Gia-56....Looks like I'm going to have to do this also...separate maps so my one map doesn't have every road highlighted....this is a good idea.

 

Hunter.....those places you mentioned are now on my list

Grandslam...my wife will be spending a month on the back of a motorcycle....I wouldn't suggest one night in a campground....have to sleep with one eye open the rest of the trip....I will however think about it when it's guys only

Russ...this is a great list...just simplified a lot of my efforts...thanks

Now would there be a couple locations worth spending 2-4 days at. Not necessarily for the purpose of day trips but a place(s) to relax,wander around town, few restaurants, sit around the pool. We don't need to be entertained.

Thanks again for your input.

 

2-3 day stay...yes Sedona, yes Durango, yes Vegas....yes colorado spring...make your daily trips from hotel to hotel not much longer then 250 miles gives you lots of time to stop and smell the roses....

 

Just to add my $0.02. For me don't miss would be Pikes Peak, Mesa Verde, and Sedona and not necessarily in that order. We used to run up Pikes Peak on test trips with Ford in the late 80s. Went back on Harley's in the early 90s and ran up and down back when it was still a dirt road up the last half.

 

Big wave....Yes they are on my list. Would we be able to spend a day or the better part of the day at Mesa Verde? Just wondering if this place can be a stopover from one town to the next? Thanks for your input.

 

We ate lunch one day and then back over for breakfast the next morning in Grand Lake. I don't remember the name, but it was a restaurant and bar down near the end of main street on the left on the corner.


For a change of pace, rent a jeep in Ouray and ride the trails over to Silverton and back. Beautiful and a nice change of pace.


Eat at Handlebars in Silverton.


Ride the train from Durango to Silverton. Beautiful ride. Take the bus back.


Ride the San Juan Loop up through Telluride. Cool town.


Eat at True Grit Café or Restaurant in Ridgeway.


Leadville is a cool town as well.


We had a god lunch plate at South Park Café in Alma. We commented on the lunch and the cook said he came from a long line of "Southern" cooks. I asked him where and he said Mississippi. I think he was one of the owners. The other owner was who the writers of South Park fashioned "Chef Chef" after. Except he is white. The writers are good friends of his. I don't watch the show.


Colorado is beautiful. We had a blast. I plan to go back through there this year.


We stopped at Mesa Verde, but it was late in the day and it is pretty spread out so we just did the visitors center. I sounded like it would take like 20-30 minutes just to drove from one site to another due to the reduced speed limits.

 

FXDX....picked up on at least one of my posts about Colorado rides (glad I can contribute). I live in CO and travel its roads each summer. Its hard to pick one 'base' in this state because it really is so far between stops. I did a ride plan for a gent out of Iowa a few years back and I suggested two towns that I thought they could base out of (Gunnison and Winter Park) but I think with the time you have allowed for your trip you'd be better off spending time in different towns each night. Here's another idea - several HDF members have been getting together for rides in the SW over the past 10-11 years. At least three of these trips have been in Colorado. In 2015 we had another great ride and one of our members, Bill and Arleen Nourse laid out the route for the ride. Attached is the link to where we rode and where we stopped. You can plot out this trip on a map and decide for yourself how it would fit into your overall plans.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/south...le-2015-a.html

I'm also attaching a link to a thread I wrote about the results of the 2015 ride (we've called it Green Chili Ride since we started it because we have to have a commemorative bowl of green chili at some point along the ride). I think you'll find some info that'll help you plan this summers ride.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/south...de-report.html

Best of luck on your trip...and wave when you go by!!

 

Whiskers....thanks for all this info, all great stuff

So again to everyone here that contributed, a big thanks...

Now I am taking all your info, and and I am going to put it into a half ***ed itinerary staring in Estes Park and work our way south from there having an "A" list of things to see and rides to do then a " B" list for time permitting. I'm using Garmin Base Camp but will also do a written itinerary. When I'm done I will post it to see what you guys think, as well it would be another resource others could use.

And for those of you who live in this area (after checking out some of the pictures of these places) how the h**l do you decide on what way to go.....just some spectacular scenery...just can't wait.

 

For more "motorcycling" roads, check out MadMaps.

Lastly, be sure you're fit to ride in 110F heat. Not kidding here.

 

The wife and I road this area in 2012 and the most memorable stop on our adventure was Taos Pueblo in NM. If you have time, don't miss this. Take the tour and pay the 5 bucks for the privilege of taking pictures.


Definitely take the tour...very enlightening.