colorado scenic rides

[Rene]

We will be returning to Texas after leaving the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD and want to do some exploring/riding on scenic PAVED roads around Denver on the way back home.Does anyone have suggestions?

How far away from Denver do you want to go? A couple of my favorite roads in CO are US550 between Ridgeway and Durango, and SR149 between US50 near Gunnison through Lake City and joining with US160 at South Fork, to get to Pagosa Springs. These are high mountain roads, lots of twisties, great for motorcycle fun.

You could then continue south into New Mexico, work your way down through the Taos area to I-40 and home from there. If you don't want to go that far west and out of your way, the roads in and around Rocky Mountain National Park have got to be beautiful as well, but I have not seen too much of that area, other than US40.

[Rene]

Gunnison is too far south and west for our needs. We were looking at a good place to spend a day or two when we leave Cheyenne, WY. Possibly the Rocky Mt. Nat'l Park, or thereabouts. We don't want to get more than 100 miles west of I-25, so we can "high-tail" it south when its time to go. In 2001, we hubbed out of Durango for three days, rode the Million $ Hwy to Silverton, then went on to Motrose and rode Hwy 50 all the way thru Pueble to Lamar before heading south back to TX. Beautiful country. We are looking forward to exploring some of northern CO. Thanks for the input.

[imported_Tom]

Staying within 100 miles of I-25 limits you quite a bit. US-40 from I-70 to Steamboat Springs is a great scenic route, but that may even be a bit out of your way.

[imported_bill]

I would suggest taking rte 34 (off of rte US25) through the Rocky Mountain Park over Trailridge Road ( Great views)to the town of Grand Lake ( nice little town for lunch or dinner) . Continue on 34 to Granby (rte 40), then to Winter Park which will lead you to Berthoud Pass and then to US 70 east, then back to Hwy 25 which you can then take south. Be sure to have plenty of film. Good Luck.