highway time. One route with about 40 miles of dirt, as well. I can't wait to see the sights.

[mastap07]

very cool! thanks for sharing!

[salsashark]

Even though I got separated from the rest of the group, I took the same route home from Delta. I can't wait to go back and actually enjoy McClure Pass...

Yeah, there was quite a bit of highway, but what's the big deal? Got to pay to play! If you spend all your time riding the same roads within 40 miles of Denver, what fun is that? Get out there and see more of the state/country/whatever!

Thanks again Cathy for setting this up... can't wait for more.

[sfarson]

Yes, Land's End and the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is excellent. Thanks for the pics. And yes again, 133 along the Paonia Reservoir, to and over McClure Pass is one of the best.

[aerofaze]

Very nice, Cathy! I love that area. The Grand Mesa is especially gorgeous in autumn, too...

[Ghost]

Looks like a good ride overall, even with some slab

[Nvr2late]

Anytime I get to see the beauty that Colorado has to offer while doing it on 2 wheels with good friends makes for a great trip. Thanks for having me along for the adventure Cathy!!

[Sean]

Yup, that's my back yard! It's to bad I had other riding plans, I would have loved to meet up with you.

[BC14]

Yup, that's my back yard! It's to bad I had other riding plans, I would have loved to meet up with you.
I'm sure we'll be out that way again this year, more than once.

[fasterlaster]

Great trip report Kathy. Makes me want to ditch work today.

[Sean]

I'm sure we'll be out that way again this year, more than once.I hope so. :hibye:

[asp_125]

Plan a trip out when the fall colors blow up on the Grand Mesa! :up:

[CaptGoodvibes]

Looks like a fun day!

[FZRguy]

I've done a couple of multi-day rides over the Grand Mesa. The lodge in Cedaredge is very nice, and the Mesa on a Monday morning is Zen like. The S curves from the De Beque Cutoff to I-70 go on for miles and are "just right" for a sporting pace. Been a few years, so will be hitting it up later this summer.

http://www.thecedaredgelodge.com/index.html

[CaptGoodvibes]

http://www.thecedaredgelodge.com/index.html

Thanks for the link!

[mtnairlover]

Love the looks of that lodge! Hmmm...anniversary time? lol...maybe that's pushing it.

I cannot wait for the next byway tour (potentially combining two byways north of I-70). I've got a good idea where the next one will take us, but the date hinges on whether my ignition issue will be resolved by then...crossing fingers. I'll be taking the Zed to Supertune tomorrow (thanks Salsa).

Oh and yes, Grand Mesa in Fall is an excellent choice for color viewing (thanks for the reminder, Jeff). The aspen are all over the place. I can see doing an over-nighter at the Cedaredge Lodge with a certain warm and cuddly someone and enjoying the views from the Mesa in the evening.

[Jmetz]

If you spend all your time riding the same roads within 40 miles of Denver, what fun is that? Get out there and see more of the state/country/whatever!

Agreed. I'm doing some diversifying myself. While not all roads are twisted bliss, the scenery and being somewhere you haven't, usually make up for it.

Looks like it was a nice run.

[powers]

We hit the Grand Mesa last year on a 3 day trip. I have lived here for ~22 years of my life and never been over it :slap:. I didn't have much time for sight seeing as I was trying to catch up to my group, but it was a great ride. I had the road to myself and only stopped a few times to txt my location.

The only other bike I saw was a sport bike turning on to the road down by the river - the big sweeping curves. I could tell he wanted to play, but I was hauling ass so he only hung for a few curves.

Would love to hit it again this year, minus the crap Chinese rear I had to buy in Montrose with ~$60 mounting fee :mad: