It's all good Joe. My bud in Phx wants to take me on 191 when I go visit sometime in te next 12mos. Hopefully in either spring or fall. Never ever during summer.

 

The lower third of the trail is desert, the upper two thirds is forrest. There have been fires up there in the last few years - it's a dry state. Nothing in Arizona compares to the dense vegitation in your area.

Here's some pics of the upper end of the trail.

 

Look me up when you are coming out, I'll buy you beer or two.

 

You got yourself a deal.

 

Sfarson - Glad to hear that somebody is taking the time to place these rides in print.

My wife and I just got back from another 4-day ride through the Southern CO Rockies. And ever since we got back I've been trying to decide which is my favorite Colorado ride....but I've narrowed down the list and the Silver Thread is, IMO, the most beautiful one in Colorado.

When we rode it on Monday the traffic was very light, the colors were starting to turn and the weather was as good as it gets in Colorado.

W

 

How about the Million Dollar Hwy. Been across that a couple of times. Doesn't that have a lot of twisties and sweepers. Plus a couple of passes that are around 11,000ft.

 

I definitely plan to do the Million Dollar Hwy one of these days. Had not heard about 191 but it sounds like a must.

 

Have ridden 191 as well. It is a great one. The "opportunity area" would be better pavement. Many places where it is gritty and crumbling, but less so further north. How about that arrow tree.

You know, having ridden the Dragon I'm curious to see where the 318 curve count came from. Didn't see it significantly more curvy than numerous mountain roads I know of in the Rockies. Finally forced myself to watch a ride video a friend recorded from the resort to the lookout. I counted every single curve, even giving credit for the slightest of faint bends, and all I came up with was 187! Someone suggested that perhaps the 318 curves includes what is further north of the lookout. Maybe so, but the bends unfold and the distance increases as one moves away from the main Deals Gap resort - lookout section. It is one heckuva a twisty road, but there is a curve count exaggeration here.

Whiskers... It all comes together with CO 149/Silver Thread. And you note something that is key... minimal traffic. This is what has to be dealt with on the great San Juan Skyway/Million Dollar (Hint: Ride it early in the morning). BTW, have learned while cranking on the book how different a ride can be by changing the direction. FWIW, along with the book will be a companion web site along with images/ride videos of 170+ roads/chapters. Returned Monday from Cuchara (Highway of Legends) and the eastern plains (Entire state is covered!), riding to the Indian Great Plains battlefield sites. Beautiful.

 

Okay! I got one for you!!!

I had to pick my kid up from a friend's house last night and found one of the most windy roads I have ever been on, almost got a little car sick, which I never get. It's also a good long distance with a pretty view and park.

Golden Gate Canyon Rd - Hwy 70

This is on the north side of Golden right off Hwy 93, just north of where 93 and 6 meet. Just take a left past the 7/11 and there you are. GREAT and challenging looking twisty ride. Take it all the way over to 119 and take Black Hawk back 6 down for a good loop.

 

Sfarson....please, give me a call the next time you get down near Pueblo. I've been a fan of your videos for a long time here on the forum and it would be great to finally hook up with you. A couple of weeks ago I rode the Johnson Mesa loop from Trinidad - Raton, NM - Folsom, NM - Branson, CO - Trinidad... a nice drive through some pretty country. I used to always like Hwy 12 but the gas construction has tore up the lower country pretty bad and I don't like having to deal with the construction traffic west of Trinidad.

My wife and I got back from our 4-day weekend (I'm a state employee so was on mandatory furlough on Tuesday) that included the Silver Thread...it would be hard to rate all the rides in Colorado; too subjective...but I would rate it up there at the top with Trail Ridge and Million Dollar. For low traffic volume/scenery/road quality, the Silver Thread rates as one of the best in the state, IMO.