Day 2

Day 2

This will be a great day of riding and bring us through some scenic country and some less traveled roads. Along the way we'll cross the Continental Divide two times!

In the morning we continue our journey heading west on US Hwy 50 for a short while to Poncha Springs and then head south along US Hwy 285 where we will encounter a sweeping 22 mile mountain pass ride traversing from one mountain valley to another, with visible history and grand scenic views. Linking the Arkansas River Valley with the vast San Luis Valley, the Poncha Pass ride follows the same route formerly used by Native Americans, Spanish explorers, mountain men, and early settlers. The San Luis Valley is the world’s largest alpine valley with more than three million acres at 7,500 feet of elevation. It is bordered on the east by the shapely Sangre de Cristo Range, and on the distant west by the San Juan Mountains.

The Poncha Pass ride is a ride wearing two suits. The first half is loose fitting, a bit rumpled, with curves sweeping us to the top of the pass. The second half is flatly pressed, with straight, linear curves, giving you a gun barrel escort to Villa Grove in the San Luis Valley. Some quick scrutiny here as we lean into the corners will reveal evidence of the area’s active railroading past. The remaining 600 feet of elevation gain to the pass summit are delivered gradually and lazily over the next 2-1/2 miles, although several of the sweeping curves have been known to induce more than a few grins.

The 9,010 foot pass summit isn’t the highest or most dramatic, but views abound and there always seems to be a feeling of achievement about making it to the top. Riding the 1,000 foot descent over the next ten miles to the community of Villa Grove is like coming through the funnel from the small end – things will expand all around us. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains grow in stature and the valley widens. We continue on US Hwy 285 for 19 miles as it bends towards the southwest until we arrive at the town of Saguache and the entrance to the superb Cochetopa ride.

Cochetopa Canyon and the North Cochetopa Pass rides are a divine secluded 60 mile ride over a mountain pass and through backcountry wilderness, with twisties and sweepers galore. This will be a special ride for those who declare the ride to be the destination. For 60 mind-mending miles we will fly, lean, and sing with the circuit. Then we climb a mountain pass. Then we repeat the song. And we probably won’t mind that it is a show with few spectators, for this is a lonely and secluded production. Colorado Hwy 114 cuts through the middle of some serious backcountry, with La Garita Wilderness to the west, the Gunnison National Forest all around, and meadows containing streams along the road.

Little has changed in this area since the Ute Indians rode their ponies through this land. Cochetopa is the Ute Indian word for “pass of the buffalo” and this area was explored as a potential location for the Transcontinental Railroad but the rugged terrain encouraged placing the tracks farther north in Wyoming.

The ride west out of Saguache is a series of sweepers with beautiful high parks. The pass summit at 10,149 feet is not as dramatic as some, but we are at the Continental Divide, and this adds a little pizzaz to the place. The 1,100 foot descent is 10 miles of sweepers that makes it easy to be in a riding zone here, with the motion of the bike in sync with the road, as if one. We are then reeled into a reddish rocky canyon carved by Cochetopa Creek, which contains some of the best canyon riding in Colorado. For the next 14 miles we will be entertained with series upon series of dense and beautiful curves. What might be a chore in a car is a blast to ride on a motorcycle. We emerge into a winding roadway of working ranches and small farms. The northern terminus of the route is 6 miles east of Gunnison off US Hwy 50. We will probably stop for fuel and food in Gunnison.

The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is our next destination. This highway is named for the silver mining camps on and near its course and is rated as one of the finest, most exquisite motorcycle roads in Colorado. It is 117 miles of undulating, twisting, enchanting travel with minimal traffic, no stoplights, scenic beauty, and two historic towns along its path.

We travel west out of Gunnison along US Hwy 50. At a bridge over the Blue Mesa Reservoir we point our bikes south to Colorado Hwy 149. A shoreline cruise along the reservoir is the get acquainted session and soon after comes the initiation. At around mile 8, we become dues paying members, with full rights and privileges. Exhilarating could be the word to use here as we cruise along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and the distance to Hinsdale County is narrowed. When we arrive in 1870s mining camp of Lake City, we will be basically be where almost all of 1,000 residents of the County reside as it is one of the least populated counties in Colorado. This is understandable, considering the preponderance of wilderness areas in the County. After 6 steep miles of ascent we arrive at Slumgullion Pass which is named after a still visible cataclysmic landslide 700 years ago (and still moving 23 feet per year!). Just before the pass we may want to turn into the Windy Point Scenic Lookout. It is said to be a worthy sidestand deployment and few panoramic vistas in Colorado compare.

On the other side of the pass is a gradual and twisting 8 mile descent to Spring Creek Pass. Initially this is a curve after curve course through spectator trees before a magical route is plotted through a series of meadow covered hills. Be on the lookout for moose in this area as they have been thriving since the 1990 introduction of 100 of the leggy beasts. Eight miles after the gentle Spring Creek Pass crest follow the signs pointing towards North Clear Creek Falls. The parking area is only a few hundred yards away, but what a surprise we’ll have. The next 16 miles are a descent into sweeper heaven. This is the Rio Grande Headwaters Area and the humble streams here are starting their 1,800 mile voyage to the Gulf of Mexico.

We will ease off the throttle as we enter the historic mining town of Creede. (An option, while visiting this small historic town is to travel the gravel road into the canyon to see the remains of several old silver mines, which in their hey day made Creede a town of 10,000 inhabitants.) The remaining 21 miles from Creede to South Fork find the Rio Grande River having swelled, seemingly in only a few miles and the winding course it has chosen, with Colorado Hwy 149 following makes this its own remarkable ride as we travel and arrive in South Fork.

We will find lodging in South Fork for the night.

Day 2: 243 miles 5 hours saddle time

Continue to Day 3