Denver to Vegas

[Matrix]

I remember a few threads a year or so ago detailing a couple of good routes between here and Vegas but they must have been lost with the site crash. I recreated them to the best of my knowledge but does anyone have any suggestions to improve this? (Assume summer time weather)

Denver to Cortez:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Denver,+CO&daddr=38.3923 2,-107.48567+to:37.73179,-107.75093+to:Cortez,+CO&geocode=FRJfXgIdgQ---SnPFx8jqoBrhzHWNoon-PSOEQ%3BFQDSSQIdGuaX-Skn9LnIDXI_hzFvW_pYhljHvQ%3BFc69PwId7tmT-Skv3CRvwcM-hzEl42h8p768qg%3BFRPmOQIdOhyH-SkhwZxxl285hzFHL4MlCXmwWg&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrs p=2&sz=9&via=1,2&sll=37.692514,-107.597351&sspn=0.964976,2.694397&ie=UTF8&ll=37.74 9001,-107.542419&spn=0.96424,2.694397&z=9

Cortez to Vegas:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Cortez,+CO&daddr=36.6944 2,-111.90195+to:Las+Vegas,+NV&geocode=FRPmOQIdOhyH-SkhwZxxl285hzFHL4MlCXmwWg%3BFZTpLwIdAoNU-SltJBINEIc0hzFa45RbhlKbaw%3BFdYQJwIdMJoi-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=7&vi a=1&sll=36.730785,-111.88427&sspn=3.909138,10.777588&ie=UTF8&ll=35.54 1166,-111.379395&spn=3.968773,10.777588&z=7

[JDK1962]

IMHO, you'd be missing out if your route didn't include the Utah 12. I posted my ride report on ADV (maps included).

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=612383

[asp_125]

Red Mtn Pass is fine if you haven't done it before. But depending on time of year, it could be as slow as P2P or Trail Ridge, with trucks and RVs putting along. I've done it a few times and now I prefer the route further west on 145 thru Ridgeway Rico and Dolores, with faster sweepers and less traffic.

A different option to Durango is from Gunnison to Lake City and then over Wolf Creek Pass.

Hmmm.. now this looks interesting. But definitely dual sport if it says Forest Service Rd.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...2,2.123108&z=9

[TinkerinWstuff]

so many roads, so little f'n time

[Mista Black]

if i were going denver to LV (edit) on a bike? and going to split it into a two day ride - w a stop in cortez (edit).... this is the route to take, IMHO.....

Day 1 - denver to cortez
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,1.682281&z=10

Day 2 - cortez to LV
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...1,3.364563&z=9

[TinkerinWstuff]

if i were going denver to cortez on a bike? and going to split it into a two day ride.... this is the route to take, IMHO.....

Day 1
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,1.682281&z=10

Day 2
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...1,3.364563&z=9

You're showing that as cortez in one day and vegas the 2nd day.

Your not doing that day 1 trip all in one shot in a cage let alone a bike. All nice roads you've picked but that's a ball buster for one day. My cousin lives in Cortez, I hunt down there, and make the trip a couple times a year.

[Mista Black]

I've done an 1100 mile day without hitting much interstate before. It's not hard to do if you don't stop much or for long.

[longrider]

You're showing that as cortez in one day and vegas the 2nd day.

Your not doing that day 1 trip all in one shot in a cage let alone a bike. All nice roads you've picked but that's a ball buster for one day. My cousin lives in Cortez, I hunt down there, and make the trip a couple times a year.

I disagree, I have done exactly the planned route in one day with no problems. I dont take a bunch of long breaks when riding, but that was with a lunch stop and gas stops every 100 -150 miles

EDIT: I was referring to joe's route posted in the first post, Mista Black's route would be doable but that would be a LOOONG day

[TinkerinWstuff]

you guys got bigger stones than me. Driving direct routes and freeway in the pickup it's 9.5hrs from 'tez to Ft. Collins. I'd do it on the VFR but those mountain twisties make it that much more draining.

My chiropractor would make a fortune off me after attempting that route in one shot.

EDIT: yes, I've done Joe's route from the original post in the truck. I would do that route on my bike as well.

[asp_125]

Don't forget unlike slabbing it, riding twisties through those areas usually demands photo ops. Fastest I've done from Durango to Saguache to Denver was 6.5hrs stopping only for gas / pee breaks. More likely it's an 8-10hr ride to Cortez.

[Matrix]

Yeah my intent was to make Cortez the stopping point for day one. That would give a little time to enjoy the ride. Good tips on the different routes. Looks like its pretty close to what I remembered being posted.

[TinkerinWstuff]

As a matter of fact, there is really no one way from Denver to Cortez that's "better" or even "faster" than another. You can go interstate to Moab, down through Utah, and drop back in to Cortez just as fast as any other route through the mountain passes.

I've gone down through Pueblo past the Dunes. I've gone through Moab. 285, 550, Gunnison River, just about every way imaginable. They are all the same as far as time is concerned. Pick a route through an area you haven't seen and go for it!

[asp_125]

if i were going denver to LV (edit) on a bike? and going to split it into a two day ride - w a stop in cortez (edit).... this is the route to take, IMHO.....

Day 1 - denver to cortez
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,1.682281&z=10

...

Oh yeah. We split that route into 2x6hr days back in September. 141 through Gateway is a definite must do. So is 65 over the Grand Mesa

[Mista Black]

Oh yeah. We split that route into 2x6hr days back in September. 141 through Gateway is a definite must do. So is 65 over the Grand Mesa

definitely two of the best roads in the state!

[Matrix]

definitely two of the best roads in the state!

547 miles makes for one long day but its pretty tempting. Day 2 would be close to that same amount as well. Day 3 would need to be a day of r&r!

[Mista Black]

Yeah, those would be long days if you're still riding the Gix. I ride BMWs, so a bit more comfort on the long hauls.

[RCStylin']

Interstate just past Green River to Hanksville...55 miles in 25 minutes

[Mista Black]

Interstate just past Green River to Hanksville...55 miles in 25 minutes

lol

I got a $700+ speeding ticket on that stretch of road in '95 or '96.

[Bashed]

Interstate just past Green River to Hanksville...55 miles in 25 minutes

Musta had a malfunctioning throttle to take that long thru there.

lol

I got a $700+ speeding ticket on that stretch of road in '95 or '96.

You can outrun the car, but you cant outrun the radio, eh?

[RCStylin']

+1 yeah my buddy got a 375$ ticket going through the red something national park a few miles from there. He happened to be in front of me and I had the detector.

[Mista Black]

I had just left Canyon Lands and was heading north towards Hanksville... at 106 if i recall correctly. lol

[PsychoMike]

+1 yeah my buddy got a 375$ ticket going through the red something national park a few miles from there. He happened to be in front of me and I had the detector.