Video link contributed by a visitor in July 09: "This is riding up the 145 side of the route."
Motorcycle
Road Scenery:
This
ride will take you through arguably the most beautiful
sections of the Rocky Mountains as you follow a circular
path through southwestern Colorado. You will pass through
historic mining towns, national parks and forests and world-class
ski resort areas. On this trip you will see the San
Juan Mountains, home to many of Colorado’s elite group
of 14,000 foot mountain peeks. Along the way you will see
red-rock canyons, lush river valleys, hot springs and majestic
mountain peaks and an area known as the “Switzerland of
America.” Bottom line is BRING LOTS OF FILM ON THIS
TRIP!!!.
Motorcycle
Road Quality:
You
definitely want to be careful on this route. It has countless
number of hairpin turns and switchbacks (with and WITHOUT
guardrails) and the descents and climbs are almost endless.
Make sure you take advantage of the many scenic turnouts
to take a good long look at the scenery … you will be surprised
how glued your eyes will be on the scenery. Keep in mind,
this alpine route will have you riding at over 10,000 feet
three times on its path … some bikes (like humans) struggle
at these kinds of altitudes. Lastly, when planning any
bike trip through mountains, keep in mind that the snow
sticks around longer up there in the spring and returns
more quickly in the year (you’d be safest in July/August).
Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities:
There
are a large variety of amenities in this area of Colorado.
The town of Ridgway was home to the set of Wild West
movies such as True Grit and How the West Was Won.
You can also visit old mining towns such as Ouray,
Silverton
and Telluride.
Ouray was named after a Ute Indian chief and is home of
a number of hot springs including one converted to a municipal
pool ((970)325-4638). Silverton offers a look at a preserved
Rocky Mountain mining town with its once elegant hotels
and even a former red light district where the town locals
stage mock gunfights on some summer evenings. The city
has a museum and ample gift shops and places to grab a bite
or a brew. Durango is the largest city in southwestern
Colorado and as you walk its gas-lamp lit streets you will
see its vast collection of beautiful brick and stone Victorian
buildings that offer a multitude of souvenir shops, restaurants
and hotels. It is also the starting point for the “Durango
to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.” This authentic
coal burning steam engine pulled train runs multiple times
a day across the breathtaking route from Durango to Silverton
((970)247-2733). You will pass buy Mesa
Verde National Park and will definitely want to stop
by and visit the ancient Ansazi villages and cliff dwellings
built here over 700 years ago. There you will see the “Cliff
Palace” that served as the home of more than 200 Anasazis.
On the southwestern corner of the trip you will pass through
Cherry Creek and see the area that gave western novelist
Louis L’Amour the inspiration for his many novels. As you
finish the loop of this route, one of the highlights of
your trip may be the world famous ski-town of Telluride.
Here you will find yourself in a town tucked close to awesome
mountains in its own corner of a mountain valley. This
Victorian town has ample activities including mountain-biking,
camping and a large offering of shops and restaurants.
It is also houses the historic bank where Butch Cassidy
committed his first bank robbery in 1889. While there make
sure you hike to Bridal
Veil Falls and see the highest freefall waterfall in
Colorado (the fall dives 425 ft).
Directions:
My
description above (in the "roadside amenities" section)
describes the route starting in Ridgway,
CO and ending in Telluride. You can follow this path
or start at any other point along the route since it is
a loop. Following my recommended route you start in Ridgway
on Rte. 62 heading east and immediately get on Rte. 550.
Take that road south all the way to Durango. From Durango,
get on Rte. 160 heading west towards Mesa Verde National
Park and the town of Cortez. Before you get to Cortez,
you need to turn north on Rte 145 and that will take you
all the way up to Telluride. You'll definitely want to stop
in Telluride and take a look around, stretch the legs, grab
some chow, and gas up. Once you get back on 145 continuing
north, you'll want to head up to Placerville at which point
you need to get on the road you started, 62, and take it
east all the way back to the starting point of Ridgway,
CO. A spectacular 225 mile loop.
Additional
Information:
-
View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo
weather.
Do you have any pictures of this area? Contribute a photo and show other riders what they’ll see along the way.
Have you ever filmed video along this ride or in the area? Contribute the video and show riders what the area looks like.
Comments page 1 of 0
Click here to add a rating and/or comment
Hesitant - 2007 Honda
Posted 458 days ago
We have been through the Smokies, which terrified me. The continous climbing of mountains without rails to keep me from falling 7000 feet was too much for me. How much of this trail is like this?
We took the Ridgway – Silverton – Durango – (Mesa Verde) Cortez legs in late July. The roads were very good with spectacular views. Mesa Verde is a must see. Recommend taking your time. With all there is to see and do, this area could be a vacation destination on its own.
We just finished this ride, 11 July 10, it is truly awesome. The roads were great and the views were breath taking. Make sure you take decent wet weather gear that is warm as the mountain passes are prone to wet chilly weather.
Probably the best motorcycle road in America! The scenery is no doubt by far the best scenery I've ever seen and I've been riding for 26 years and put about 5,000 plus miles on per year and have driven in every state but Hawaii. It's a little remote being in the southwest corner of Colorado but that's also what helps me give it a 10 because it's not crowded and not as cliché as "riding the dragon" (I like the dragon too though). Good luck and bring a good camera and a great friend!!
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 68 days ago
I'm lucky to live close to this loop and it is one of my favorite rides. Amazing scenery, great twisties. Try to avoid weekend traffic. Durango and Ouray are great places to eat/shop/stay. Can't go wrong with this ride!
I have also elk hunted in this area and it has, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful scenery to be had. Nice sweeping curves, elevation changes, and good road. A must-ride road if you are in the area. Early October is a great time to ride to see the different fall colors. They are spectacular.
I have also elk hunted in this area and it has, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful scenery to be had. Nice sweeping curves, elevation changes, and good road. A must-ride road if you are in the area.
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 344 days ago
I saw this ride on this website and made the journey out here from Arizona. Wow I'm glad I did!!! This will now be an annual ride for me and a group that roams the western US each summer. I especially loved the fact that in between the jaw dropping scenery are great stops sprinkled pretty evenly. We stopped at every one of the nice towns along the way and ended up stretching a one day trip into three and wished we could have stayed longer. Just a lot of neat towns with plenty to do if you're not in a hurry and enjoy snooping around and taking things in. I was told however that we should have tried in early Oct for the color changes. Will be there next year!!!
This user rated the route: 9 out of 10
Posted 436 days ago
I did this ride about two weeks ago and it was phenomenal. It is a little difficult to get to it because it's tucked down in a corner of Colorado but I was glad I made the trip as there were a lot of nice miles getting there too. I really loved how the ride has the incredible scenery you would expect in a Colorado Rocky Mountain ride with the added bonus of nice stops spread out along its path. I really enjoyed Silverton and Telluride! Great suggestion on the ride - many thanks!
Good write-up and I appreciate the submitter's time to do it. One small nit - the "Bridal Veil Falls" link goes to a waterfall with the same name in North Carolina.
