Will be in Colorado the 1st week in August for 7 days. The wife is flying in to Denver. We would like to stay in one town for about 3 nights and days heading out each day for 100-250 mile round trip returning to the motel. Any suggestions on which town is centrally located to accomplish the best rides.

 

Let me suggest Silverthorne:

1. About an 1-1/2 hour west of Denver on I-70
2. Ride to the NE to Rocky Mountain National Park
3. Ride to the SW over Independance Pass to Aspen.
4. Ride to the NW to Steamboat Springs.
5. Nice, cool weather and staying in the mountains

PS: Bring rain gear.

Ride safe!

 

Cortez or Dolores (a few miles North of Cortez). From these towns, you can ride the "Triangle" (Cortez - Ouray - Silverton - Durango - Cortez) which includes the Million Dollar Highway and several high mountain passes. Also, Mesa Verde Park and the Four Corners are close by.
Come to think of it, about any town West of I-25 would work.
+1 on the rain gear!

 

Estes Park north of denver awesome town!

 

Good point! I have never been in a bad place in colorado some good people

 

I think it depends on what you are looking to see-if you want to see the attractions on the "Front Range" side (eastern), then Denver isn't bad (except Traffic), but then you can get to Fort Collins, Estes Park, Colorado Springs, etc.-

As for the western side, Silverthorne isn't a bad idea (actually, it's pretty good), but you might also consider Glenwood Springs-outside of the local attractions (Hot Springs Pool, Glenwood Caverns, Doc Hollidays Grave and such, Aspen is close, as is Independence Pass, I-70, Vail and Steamboat Springs-

How much time did you say you have? Things are a little more hustle and bustle on the east side of the Rockies, less in the west-I like the West-

 

Here is Glenwood Springs-

 

If you want to stay closer to Denver then try Idaho Springs about 35 miles west along I-70. It's an old gold rush town and still has some of the trappings. A bit of a tourist spot.

http://www.idahospringsco.com/

http://www.go-colorado.com/Idaho-Springs

That gets you out of the Denver traffic while still keeping you close enough to access airport and major shopping. It also puts you about 12 miles or so from Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is one of the nicer parks in the area.





Idaho Springs also puts you just west of I-70 and Highway 119 turnoff,a and 119 will take you north to the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park (a must see, in my opinion).



If you're willing to come farther south then Colorado Springs is not bad. Lots of things to see and do in that area, but like Denver you're going to be on the Front Range (which means the Rockies are west of you). Of course Pikes Peak is close by and some of the rides in south-central Colorado are as good as those in the north around the national park.

 

We would like to be on the west side and not in Denver or Colorado Springs. Thinking of doing 6 day loop from Denver - Moab, Ut, Pueblo, and back to Denver. I'm thinking, after riding from Florida, I'd like to relax a little and not feel like I had to get in 300-400 miles a day to get to the motel. Stay 2-3 nights in one place, take short ride, swim in the pool/hot tub, and have few cool ones.

 

+1 for Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Nice area.