Map of this route
(64k gif)Leave Avon on I-70 heading east, and go all the way to Idaho Springs, about 75 miles away. Take the CO 103 loop up to Echo Lake, over Squaw Pass and down to the little town of Bergen Park. Hang a right at the light at the bottom of the road, and head toward Evergreen. As you head into Evergreen, the road narrows and goes past a little reservoir on your right. Just as you get into town, there is a lighted intersection with an obscure road tee-ing in from the right - take this road. Really. It's kind of a local connector route over to Conifer (on US 287), and is identified as CO 74. When you get to Conifer, about 10 miles later, it'll dump you out onto the highway next to a Safeway. Take a right, which points you to the west, and go about 8 (?) miles to the light at Pine Junction: take a left here. The map says this is route 67, but I don't recall ever having seen a sign on the road. Stick to the only obvious pavement to Deckers, where there is a stop sign at a small bridge. Bear slightly to the right and follow the pavement out to Woodland Park. Grab a right and follow US 24 all the way over to Antero Junction, where you'll turn left toward Buena Vista. At the bottom of the hill, go right and into Buena Vista (still US 24), then continue on through to Leadville. Just out of the north end of Leadville, grab a left (still US 24) over Tennessee Pass (the turnoff is easy to miss; look for the sign to Ski Cooper ski area). When you hit I-70, head left for a few miles to Avon.
Map of this route
(64k gif)
Notes: The real reasons for this route are Squaw Pass and the road down through Deckers. These are little gems known to locals and I'll probably be drawn and quartered for giving away the secrets. Cops know about them too - especially the road through Deckers. Have fun here, but be warned. (This road is so obscure, it's not even on the map. - - Ed.)
Take I-70 east to US 24, then south over Tennessee Pass, through Leadville and Buena Vista to Poncha Springs. Turn west on US 50 over Monarch Pass, through Gunnison and over to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Just at the west end of the reservoir look for the turn to the north on CO 92. Follow this twisty road to Hotchkiss where you'll turn right (north) on CO 133. Go past Paonia, over McClure Pass and down to Carbondale. Turn left on CO 82 to Glenwood Springs, then east on I-70 back to Avon.
Map of this route
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Notes: The high point on this loop is the stretch of CO 92 on the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This loop can enjoyably be run in either direction, with the north rim road equally fun in both ways. Monarch Pass more fun in the counterclockwise direction, and McClure Pass more fun in the clockwise direction. I've chosen clockwise as the preferred direction because it puts you on interstate for the last 50 mile stretch, when you're already worn out and not in need of challenges.
Leave Avon going east on I-70, and go all the way to the US 40 exit near Lawson. Go north through Empire and Berthound Falls over Berthound Pass, past Winter Park and on into Gramby. Go on through Granby to the intersection with CO 34 just past the northwest end of town. Turn north (right) up through the resort village of Grand Lake, and on into RMNP. Plan on doing the tourist traffic thing all the way up and over to Estes Park. Head out of town to the east, and look for your right turn to the south onto CO 7. Ride past Longs Peak through Allenspark and to the intersection with CO 72, the Peak to Peak highway. Go south through Ward, Nederland, to CO 119 through Rollinsville and Blackhawk to the tunnel on the right which puts you onto US 6 for a short stretch before you get back on I-70 for the ride back to Avon.
Map of this route
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Notes: This will be a long day. The miles aren't huge, but Rocky Mountain National Park can be very slow going. It's also very high altitude. This is why I recommend easy Interstate stretches at both ends of the tour. There's not a lot of serious riding, but this may be the most spectacular scenery of your week.
Leave Avon going east on I-70 over to Frisco, go north on CO 9 through Breckenridge, up and over Hoosier Pass to Fairplay. Head south out of Fairplay on US 285/CO 9 for only about a mile, then bear left onto CO 9 toward Hartsel. Continue on CO 9 past Hartsel to US 50 just outside of Canon City. Heading toward Canon City, take the right turn down to Royal Gorge. It's a state park and they'll get a couple of dollars to let you through. Either go on across the bridge and follow the road back up to US 50, or backtrack out the way you came, then head east on into Canon City. Leaving Canon City, get onto CO 115, a side highway to Florence, where you turn right on CO 67 to Wetmore. At Wetmore, go right again, onto CO 96 heading east, until you run into CO 69 at Westcliff, where you'll turn right again, and go north back to US 50 at Texas Creek. Go left on US 50 to Salida, where you'll take the CO 291 branch up to US 285. Take US 285 north to where it joins US 24, which you will follow all the way back to Avon through Buena Vista, Leadville and Tennessee Pass.
Map of this route
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Notes: The Florence-Wetmore-Westcliff-Texas Creek loop is the real reason for this tour. Royal Gorge is also spectacular. This tour doesn't feature a lot of serious twisties, but is big on scenery. Tourists should go for it, sport riders can pass.
Be prepared, have fun, ride safely, enjoy!
Mark Folsom, folski@montrose.net
COG #260
SW Area - Assistant Director
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Last updated 22 Apr. 96