Day 6

Day 6

Now normally we would tend to shy away from riding the Interstate Freeways unless it was required to get to a specific destination without other means of getting there. However a 15 mile stretch of I-70 just east of Glenwood Springs travels through Glenwood Canyon and this interstate ride is an engineering masterpiece. This four lane freeway was shoe-horned into a long river canyon barely wide enough for two lanes. The Freeway uses a series of cantilevered bridges, tunnels, and massive retaining walls. The result is a spectacle to ride – a combination of nature’s wonders and man’s achievements.

When we first enter the canyon the introduction isn’t dramatic, but once we are past the first few appetizing curves, the main course comes into view. The 3,000 foot walls are the tallest anywhere along the Colorado River (except for that modest ditch they call the Grand Canyon). The impressive design of the highway is easily observed as we lean into its shapely curves while considering how the thing was ever built. We also share the canyon with rafters along the river and trains lumbering through the narrow canyon.

Upon exiting the canyon we continue on I-70 for the next 26 miles and exit at Wolcott and head north on Colorado Hwy 131 towards Steamboat Springs. This 70 mile course is tailored for those on two wheels, serving curvy hos d’oeuvres valley, after valley, after valley. While there won’t be any dramatic mountain passes to conquer along the way, it is still one of the hilliest roads around, and this means arcs, bends, and constantly changing elevation. A twisting roller coaster may come to mind, as we travel up and down the valleys of the Eagle, Colorado, and Yampa Rivers.

As we leave Wolcott we weave a climb up 1,000 feet, and then unravel ourselves on a descent to the Colorado River 1,200 feet lower and 14 miles away. The preceding 14 miles are just an appetizer. We now will be served an ascending 20 mile buffet of serpentine roadway up to the high plateaus feeding the Yampa River. We will gain 1,400 feet in elevation but lose what little traffic we had to share the road with.

The town of Toponas is about halfway to Steamboat Springs and the next 15 miles north are mostly open meadow riding with a few mild bends here and there until we reach pleasant Oak Creek. Between here and Steamboat Springs Hwy 131 returns to its amusing ways, with the highway following Oak Creek up a narrow and twisting valley.

A short ride in and out of Steamboat Springs to see what all the fuss is about in this resort town may be in order, however we are soon again on our way east now traveling on US Hwy 40. A 7% grade ascent brings us to the broad Rabbit Ears Pass summit and the continental divide at around 9,600 feet and the relatively low Muddy Pass at 8,772 feet. A look to the north between Muddy and Rabbit Ears will reveal the source of the pass’s name.

Near Muddy Pass our caravan of motorcycles now heads north along Colorado Hwy 14 heading for Walden, a small run down town in the middle of nowhere. The Moose Creek Café is a popular place with motorcyclists, perhaps because there really isn’t anything else around.

We continue our eastbound journey on Hwy 14 with the Medicine Bow Mountains dominating the landscape to the west. As we again approach the broad mountain ranges through the valley of North Park we should be aware that this area is home to the state’s largest moose population.

The broad alpine summit of Cameron Pass on the Continental Divide at 10,276 feet is ultra scenic. The snowy surrounding peaks announces to us that we are in the presence of a Colorado Classic. We now face 3,000 feet of sublime descent over the next 28 miles and then another 2,000 feet over the next 30 miles until we reach the small town of Rustic.

Much of our descent follows the Cache La Poudre River and snakes us through “The Narrows” of the canyon, with rock formations and debris left behind from receding glaciers. The blend of roaring whitewater, precipitous canyon walls, inviting roadside parks, and mountain vistas will have us nodding in appreciation. Add an undulating and winding road and we will have enough reason to call this the “perfect” ride.

Some 72 miles from Walden we leave the Cache La PoudreScenic Byway and detour southeast along County Hwy 27, the Stove Prairie Road. This 25 mile long rural road jaunt to US Hwy 34 begins with a 1,000 foot ascent over the next 5 miles, passing through a twisty forest beginning and emerging into fertile grassy fields. (I'm not sure what this area will look like as the High Park Fire, which occurred in 2012 burnt a lot of this area.) The next 15 miles are a slice of some of the most savory riding we may have yet encountered. With the crooked Buckhorn Creek leading the way we will have an amusement park of a ride – except better, and free.

We ease up on the throttle for the small town of Stove Prairie and its quaint historic 1890 schoolhouse. There is a slight easing of the bends while the tarmac leads us down our 1,000 foot descent through picturesque fields and meadows as we approach Masonville. Another 5 miles brings us back to US Hwy 34. From there we head east 10 miles to Greeley, the beginning and end of this scenic and great riding experience.

Day 6: 288 miles 6 hours saddle time