Just curious if anybody knew of a road comparable to The Dragon out here in CO or surrounding areas? I really don't see myself getting to ride out to the east coast in the next 30 years or so to ride the Dragon and figured there has to be something similar here in the Rocky Mtns, doesn't there? I just love to cruise mtn twisters and the Dragon sounds pretty fun.

 

JB, I've ridden the dragon and it is a good one, but CO has dragon like roads, with longer duration and jaw dropping scenery stirred in. One has to know where they are, and more than a few are "insider known".

I'm writing a book on motorcycling Colorado and just about every road, paved and unpaved, is covered (150+ chapters). Will be at dealers, Amazon, etc in about a year (Manuscript due next March).

The Springs area doesn't offer much for tight and twisty, dragon like roads. There's the climb to the top of Pikes Peak, but you would have to take this at a sedate pace with the traffic and enforcement. There's a section between Cripple Creek and Victor that is outstanding, but it is only three miles in length. Further away you would have the very excellent Deckers Road but the curves aren't as tight as the dragon, but it does go on for almost 50 miles to Hwy 285. The Greenhorn Hwy (165) to Bishop's Castle is a great road with twists and turns. High Park Road (Teller County 11) is also excellent.

So you have to go further. The Denver area has several dragon like roads in the foothills, including Stanley Park, Lookout Mtn, Hilldale Pines, Conifer Mtn, and North Turkey Creek. Flagstaff Rd. above Boulder is very tight and curvy. Stove Prairie west of Ft. Collins is a curvefest. Hwy 92 along the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the best. There's many more, like the De Beque Cutoff, Cochetopa Canyon, or 65 Plateau Creek. The Silver Thread Scenic Byway from Blue Mesa all the way to South Fork is 100 miles of empty, scenic, curving tarmac, joining two rivers, going over two passes, and passing through two great towns (Lake City, Creede). HTH as a start.

 

Thank you so much for this info. Keep me/us updated on the book, sounds like something I will definitely be purchasing. For a good ride I definitely don't mind traveling a little ways. Actually went to Bishops Castle this past weekend. You're right, that is a fun road and one I plan to do at least once more before snow flies.

 

Utah has a bunch of switchbacks taking you down the side of one mountain and up the next. Think it is on I80, but it was a long time ago.

 

Nothing like that on I-80. I-80 is straight and flat from Wendover to Salt Lake. It then goes up Parley's Canyon which can be a fun ride at higher speeds but is only for a few miles or so. Then the road straightens out up to Evanston.

 

It's on the one going down to Vegas. I70 or I15 somewhere.

 

I live in the Denver foothills and there are a lot more roads and highways to explore than Colorado Springs area (don't be hating, I know both areas like the back of my hand). I am lucky enough to live a few blocks/miles from some of the roads Sfarson was describing.

You just need to head west and/or north a bit, if you have some free time. Just some random musings not previously mentioned, I would recommend Red Mountain Pass, Hwy 40 over Berthoud Pass, Hwy 119 and 72 near Nederland to Blackhawk.

Near Colorado Springs, I would recommend Cheyenne Canyon (proposed to my wife there), though not that long of a ride, it's one of the town's best kept secrets if you just want to get out on the bike for a while.

Also, Hwy 105 from monument to Sedalia, and then take 67 back down to Deckers, Woodland Park, and then back home.

Lastly, I REALLY recommend Trailridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fairly twisty, but with the scenerey I don't care what it is.

In short, you will need to explore a little further from home.

 

I-15 is the state's major interstate and it's a pretty boring ride, it will take you to Vegas. I-70 begins at I-15 and heads east to Grand Junction, CO.

I'm trying to figure out what you're referring to, if there's a road with twisties on the way to Vegas I would love to know about it. Anyone else have any info on this?

I'm starting to think you're referring to one of the side roads which goes through one of the National Parks down in Southern Utah.

 

Only stretch of I 70 with corners is about the first 100 miles west of Denver. A short stretch west of Green River, Utah, east of Salina, and west of Richfield. On 15 all I can think of is Virgin Canyon west of St. George.

I have never ridden the dragon but I would be hard pressed to find a more challenging, prettier ride than either Chief Joseph Highway or Tensleep Canyon in Wyoming or Beartooth in Montana,

 

probably was. It was about 30 some years ago. Might be Bryce or Zion canyon roads come to think of it.