My wife and I will be heading out west to Colorado, from the Niagara Falls area in June. We have a month, give or take a few days (retired).

I have done searches on several sites, and using this info have done a lot of mapping, both GPS and fold up maps of numerous roads and routes in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. In the end I think I mapped just about every road......now this is a good thing.....lots of great riding. So my question is.....

We have to spend 3-4 days travel each way, so that leaves about 3 weeks to enjoy what we expect will be the trip of a lifetime. Any ideas as to where would be a few good locations to base out of? A choice of reasonably priced hotels (Your US dollar costs me $1.40) and restaurants....and any places we should avoid for personal safety reasons (we don't have the luxury of CCW) We will in all likelihood spend a couple days in Las Vegas.

We did Denver, Estes Park back to Denver loop through the Rockies via the Black hills a couple of years go, but only spent two days before heading home. That in itself was unforgettable.

Any suggestion/opinions/warnings would be appreciated.

Steve

 

Hi Normo07
Sounds like a great trip so much to see, can't offer much as to roads and sleeping in Colorado. But will be watching this thread as I plan on spending a week in Colorado this summer. Not so sure about the having a base and riding from there seems likely would be better to keep moving. The distance and loss of time back tracking. Once out of the big cities hotels/motels can be hit and miss but you meet some great folks and really nice places.
This thread might give some insite to Vegas. If you stay on the strip vs downtown.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...s-parking.html

Looking to stay away from the strip Red Rock Casino on the west side is nice. M Resort on the south end is nice.
Hope that helps.
Russ

 

We did colorado/arizona/utah/new mexico/nevada the last two weeks of June first two weeks of July.....all I can say book your hotels ahead of time....we deviated from our planned trip due to a broken clutch, on one of the bikes that screwed our agenda, but the reason i am saying this, most of the hotels were booked full and had a heard time finding one.....made for a long ride to catch up to where we were supposed to be.

 

Man that exchange rate is killer,Colorado can be expensive enough without that.Just a few idea's Estes near Rocky MT.National Park- Pikes Peak colorado springs any of the ski towns Vale-Aspen- Telluride- Million Dollar highway-Royal Gorge Bridge-rt.50 across the state, are you doing the other states mentioned also.

 

Our plan is to head straight west out Route 24 then on to route 36, bypass Denver to Estes Park. Through the Rockies along 34 south then 40 back to I 70. From here we would like to work our way south. I don't think we can see as much as we want without backtracking....but by the sounds of it you get a whole different perspective travelling on these roads in the opposite direction. We want to do Vegas, then Hoover dam then in to northern Arizona, Sedona and start heading back east, taking in as much as time permits. We will be heading home,east initially on I 40 / Rt 66 towards Oklahoma City, Memphis Kentucky (Corvette Museum is a must). From what guys have mentioned here having a base for a few days may not be practical.

Thanks for all your input so far much appreciated

 

Here you go.....we did this route....saw alot and in only 10 days....you got more time, lots more to see.....

 

Me and a buddy did CO last year. We stayed in the KOA cabins. About $70 a night. You need a sleeping bag and pillow and a towel. I reserved them ahead of time. We did a few nights at each, Estes Park, Buena Vista, Ouray, Moab, Durango. Great riding in CO. Both nights in Ouray we ate at the campground. A couple of nights a week, they have BBQ. It was awesome. Great KOA. Some of the others cook pizza and it was OK. A lot cheaper than a restaurant, but we were not on a budget, just tired.

 

Norm07, if you ride out I-70 from Colorado going to Moab Utah instead of taking 191 from 70 down to Moab I will suggest another way to get there. Take US 6 east off of I-70 to UT 128 and ride south along the Colorado river. It will take you down to just outside of Moab. It is a great ride. My wife and I rode this route north last September from Moab and it was beautiful. And if you can while in Colorado ride the million dollar highway both ways....it's a hell of a ride.

 

Norm07
Found this in my notes, thought it might be useful. Not sure where I got this, but looks l ike I compiled this from random posts to make a list but when saw it looking for something else I read it and thought it fit your post.



Colorado You can do:
Mt Evans
Pikes peak
Durango
Million dollar highway
Mesa Verde
Four corners
Moab..
Lots of mountains and passes
Rocky mountains park.

cherry pick spots in eastern Utah (Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse State Park) with a few rides in Colorado (Million Dollar Highway, Silver Thread Trail, Independence Pass and Trail Ridge Road).

Start in Estes park, work your way thru the middle of the state to Durango and do the San Juan Loop (includes the Million Dollar Highway...1 day). You could spend 3 day's around Estes Park. Hard pressed to see just Trail Ridge Rd. (1 day), find your way down to Durango (1 day at least) and San Juan loop (1 day) IMO best ride in U.S.

Ten days is perfect for all these routes:

1. Trail Ridge Road (stay in Grand Lake, Granby)
2. Berthoud Pass - Loveland Pass - Independance Pass (Glenwood Springs or Carbondale).
3. North Rim of the Black Canyon (a must do! - stay at Roadway Inn in Gunnison)
4. Million Dollar Highway (Ouray to Durango...or stay in Ouray that night and continue to Durango next day)
5. Silver Thread Highway (Durango - South Fork - Gunnison)
6. Gunnison east to Hwy 9 (near Royal Gorge Bridge) to High Park Road - Cripple Creek - Pikes Peak (do the Peak in morning before storms roll in-take warm clothes).

If you still have time one of my favorite day rides is Hwy 165 to Bishops Castle. The ride up Hwy 69 through Westcliffe is a sweet one. Also, a 1/2 day ride would be from Gunnison to Crested Butte (one way in and out).

Suggestions: Bring long underwear...mornings will be chilly but it'll warm up by 10am. Stop at many of the small towns along the way...they love tourists. Take lots of pictures...Georgia is a long way from here. Keep an eye out for wildlife (bear, elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes). Lots or people ride their bikes in CO each year and there are few places where you wouldn't feel safe riding.


I always have used Montrose as my base camp, and here are my favorite rides in SW Colorado.

Million Dollar Highway (Ouray to Durango).

High Mesa, From near Grand Junction, up, and back down to near Delta. Then on to Crawford and the North Rim of the Black Canyon.

Hiways 145 and 141, From Ridgeway -> Naturita -> Gateway and on to US550.

Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction.

Telluride, from Durango.

From Durango, to Cortez, and on to Monument Valley via Utah and US 160. This is an easy day ride from Cortez or Durango. You wont be sorry.

Look here for my GPX files, and some waypoints including gas stops. If you go to Gateway, make sure you get gas in Naturita or Grand Junction/or Delta. No gas in the canyon or at Gateway.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rf4n2fyh7...7XFkH8V6Rcb5wa

 

Looks Good....route added to my GPS...thanks