Originally Posted by
F6Bster
Good Riding in SW Colorado and lots of things to see also. Phantom has worked hard to find a good location for riding and hanging, and to also pretty inexpensive lodging. Bring your riding ar$$ and you will be able to enjoy some beautiful country, including these and more:
—San Juan Scenic Byway, including Delores, Rico, Lizard Head Pass, Telluride, Dallas Divide, Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, and Durango. One of the most beautiful rides in the US. Do it all or at least do the Durango to Ouray portions and return the same route. It is great in both directions with different views.
—Moab, UT. Perhaps a ride into Arches NP, Dead Horse SP, scenic ride along the Colorado River, Canyonlands NP, OR the LaSal Mountain Loop. Can’t do them all but this would be a fun day.
—Chama, NM. Durango, Pagosa Springs, Chama. Perhaps a ride to the top of Cumbres and LaManga Passes and back to Chama and take a different route back to Cortez.
—Monument Valley. Relive the Old West with a ride to Kayenta, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, and perhaps head north out of Mexican Hat and visit Goosenecks SP, and then up Mokee Dugway before heading back to Cortez.
—Mesa Verde National Park. Just outside Cortez. Magnificent. Nice ride to and through the park (it is pretty big), but even better if you spend the day and visit some of the cliff-dwellings.
—Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. An all-day trip up to Silverton and back from Durango on the old steam train. A beautiful trip through the wilderness along the Animas River. Awesome!!!!
—Four Corners. Nothing particularly beautiful, but where else can you straddle for States at the same time.
—Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
—Ute Mountain Casino is just outside of Cortez, for anyone interested.
And hopefully you can take advantage of great rides a little farther away on your ride to and from Cortez. Rides such as:
—CO-92 along the North Rim of the Black Canyon NO.
—Independence Pass from Aspen to Twin Lakes. Perhaps CO-133 from Delta over McClure Pass to Redstone and along the Crystal River to Carbondale and then east to Aspen and Independence Pass.
—Grand Mesa Scenic Hwy. CO-65 from I-70 climbs some 5,000 feet to reach the top of the world’s largest flattop Mesa with acres of forests and lakes, then dropping down to Cedaredge and Delta.
—Unaweep-Tebaguache Scenic Byway through the Delores River Canyon to Gateway (the 5 star resort in Gateway is magnificent, but it is very expensive; the car museum at the resort is really nice) to Unaweep Divide to Whitewater.
—Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road over the top and above timberline.
—Wolf Creek Pass on US-160 between Pagosa Springs and South Fork.
—CO-149 Gunnison to South Fork via Blue Mesa Reservoir, Lake City, the Slumgullion Slide, Slumgullion Pass, Spring Creek Pass, north Clear Creek Falls, Rio Grande River Valley, and Creede (where the coward Bob Ford was killed).
—Mount Evans or Pikes Peak. Both above 14,000 feet and paved to the summit. (Go in the morning to have clear weather and avoid dangerous thunderstorms.
—US-50 along the Arkansas River from Canon City to Salida, then over Monarch Pass to Gunnison.
And much more. It’s all good, except for the 200 miles east of I-25 that should be part of Kansas.
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