Los Angeles to Denver nOOb alert!

Meritlane · 08-10-2012, 10:40 PM

I am gearing up for my first multi day extravaganza at the end of August or September. I Figure visiting my sister in Denver is as good an excuse as any for my first multi day moto trip. Looking for suggestions and parables. I want to stay off the interstate when practical.. I have done the trip in a car but I'm looking for a different experience. Mostly camping, some hotel particularly day one since it'll still be HOT crossing the desert. . Definitely want to go through telluride, crested butte, aspen and more but don't know the best way to link it all together out and back.
Thanks

Eyes Shut · 08-11-2012, 07:41 AM

How much time do you have?

The tough part is always getting across that big old desert-y part of southern California/Arizona or Nevada during summer.

Rescue Wagon · 08-11-2012, 08:26 AM

Buy a Butler Maps for Utah and Colorado they are worth it and will help you figure out the best way around. I just used them for a trip through both of those states and they were well worth the $14.95 each.

Meritlane · 08-11-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyes Shut

How much time do you have?

The tough part is always getting across that big old desert-y part of southern California/Arizona or Nevada during summer.

I figure I'll take 5 days (+/-) to get to Denver, Schedule is open as my consulting gig seems to be winding down.

spafxer · 08-11-2012, 08:55 AM

Just got back from Rocky Mountain Adventure Rally... Plus a 1200 mile loop through the Rockies. Camped many nights, but a motel room was had a night or two also.

Definitely get the Butler Map, it is very informative.

Highlights were Telluride, but not in lieu of Silverton and the Million Dollar Highway.

Highway 133 south of Carbondale.

Rocky Mountain National Park. Ride highways 7, 72, and 119 north and south to miss the Denver traffic as much as possible.

Where in the hell is the "Oh My God Highway?" I never found it, but it sounds like fun

Black Canyon of the Gunnison (north rim)

Silverton Jim and Amy owners of Red Mountain Campground were very accommodating. The best area of the Rockies in my opinion is Silverton and Ouray.

It is currently the monsoon season, so every afternoon and evening thunderstorms would pass through and keep the bike nice and clean!

You can't go wrong putting together a loop of roads to spend as much time as you have.

Low lights

Aspen (although passing through to get to Hwy 82 is ok

)

Lots of the roads have been opened up to 4 lane mega roads. Berthoud Pass used to be one of my favorites, it still has switchbacks but it's mega wide now. Same in the Leadville area.

Wandering Dane · 08-12-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spafxer

Where in the hell is the "Oh My God Highway?" I never found it, but it sounds like fun

.

Oh My God Road is a well-graded dirt road between Idaho Springs and Central City.

Meritlane · 08-12-2012, 12:27 PM

this is good stuff. Butler map on order. I found a cool feature in google maps. If you drag they "man" to a section of highway that doesn't have the street level view, blue dots show up revealing pictures. This has been a big help to see the surface of a dirt road.
For example instead of heading back out of telluride on the slab, I think I'll ride up the bridelveil falls road which connects to million dollar highway via a more primitive route.

Eyes Shut · 08-12-2012, 01:39 PM

I know that you are trying to avoid interstate, but (like I mentioned earlier), you've got to get across the Mojave, or Death Valley, or western Nevada, unless you go way further north.

Here's a possible route to get out to Utah/Colorado:
-Take I-40 east out of the Los Angeles area. Take it all the way to Flagstaff. I-40 isn't really too bad -- just get an early start so you aren't crossing the desert at high noon. Once you start to gain altitude, things will cool down a bit. It will be better in Flagstaff.
-From Flagstaff, take 89 north into Utah. You could go to North Rim Grand Canyon if you have the time.
-Continue on 89 north, then take 12 east (to Tropic). Hwy 12 is a motorcycling delight!
-At Torrey, head east on 24 and take that up to I-70. Continue on I-70 until Grand Junction, and from there you can figure out what wonderful roads you want to take in Colorado.

Another option is from Flagstaff, take 89 north, then 160, then 163 (through Monument Valley) then continue onto Bluff. From there, take 191 north, and from 191 you can head east into Colorado on a couple of different routes, depending on where you will be riding in Colorado. Mesa Verde is fun to visit, and from there you can head to Durango, and then go north for Ouray.

eddyturn · 08-13-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meritlane

this is good stuff. Butler map on order. I found a cool feature in google maps. If you drag they "man" to a section of highway that doesn't have the street level view, blue dots show up revealing pictures. This has been a big help to see the surface of a dirt road.
For example instead of heading back out of telluride on the slab, I think I'll ride up the bridelveil falls road which connects to million dollar highway via a more primitive route.

Trouble is that Black Bear is one way into town. You could do Imogene Pass to Ouray at the base of the MDhiway.

Meritlane · 08-19-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddyturn

Trouble is that Black Bear is one way into town. You could do Imogene Pass to Ouray at the base of the MDhiway.

Any gentler way to get to silverton without going all the way to ouray or durango 1st?

08-10-2012, 10:40 PM	#1
Meritlane ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: LA,CA Oddometer: 54	Los Angeles to Denver nOOb alert! I am gearing up for my first multi day extravaganza at the end of August or September. I Figure visiting my sister in Denver is as good an excuse as any for my first multi day moto trip. Looking for suggestions and parables. I want to stay off the interstate when practical.. I have done the trip in a car but I'm looking for a different experience. Mostly camping, some hotel particularly day one since it'll still be HOT crossing the desert. . Definitely want to go through telluride, crested butte, aspen and more but don't know the best way to link it all together out and back. Thanks

08-11-2012, 08:55 AM	#5
spafxer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Oddometer: 2,323	Just got back from Rocky Mountain Adventure Rally... Plus a 1200 mile loop through the Rockies. Camped many nights, but a motel room was had a night or two also. Definitely get the Butler Map, it is very informative. Highlights were Telluride, but not in lieu of Silverton and the Million Dollar Highway. Highway 133 south of Carbondale. Rocky Mountain National Park. Ride highways 7, 72, and 119 north and south to miss the Denver traffic as much as possible. Where in the hell is the "Oh My God Highway?" I never found it, but it sounds like fun Black Canyon of the Gunnison (north rim) Silverton Jim and Amy owners of Red Mountain Campground were very accommodating. The best area of the Rockies in my opinion is Silverton and Ouray. It is currently the monsoon season, so every afternoon and evening thunderstorms would pass through and keep the bike nice and clean! You can't go wrong putting together a loop of roads to spend as much time as you have. Low lights Aspen (although passing through to get to Hwy 82 is ok ) Lots of the roads have been opened up to 4 lane mega roads. Berthoud Pass used to be one of my favorites, it still has switchbacks but it's mega wide now. Same in the Leadville area. __________________ People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent. -- Bob Dylan

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08-11-2012, 07:41 AM	#2
Eyes Shut See no evil Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Oddometer: 1,707	How much time do you have? The tough part is always getting across that big old desert-y part of southern California/Arizona or Nevada during summer.

08-11-2012, 08:26 AM	#3
Rescue Wagon Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Cheyenne, WY Oddometer: 113	Buy a Butler Maps for Utah and Colorado they are worth it and will help you figure out the best way around. I just used them for a trip through both of those states and they were well worth the $14.95 each.

08-12-2012, 12:27 PM	#7
Meritlane ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: LA,CA Oddometer: 54	this is good stuff. Butler map on order. I found a cool feature in google maps. If you drag they "man" to a section of highway that doesn't have the street level view, blue dots show up revealing pictures. This has been a big help to see the surface of a dirt road. For example instead of heading back out of telluride on the slab, I think I'll ride up the bridelveil falls road which connects to million dollar highway via a more primitive route.

08-12-2012, 01:39 PM	#8
Eyes Shut See no evil Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Oddometer: 1,707	I know that you are trying to avoid interstate, but (like I mentioned earlier), you've got to get across the Mojave, or Death Valley, or western Nevada, unless you go way further north. Here's a possible route to get out to Utah/Colorado: -Take I-40 east out of the Los Angeles area. Take it all the way to Flagstaff. I-40 isn't really too bad -- just get an early start so you aren't crossing the desert at high noon. Once you start to gain altitude, things will cool down a bit. It will be better in Flagstaff. -From Flagstaff, take 89 north into Utah. You could go to North Rim Grand Canyon if you have the time. -Continue on 89 north, then take 12 east (to Tropic). Hwy 12 is a motorcycling delight! -At Torrey, head east on 24 and take that up to I-70. Continue on I-70 until Grand Junction, and from there you can figure out what wonderful roads you want to take in Colorado. Another option is from Flagstaff, take 89 north, then 160, then 163 (through Monument Valley) then continue onto Bluff. From there, take 191 north, and from 191 you can head east into Colorado on a couple of different routes, depending on where you will be riding in Colorado. Mesa Verde is fun to visit, and from there you can head to Durango, and then go north for Ouray.