CO touring in the spring - recommendations please

[Blissed]

I am considering renting an R1200GS from Denver, and riding for 3-5 days, ~200-300 miles/day. Looking at the map, the SW of the state looks interesting, perhaps all the way down to Durango, Santa Fe... Time-frame April-May.

I'd like to get some recommendations for the route, interesting roads to hit, sightseeing, hotels ... etc. I like twisties, want to avoid traffic and main roads and slabs as much as possible, prefer to stay on pavement.

What kind of weather can I expect in the mountains (late April-May)? Are any of the roads closed through the winter? If so, when do they open?

Many thanks!

[Justin]

I don't have a lot of time for a detailed reply at the moment, but if you are riding southern CO, then CO 149 is a must hit road. Also part of the silver thread scenic byway. Also, 550 between Ouray and Gunnison is a must ride (Million Dollar Highway).

[JimWilliamson]

[Hopefully this won't be taken as a broken wheel talking]

Blissed, the first post in this thread details a map that you may find of interest:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40257.0.html

Where are you renting the bike from?

[Orson]

CO144 thru the Unaweep Canyon. Stunning redrock in Technicolor  

CO149 from Gunnison to Creede. A perfect motorcycling road  

[Powder Addict]

Be prepared for poor weather, I've been caught in blizzards on passes on my bike in late May before.

Basically have hot weather gear and cold weather gear with you and readily available.  

The million dollar highway is a must.  Ouray is a great little town, if you can I'd recommend staying there overnight.  They even have a hot springs pool to soak in, and it's just a very scenic town.

[bikerfish1100]

I don't have a lot of time for a detailed reply at the moment, but if you are riding southern CO, then CO 149 is a must hit road. Also part of the silver thread scenic byway. Also, 550 between Ouray and Gunnison is a must ride (Million Dollar Highway).

  Ouray to Montrose on 550 bites, you know that. Montrose to Gunnison is better, but still not much. did you mean 550 from Ouray to Silverton, and at least as far south as going over Molas and Coal Bank passes (don't you just love that run up to Molas along the canyon wall?). That's some of the best views anywhere in the lower 48 states.

[Justin]

  Ouray to Montrose on 550 bites, you know that. Montrose to Gunnison is better, but still not much. did you mean 550 from Ouray to Silverton, and at least as far south as going over Molas and Coal Bank passes (don't you just love that run up to Molas along the canyon wall?). That's some of the best views anywhere in the lower 48 states.

  Ouray to Montrose on 550 bites, you know that. Montrose to Gunnison is better, but still not much. did you mean 550 from Ouray to Silverton, and at least as far south as going over Molas and Coal Bank passes (don't you just love that run up to Molas along the canyon wall?). That's some of the best views anywhere in the lower 48 states.

Yeah, typo, meant 550 from Ouray to Durango. And yeah, agree on the views. Although my first time riding it I got caught in the snow over Molas and Coal Back passes   , that was an interesting ride. Only dropped the bike once lol

[bikerfish1100]

funny, my last time over Coal Bank & Molas was in late July for the Top of the Rockies BMW rally in Paonia. Got caught in a bit of snow/hail/rain mix up there too. no drops, but not a lot of snow, either. tehn it was 80 or so in Durango for lunch, and then we got to run thru 2 more t-storms on our way back up over Lizard Head.

[jbs80106]

if going to santa fe (recommended!!!) go the back way at least once.  The CO part of it is awesome, the NM part straight and 60-65mph most of the way, through some actual desert though.  maybe Slab it back from Santa Fe in the interest of time.  I-25 through North NM and into CO is actually fairly twisty..the rest is straight.

From Colorado City....165 to 67 is a good road.  

Weather in April-May can be anything from warmish to windy-to blizzards so bring some layers.  Back way to St Fe goes over Le Veta Pass (http://www.sangres.com/features/lavetapass.htm) which is awesome but high (read probably COLD).

Will thing more about it.  Depending on schedule maybe hook up?  I'm nr Colorado Springs.

[martys]

Hi Blissed -

I've received a lot of help from this group planning my trip to western Colorado this summer. Follow the thread and maps here.  My route goes clockwise from Rangely through RMNP, Aspen, Gunnison, Durango, Million Dollar Hwy, Telluride, Cortez and exiting at 4 Corners. My loop is about 3-1/2 days  You could easily go north at Telluride up 145 and 141 toward Grand Junction to complete the loop back to Denver in 3-4 days.

Get yourself a Butler Map, it will help guide to some of the best roads and passes.

[Gun Slinger]

Some that I would think you want to hit would be the Colorado National Monument, Hwy 141, Hwy 65 over the Grand Mesa, and Hwy 92 from Hotchkiss to Blue Mesa, are some that were left of the previous posts. The biggest thing to remember is altitude.... not only because the air is thin... but also weather can hit and hit hard at 10,000 + feet.

[ripdaddy]

    Last summer I went through the South Park area SW of Denver.  Open, high plateau area.