Roads through Mesa Verde NP

[johnbryer]

Does anyone know if Wetherill Mesa Road on the west side of the park is paved, or gravel?

If it's gravel, how technical is it?

[canyonchaser]

I'm pretty sure its paved. And if I remember correctly, its pretty gosh darn technical.  But a call to Mesa Verde National Park would clear up any questions you had about the route.

Headquarters - 970-529-4465
Visitor Information - 970-529-4465

dp

[johnbryer]

Technical is good if it's paved.  I used to be in range of riding Deals Gap before lunch, so I'm looking for technical (I've yet to find any here yet   )

If it's single track, and I'm riding alone on a big GS, I'll be skipping that road.

I'm heading down that way the weekend of May 9-11.  I'm going to set up camp at Slickrock campground, and do a 500 mile loop through Mesa Verde and over to Monument Valley.

[canyonchaser]

Have you not ridden East Canyon? Alpine Loop? Nebo Loop? Old Snowbasin Road?

dp

[johnbryer]

I've ridden all of them except Old Snow Basin.

Those roads aren't even as good as the roads that lead to the good roads in western NC and eastern TN.  

I'm a bit spoiled because I spent so many weekends in those areas.  I've all but given up day riding in the local SLC area because without hitting triple digits, I was bored.  I'll probably pick up a DR-650 at some point soon so I can get off road a bit more than I can with my GS.

I've got a 2 week trip planned around Labor Day, 5 days around July 4th, and a 10 day trip around Memorial Day planned.  I'm going to try and do 5-10 long weekends to ride everywhere within 600 miles or so of SLC.

For 1 day rides, I'll be doing those up at Miller Motorsports park.  I like multi-day touring over just a normal day trip anyway.

[1moreroad]

http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/upload/mevemap_viewable.pdf

Looks paved based on the line color/thickness, although that's one of the few NPS maps that does not call out paved v. gravel roads.

[johnbryer]

I'm looking at the connector road, Mancos Canyon Road to get me over to 160.