Estes Park to where? Need help?

I grew up in Denver and worked in Estes Park for 4 years. The following are based on my aversion to Interstate Highways. You can get to most of the places that I mention below via I-states, but it's not as much fun, but it is faster. Following may be WAY more detail than you want. Pick and choose. Do your kids like to ride or do they want to get out every hour?

Trail Ridge Road through the park is not open yet, so you won't be able to go west. From Estes Park, drive south towards Allens Park (Highway 7) and on to Nederland (Hiway 72) . From there you can go either back to the plains (Boulder) or continue south to Central City (Hiway 119). Central City is an old gold mining town, but is also famous for its opera house and now casinos.

Follow I-70 west to Hiway 103 to Mt Evans...a 14er that you can drive to top...if the snow is plowed. Continue to Evergreen then south to 285 and towns of Fairplay and Buena Vista. Buena Vista sits at the foot of the Collegiate Range...series of 13-14,000 ft peaks named after colleges.

From Buena Vista, you can go either north to Leadville and I-70 or south and west to Gunnison and Montrose. I-70 will take you through Vail and Glenwood Springs. (hot springs!!) South to Aspen and back to Carbondale then to Montrose via 133 and 92.

From Montrose, you can see both Ouray and Telluride easily in a day. From Telluride, drive back Placerville then to Naturita. Follow the signs to Gateway. Gateway is a little town that the founder of Discovery Channel 'discovered' and turned into a small resort and a GREAT auto museum dedicated to...the driving vacation.

From Gateway back to Hiway 550 and north to Grand Junction. Drive the loop through Colorado National Monument.

West into Utah on I-70. This is one stretch of I-state that I can handle.

In Utah, consider seeing Arches Nat'l Monument, Zion (a must!), Bryce Canyon (close to a must), Cedar Breaks, Lake Powell (Utah and Arizona).

Then south to the Grand Canyon. North Rim is 1000+ feet higher than the South Rim; hence more pines, often cooler. The South Rim is more desert and you have to drive all the way around the park to get to it.

If you have run out of time or energy by now, you can fly out of Flagstaff.

If you can fit it in, try Canyon de Chelley in eastern AZ (off 191 near Chinle). You can there from the Grand Canyon through Monument Valley.

The above is just a taste. Listen to what others suggest and ENJOY!

 

Several web pages (ala Google) on "motorcycle rides in colorado", gives you good information.

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/co.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/RockyMtn/CO/CO_index.htm

http://www.motorcyclecolorado.com/

While not the most scenic route, you're not too far away from Yellowstone rather than the Grand Canyon. I think Yellowstone is only about 500 miles from Denver and Ft. Collins is about 60 to 70 miles north of here, ie. closer. Did that on a MCycle, very pretty.

James in Denver

 

Trail Ridge Road THROUGH the National Park may be open in June. Spectacular drive. If you went that way, you would go through Grand Lake, then south to Granby at Hiway 40 and on to I-70, where you can pick up my other input.

 

Be forewarned - Grand county (Grand Lake, Granby) is one of the hardest hit areas by the pine beetles. Probably 50-75% of the pine trees are dead and it's really a shame. It looks terrible. I was just up in Grand Lake last summer.

 

on Memorial day weekend. Grand County is at least 75 to 80 percent beatle kill as previously posted, my younger brother and I have been cutting trees the last two years trying to get them all down around the family home. 550 down so far, all of them old growth trees. As for drives, Trail Ridge is awesome, From there you could take 40 over to Kremmling and on over to Steamboat which is a pretty drive... Or you could do Grand Lake to Granby and back over Berthoud Pass, then back to I-70 and on to wherever you want to go... If you have questions about Estes Park, or Grand Lake, let me know, born and raised there...


BTW, a certain German guy likes his motorcycle riding out of Salida and Buena Vista when he visits in the spring...

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/FREE/60706009
http://newcarbuyingguide.com/index.php/forum/main/event=read/fid=travel/m=568