Colorado Mountain Passes

[mustangjonny84]

I've been stewing on this idea for quite some time with my friend, Steve. Late last fall, that's pre-pandemic, we decided that this would be the year. I had purchased my FTR in July. And, at the time, he was on a Yamaha FJR1300...which over the last year became a Ninja 1000....which also then became a BMW S1000XR. Must be his old age. He just can't decide what he wants. ;-) After his brother saw the maps we had planned, he was screaming to join us on his Concourse 1400.

We wanted to hit 25 of Colorado's paved mountain passes. As well, we planned to hit the roads that take you to the top of two 14ers! All while taking two days of PTO and riding for four days. Could we have camped? Sure. But after a day in the saddle I know that a bed and a hot shower are priceless. So I traded in a few of my hotels.com reward nights and kept the trip as close to a freebie as possible.

 

[mustangjonny84]

For the first day, we knew we needed to get through Rocky Mountain National Park. Its proximity to my house usually makes me take for granted whether or not I can actually get INTO the park. As it turns out, because of covid, they were selling a limited number of passes for each day and each of those has a reserved time slot. We didn't "win" a pass...they sold out in a millisecond. But if you read the fine print, you'll notice that the passes are for 6a-5p while the Park remains open 24 hours/day. So we left my house at 4:30am and drove right into the Park at 5:40am sans pass and sans concern.

Day 1 took us to:
Wind River Pass - 9,130'
Iceberg Pass - 11,827'
Fall River Pass - 11,796'
Milner Pass - 10,759'
Willow Creek Pass - 9,621'
Rabbit Ears Pass - 9,426'
Muddy Pass - 8,710'
Gore Pass - 9,527'
The Trail Ridge Road Summit - 12,183'

And then we stopped for the night in Kremmling, CO

 

[mustangjonny84]

Day 2 took us to a few more of the "bigger" passes that are on highways. Even a small amount of time on I-70 which I try to avoid like the plague. Stopped in South Park for lunch and enjoyed some bomb green chili in the company of aliens. And bedded down ultimately in Loveland, CO.

Berthoud Pass - 11,307'
Guanella Pass - 11,669'
Kenosha Pass - 10,001'
Red Hill Pass - 10,051'
Hoosier Pass - 11,541'
Vail Pass - 10,666' \m/
Battle Mountain Summit - 9,267'
Tennessee Pass - 10,424'
Fremont Pass - 11,318'

 

[mustangjonny84]

Day 3...Steve's brother had to head back home to Kansas so we were down to two riders. And we only hit four passes....but MAN did we get high! Since this is America's Mountain, be prepared for all of America's people to be present in the form of traffic. Coming down I didn't top 22mph. But there's a donut shop in the Summit House on top that's a strange local landmark. Ended up sleeping in Manitou Springs where the jalapeno/bacon wings are heavenly!

Trout Creek Pass - 9,346'
Currant Creek Pass - 9,482' (I didn't even see a sign on this one!)
Wilkerson Pass - 9,507'
Ute Pass - 9,165'
And the summit of Pikes Peak - 14,115'

 

[mustangjonny84]

By day 4, my a$$ was as ready to get home as my rear tire was. Mt Evans Road is closed for the season and MAN did I fight the urge to just ride around the gate. Otherwise, this is the most imaginative way I could imagine to get from Manitou Springs back to Longmont.

Juniper Pass - 11,020'

 

[edgelett]

wow that's an incredible adventure!
thanks for sharing your story of your trip and pics with us

 

[mark.lb]

What a great adventure. Looks like you guys had an awesome ride and saw some spectacular scenery and vistas.
I am jealous! I ride every day but have never taken a motorcycle trip. August 7,8,9 my son in laws and I will ride to the MotoAmerica Super bike race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. It is about 1-1/2 hour ride each way 3 days in a row. Always seems like we get home a little faster after watching racing all day.

 

[ferraiolo1]

nice routes!

 

[Fuse5]

Thanks for sharing.. you will never forget .
@mark.lb ..vermont ?

 

[mark.lb]

I live in the State of Pennsylvania. Mustangjonny84‘s trip was in the State of Colorado.

 

[Fuse5]

Mark i saw it. Colorado.. far away ! Vermont hills possible? (went there only once, but i´am german and dont know all about)
btw. sorry for, cut this one at the moment @mustangjonny84
..back to Colorado

 

[Fattony]

Random question did you see 2 other FTRs on the side of the road. I was in CO the same time you were and I saw another FTR pass us near Nederland

 

[mustangjonny84]

I didn't see you....but it's entirely possible that I was the one riding by. When we went through Ned it was probably Sunday around noon. And it was busy AF. So I was busy trying not to hit tourists.

 

[jimmy 53g]

I'm a new member and ride a ftr out of Greeley, looking for people to ride with and your pass ride sounded like a blast.

 

[EllenGtrGrl]

In a word - wow!!! I loved the Rockies, when I we went through them (via Wolf Creek Pass) in the mid 70s while traveling to California for my cousin's wedding. It sounds like you had a blast. It certainly put my rides through the hilly terrain around here to shame.

 

[mustangjonny84]

I'm a new member and ride a ftr out of Greeley, looking for people to ride with and your pass ride sounded like a blast.

Welcome, Jimmy! I'll shoot you a PM one of these weeks when I'm planning a weekend-morning ride up the canyons.

 

[mustangjonny84]

In a word - wow!!! I loved the Rockies, when I we went through them (via Wolf Creek Pass) in the mid 70s while traveling to California for my cousin's wedding. It sounds like you had a blast. It certainly put my rinds through the hilly terrain aroun here to shame.

Ellen, that's awesome! I hit up WCP many moons ago on my first bike (just look at that young fella on that beat-up SV!). Definitely a lot of fun! Next time you're passing through CO give us a shout and I'll join you through a pass or two.