Ducati Monster Forum

Trying to come up with a route for an overnight trip.

Independence Pass
McClure Pass
Gore Pass
Red Cliff
125 through Arapahoe National Forest
Wolf Creek Pass


I know I liked 133 when we came back from Ouray, that open stretch of fast twisties, near that huge coal plant.

What else is out there worth seeing?

Anyone been up 131 lately?

One that I have been thinking about is to head north, hit Poudre Canyon, Cameron Pass, Rabbit Ears and follow 40 accross the Utah line to Vernal.  From there, north to Rock Springs - around Flaming Gorge.

I have been offered a free place to stay in Downtown "Party Town" SLC.

Come back through Cottonwood Canyon & pick up 40 again.

Find some dirt along the route somewhere?

I rode 133 over McClure to Hotchkiss with a buddy last weekend.  Rode was clean - they just finished re-paving parts of it so there was no major damage.  If you go that way stop & eat at Zack's BBQ in Hotchkiss, majorly good food for cheap.  It's just behind the City Market in town.

Rode up to the top of Independence (Aspen side) during lunch the other day.  Still a lot of snow on top, lots of runoff/melting going on - road had water running over it in several places.  Lot's of road damage and gravel at the top.

Here's the final route. 768 miles.


(http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pubS0mtYja-qDvevFUNM2qpiUxdyGvFvmJkSGThY_7acgo8ZxlxJ-8tMpbphrLX2dZ4pxtjyJHz0)

or

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13290165879347738379,39.619750,-105.202970%3B11283572868744149215,39.007010,-105.063200%3B9580343057048383265,38.838380,-106.130810%3B17772773264472336373,39.183660,-106.807510%3B18019831911892679960,39.416270,-107.209420%3B9956009408946867681,38.867940,-106.980830%3B12634764586204511080,39.405040,-107.221130%3B16137317751175612184,39.241130,-106.298050%3B18054318961061572060,39.500140,-106.373270%3B8846575120937602525,40.054860,-106.788944%3B15332808847752273885,40.051030,-106.149980%3B10145861207960066353,40.488970,-106.212020%3B7727245629482164762,40.086000,-105.944710%3B5461752799929557092,40.364240,-105.544800%3B16807096574076288022,40.174430,-105.469180%3B9694950018747644189,39.969700,-105.507980%3B16716865329114478032,39.842870,-105.491940%3B6289558645600681424,39.771820,-105.246200&saddr=US-285+S+%4039.619750,+-105.202970&daddr=CO-67+%4039.007010,+-105.063200+to:US-24+%4038.838380,+-106.130810+to:CO-82+%4039.183660,+-106.807510+to:CO-82+W+%4039.416270,+-107.209420+to:6th+St+%4038.867940,+-106.980830+to:CO-133+%4039.405040,+-107.221130+to:US-24+%4039.241130,+-106.298050+to:US-24+%4039.500140,+-106.373270+to:CO-131+%4040.054860,+-106.788944+to:US-40+%4040.051030,+-106.149980+to:CO-125+%4040.488970,+-106.212020+to:W+Agate+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.086000,+-105.944710+to:CO-66+E%2FMoraine+Ave%2FUS-36+E+%4040.364240,+-105.544800+to:CO-7+%4040.174430,+-105.469180+to:CO-72+%4039.969700,+-105.507980+to:CO-119+%4039.842870,+-105.491940+to:Golden+Gate+Canyon+Rd+%4039.771820,+-105.246200&sll=39.724089,-105.520935&sspn=1.877941,4.152832&dirflg=h&ie=UTF8&ll=39.650112,-106.166382&spn=1.879954,4.152832&z=9 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13290165879347738379,39.619750,-105.202970%3B11283572868744149215,39.007010,-105.063200%3B9580343057048383265,38.838380,-106.130810%3B17772773264472336373,39.183660,-106.807510%3B18019831911892679960,39.416270,-107.209420%3B9956009408946867681,38.867940,-106.980830%3B12634764586204511080,39.405040,-107.221130%3B16137317751175612184,39.241130,-106.298050%3B18054318961061572060,39.500140,-106.373270%3B8846575120937602525,40.054860,-106.788944%3B15332808847752273885,40.051030,-106.149980%3B10145861207960066353,40.488970,-106.212020%3B7727245629482164762,40.086000,-105.944710%3B5461752799929557092,40.364240,-105.544800%3B16807096574076288022,40.174430,-105.469180%3B9694950018747644189,39.969700,-105.507980%3B16716865329114478032,39.842870,-105.491940%3B6289558645600681424,39.771820,-105.246200&saddr=US-285+S+%4039.619750,+-105.202970&daddr=CO-67+%4039.007010,+-105.063200+to:US-24+%4038.838380,+-106.130810+to:CO-82+%4039.183660,+-106.807510+to:CO-82+W+%4039.416270,+-107.209420+to:6th+St+%4038.867940,+-106.980830+to:CO-133+%4039.405040,+-107.221130+to:US-24+%4039.241130,+-106.298050+to:US-24+%4039.500140,+-106.373270+to:CO-131+%4040.054860,+-106.788944+to:US-40+%4040.051030,+-106.149980+to:CO-125+%4040.488970,+-106.212020+to:W+Agate+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.086000,+-105.944710+to:CO-66+E%2FMoraine+Ave%2FUS-36+E+%4040.364240,+-105.544800+to:CO-7+%4040.174430,+-105.469180+to:CO-72+%4039.969700,+-105.507980+to:CO-119+%4039.842870,+-105.491940+to:Golden+Gate+Canyon+Rd+%4039.771820,+-105.246200&sll=39.724089,-105.520935&sspn=1.877941,4.152832&dirflg=h&ie=UTF8&ll=39.650112,-106.166382&spn=1.879954,4.152832&z=9)

Just an FYI, Independence pass was a mess.  Lots of running water on the road, really bad road conditions on the Aspen side.  Lots of loose gravel and pot holes. 

T

Did you get your bike back??

No.  It wasn't ready until late Sat. and I didn't feel well yesterday to talk with him about the service.

Hopefully I will get him back today.

T

Anyone been from Steamboat upto Dinosaur National Park, and onto Flaming Gorge? Trying to determine if that road is worthwhile?

Steamboat to Vernal is long, straight with sections of fast sweepers.  North to Flaming Gorge gets very twisty - and is out of state, so in the rare event of being pulled over - no points.

How about this...

Basically cutting out the Independence Pass route, and Crested Butte...

This gets us out toward Utah, we can tack in the loop for Flaming Gorge if traffic is light.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15737012469591610819,39.658571,-105.207825%3B11328225036724980992,39.911950,-105.782050%3B16451173409933115296,40.713350,-106.294220%3B16593082473252223406,40.144680,-106.424640%3B11368951544275859329,40.062230,-106.793560%3B9234547195971494197,40.485510,-106.833590%3B16268348069902282130,40.243000,-108.980070%3B12069830025980545926,40.087530,-108.803930%3B17699779359004688678,40.036780,-107.910620%3B750310611979090602,40.020170,-107.558460%3B13268349466065158448,40.194400,-107.221660%3B6219428520198361442,40.065650,-106.822460%3B1076091367763716688,39.674910,-106.646900%3B8700500229121553593,39.257470,-106.292700%3B11747777958784112804,39.640560,-105.885760%3B3599165256138113424,39.678606,-105.608395%3B6416611775463982878,39.682019,-105.479168%3B248563066308525526,39.685320,-105.366330%3B13576509866873386063,39.656760,-105.298420%3B11801776556465784886,39.617490,-105.236800&saddr=39.658571,-105.207825&daddr=US-40+%4039.911950,+-105.782050+to:CO-125+%4040.713350,+-106.294220+to:US-40+%4040.144680,+-106.424640+to:CO-134+%4040.062230,+-106.793560+to:Lincoln+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.485510,+-106.833590+to:US-40+%4040.243000,+-108.980070+to:CO-64%2FW+Main+St+%4040.087530,+-108.803930+to:CO-13%2FMarket+St+%4040.036780,+-107.910620+to:CR-8+%4040.020170,+-107.558460+to:CR-8+%4040.194400,+-107.221660+to:CO-131+%4040.065650,+-106.822460+to:US-6+%4039.674910,+-106.646900+to:N+Poplar+St%2FUS-24+%4039.257470,+-106.292700+to:US-6+%4039.640560,+-105.885760+to:CO-103+%4039.678606,+-105.608395+to:CO-103+%4039.682019,+-105.479168+to:Evergreen+Pkwy+%4039.685320,+-105.366330+to:CO-74+%4039.656760,+-105.298420+to:S+Parmalee+Gulch+Rd+%4039.617490,+-105.236800+to:39.636894,-105.165939&mra=mi&mrcr=15&mrsp=20&sz=11&via=2,9,10,16&sll=39.68394,-105.434418&sspn=0.452334,1.038208&ie=UTF8&ll=39.410733,-105.545654&spn=3.632751,8.305664&z=8 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15737012469591610819,39.658571,-105.207825%3B11328225036724980992,39.911950,-105.782050%3B16451173409933115296,40.713350,-106.294220%3B16593082473252223406,40.144680,-106.424640%3B11368951544275859329,40.062230,-106.793560%3B9234547195971494197,40.485510,-106.833590%3B16268348069902282130,40.243000,-108.980070%3B12069830025980545926,40.087530,-108.803930%3B17699779359004688678,40.036780,-107.910620%3B750310611979090602,40.020170,-107.558460%3B13268349466065158448,40.194400,-107.221660%3B6219428520198361442,40.065650,-106.822460%3B1076091367763716688,39.674910,-106.646900%3B8700500229121553593,39.257470,-106.292700%3B11747777958784112804,39.640560,-105.885760%3B3599165256138113424,39.678606,-105.608395%3B6416611775463982878,39.682019,-105.479168%3B248563066308525526,39.685320,-105.366330%3B13576509866873386063,39.656760,-105.298420%3B11801776556465784886,39.617490,-105.236800&saddr=39.658571,-105.207825&daddr=US-40+%4039.911950,+-105.782050+to:CO-125+%4040.713350,+-106.294220+to:US-40+%4040.144680,+-106.424640+to:CO-134+%4040.062230,+-106.793560+to:Lincoln+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.485510,+-106.833590+to:US-40+%4040.243000,+-108.980070+to:CO-64%2FW+Main+St+%4040.087530,+-108.803930+to:CO-13%2FMarket+St+%4040.036780,+-107.910620+to:CR-8+%4040.020170,+-107.558460+to:CR-8+%4040.194400,+-107.221660+to:CO-131+%4040.065650,+-106.822460+to:US-6+%4039.674910,+-106.646900+to:N+Poplar+St%2FUS-24+%4039.257470,+-106.292700+to:US-6+%4039.640560,+-105.885760+to:CO-103+%4039.678606,+-105.608395+to:CO-103+%4039.682019,+-105.479168+to:Evergreen+Pkwy+%4039.685320,+-105.366330+to:CO-74+%4039.656760,+-105.298420+to:S+Parmalee+Gulch+Rd+%4039.617490,+-105.236800+to:39.636894,-105.165939&mra=mi&mrcr=15&mrsp=20&sz=11&via=2,9,10,16&sll=39.68394,-105.434418&sspn=0.452334,1.038208&ie=UTF8&ll=39.410733,-105.545654&spn=3.632751,8.305664&z=8)

FYI - your last route looked to take you through Marble and over some serious 4WD roads to get to Creste Butte (not the roads for a street bike).  Better to take McClure Pass then go left just after Paonia Reservoir and over Keebler Pass as it's a dirt road.

Yeah, we're gonna ditch the Aspen/Crested Butte area and stay North of 70 for the most part now.

I need to stay a little closer to town tomorrow.

Repeat in a couple weeks?

Yeah, I'll do another in August most likely. Skipping Ouray I think, so there will be time :)

That would be very nice.

Head even further west, hit Cottonwood Canyon, etc.  [thumbsup]

I'm not welcome in Utah...  [evil]