SELF-GUIDED TOUR

This is one great week of motorcycling! You’ll spend plenty of time at altitudes well above 11,000 feet, but also enjoy the open country, forests and valleys in between. A short “flight” on I-70 gets you out of Denver, and then you enter a world of mountain passes and western history. On your way to Steamboat Springs you’ll experience several small historic mining towns before Berthoud Pass takes you over an elevation of 11,315 ft. Traffic is light as you run the twisties through Arapaho National Forest and over Willow Creek Pass and on to Walden, then through some nice sweepers to Steamboat Springs.

Natural hot springs are a little known feature of Colorado that you’ll experience several times. What better way to relax after a day’s ride warm waters and a cool drink. After this trip you’ll certainly have a favorite. 

Names tell a lot about a place, and you'll see what we mean as you ride along the Crystal River to Redstone.  A stop in Marble shows you the source of the stone used in many monuments in our nation’s capitol.  "Twisty 92” is one of Colorado’s most challenging and scenic roads, following the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. A sport riders delight, but big fun on a cruiser as well. Ride, enjoy, and marvel at the views.

You’ll be glad to know that Alfred Packer is NOT on this tour. Slumgullion Pass (11,361 ft.) is the place where old Al got more than a little hungry while waiting out a blizzard. He killed the group he was guiding and ate them to survive. We can remember them with a silent moment at lunch, or just keep moving!

Spring Creek Pass… Wolf Creek Pass… one magnificent view after another then down to Pagosa Springs and Durango, home to the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

The Southwest quadrant of Colorado is nicknamed the “ American Alps” and it’s the home of the “Million Dollar Highway”. Continuing north out of Silverton and over Red Mountain Pass, (11,008 ft.) we twist our way to “Little Switzerland”… the town of Ouray, also famous for hot springs. If the roads don’t have the mountain views you are looking for, try a gondola ride at Monarch Pass (11,312 ft.) Truly spectacular! Follow the Upper Arkansas River Valley as you ride the “Highway of the 14’ers” named for the 14,000' feet peaks bordering on the west.

You last night is spent in Fairplay, at 10,000 feet. You'll stay at the Hand Hotel, which the locals say is haunted. We haven’t seen the ghosts ourselves but plenty have… maybe you will too.

All good things must come to an end, but in returning to Denver you’ll add two more passes to your list. Red Hill Pass and Kenosha Pass take you back into the more populated roads areas of Denver. The relatively short riding day should leave you time to return you bikes, relax, have a nice dinner, and regrettably, prepare for your journey home.

Great American Motorcycle Touring
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