Planning a trip out to Colorado, probably in mid-June with my FD. Pay a visit to my brother in Greeley and just site see. Maybe as far south NM. Another local guy (fitzrx7) may also join me in his FD. I'll be traveling from eastern Nebraska and trying to stay off the interestate as much as possible. Contemplating going west to Laramie and then hanging a left...but if anyone has suggestions on a particularly fun scenic route, I'm open. I'll be traveling on my own time-table, no hurry. Whenever I get tired I'll stop for the night...with extra consideration if they've got a good micro-brewery in town. If you guys have any suggestions, let me know.

 

If you do get down to New Mexico There is a nice section of road from Los Alamos to Jemez Springs. I think 501 and 4 to get to Jemez Springs. It's a nice National Forest area. Lots of switchbacks.
If you continue down and back around towards Rio Rancho then tell me and I'll even join you for a brew or five and some pizza at Turtle Mountain Brewery in Rio Rancho.

 

Poudre canyon.Hwy 14 to Walden.If you want wide open spaces with curves at the end try Hwy 9 from Friscoe to Can'on City(spanish canyon)

 

Mmmmm, I forgot about Poudre Canyon. Drove that many years ago on the way up to Steamboat. That's a real possibility. Thanks for reminding me.

 

Pretty much any road to the west of Loveland/Ft Collins is a fun drive. If I go down to Denver and I have time, I like to take 34 to Estes Park and then take the various mountain roads south, 7, 72, 119 to get there.

 

34 is a great road to drive on.

 

God, I haven't been to Estes Park since I was a kid....and I don't want to say how long ago that was. Great ideas guys. Thanks.

 

Not sure if you are starting in Grand Junction but anyway, if you get down to Durango, then over to Pagosa Springs, from there 84 to Chama, NM., then Tres Piedras, Taos, Angel Fire, Eagles Nest, Cimmaron, and then you are near I25. Los Alamos (where I live) is about and hour and a half from Taos.

Have fun and enjoy some of the prettiest scenary to be found anywhere,

Jeff

 

Thanks for those suggestions. I've heard of some of those places and seen pictures. Your right, that would be an awsome drive. But the more I think this through, at least this year, I'll probably just explore the Rockies and establish a "base camp" of sorts out of my brother's home in Greeley.

Hey craigcorx7 or purple82, you guys have any info on good places to stop for eats or maybe one of those micro-brewerys, let me know.
Turning me loose for this road trip is a birthday present from my wife. Who knows, might become an annual thing. So.... maybe New Mexico in 2010.

 

Estes is full of little restaurants. Though none is especially great, I like to eat at the Big Horn, it's at the west end of the main drag. Really, it's probably better to find a place to eat in Ft Collins. There's lots of good places to eat here and then go driving up in the mountains. No micro brews before driving in the mountains, bad idea.

 

lol, Oh don't misunderstand. the micro-brew thing was for the evenings, not during the day.
But thanks for the tips on Estes.

 

If you come into Boulder and take Canyon road up to Nederland that is a fun drive. That is the road I practice my heel toe on routinely. If you want to ride up a wild road that will make you feel like your go-cart racing come to Boulder, exit 36 on to Baseline, take a left and go up till you hit Flagstaff (chitaqua park will be on your left) - this road is AWESOME if you time it right.

There are some nice pubs and brewerys in the Boulder area

 

Thanks for the suggestion spoolage, I'll keep that area in mind.
Just got back from a few days at Steamboat. I think I'm going to like that area come June. Village was decent and beer was cold. You guys have a beautiful State.

 

You made that drive in the Rx-7? The roads must be in pretty decent shape.

 

LOL, no...not in the RX7. Took an SUV. And yeah, Rabbit Ears Pass was snow covered, about 50 mph cross-winds and near white out conditions as we were leaving. But things should be different in a couple months.

 

why didn't you throw this up on NESS?
couple of questions, when are you going? do you mind nerve racking hairpins with 500 ft drops and the occasional 1 lane road?

 

anyways, the road to Cripple Creek from Colorado springs is a lot of fun, and Grand Junction is always cool

 

LOL, I didn't think anyone on NESS would be familiar with the highways. Figured the guys on the regional forum would know best. But thanks for the suggestions.
Date will be firmed up as it gets closer, but I'm looking at the second or third week of June, around my birthday.

 

Bewarned there have been some people drifting on HWY 34 and law enforcement are partoling heavy in Northern CO

I second Flagstaff/Basline in Boulder
Lefthand Canyon just north of Boulder
HWY 36 and 7 out of Lyons/Longmont
Peak to Peak HWY North South Road west of Boulder South of Estes
Carter Lake West of Loveland and Berthoud
Pinewoood Reservoir in Loveland (aka Pole Hill Road) (5 Mins west of my house )
HWY 34 up to Estes from Loveland
Horsetooth Reservoir West of Fort Collins
Rist Canyon NorthWest of Fort Collins
Buckhorn Canyon North West of Loveland /South West of Fort Collins
Stove Prairie Road (up Buckhorn Canyon)
Pouder Canyon

I think those are all the roads I like to drive on a regular basis... not including county roads that connect to these canyons

-Basline/Flagstaff and Pinewood are the two most technical/windy

-HWY 34 and HWY 14(Pouder Canyon) and Peak to Peak HWY are the fastest bendy roads... IMO

you might want to Google map some of these to see the Bendyness... but you wont see the elevation changes...

 

Jim, I have family in the Springs, if you check a few threads back I made a thread about coming out to CO, I was just out there last October

 

ok so this section seems to have mods who delete older threads, it's not there, but yeah, I was just up there last october, the springs is fun to drive around in because it's so wide and open and the backroads are deserted and there are very few cops that I've ever seen, it's generally a nice community, and the rice is at a minimum.

 

Hwy 65 up Grand Mesa, starting from I-70. Elevation change is a little over 5000 ft.

 

I stole street signs from poudre canyon. it was a nice ride!!
by the way 285 just outside of conifer is a town called pine juction you need to stop for lunch/dinner at hog heaven. the best bbq you will find. i am a fat guy and love food and live in nj(the food here rocks). also south park is on 285 another half an hour down the rd. cool ride!

 

2nd/4th taking highway 14 in colorado. Freaking love that road. Watch out for deer/critters
Also Stove Praire rd/N CR27 and Rist canyon rd. Know though there are some really sharp turns so take a cruise through it first then turn around and do the fun drive.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Looks like I'll be leaving home on the 18th of June. That would put me out there around the 19th or 20th.
Kan is tuning in Denver that weekend and I'd love to get that done, just not sure it's in the budget right now.
At any rate, anyone see an old guy in red FD w/Nebraska plates.....say hi.