343 Miles of Colorado Mountains

KYwoodsrider

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Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
186
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
At Downtown Cripple Creek.

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I eventually made my way over by Buena Vista area before turning back towards home late in the afternoon.

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Making my way home on Hwy-285, I got stuck in the typical Sunday "return to Denver" traffic.
It was bumper to bumper all the way from Fairplay to Denver! Really slowed my average way down for the day, and took me an extra hour and a half to get home.
Weather was perfect all day! Was an awesome day of riding!

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Looks like a really awesome ride.
I am making my first trip to CO this August riding the Tenere. I am staying 1 night at Mueller State Park during the trip and I am interested in riding Phantom Canyon Road from Canon City up to Victor then 67 over to Cripple Creek then on to Mueller.
What is your opinion of Phantom Canyon Road?
Is this something I can do on a fully loaded Tenere with Metzler Tourance's.
In the video's I've seen the road looks maintained however I would like to hear from someone that has actually ridden this.
Thanks
 

Paul466

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Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
516
Location
Littleton, Colorado
Looks like a really awesome ride.
I am making my first trip to CO this August riding the Tenere. I am staying 1 night at Mueller State Park during the trip and I am interested in riding Phantom Canyon Road from Canon City up to Victor then 67 over to Cripple Creek then on to Mueller.
What is your opinion of Phantom Canyon Road?
Is this something I can do on a fully loaded Tenere with Metzler Tourance's.
In the video's I've seen the road looks maintained however I would like to hear from someone that has actually ridden this.
Thanks
Phantom canyon is a great mellow ride, watch out for cars around blind turns, there is free camping spots there, you should do shelf road also.No need for hardcore tire, you be fine with Metzlers
 

SuckSqueezeBangBlow

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Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
370
Location
Whitby, Ontario
Looks like a really awesome ride.
I am making my first trip to CO this August riding the Tenere. I am staying 1 night at Mueller State Park during the trip and I am interested in riding Phantom Canyon Road from Canon City up to Victor then 67 over to Cripple Creek then on to Mueller.
What is your opinion of Phantom Canyon Road?
Is this something I can do on a fully loaded Tenere with Metzler Tourance's.
In the video's I've seen the road looks maintained however I would like to hear from someone that has actually ridden this.
Thanks
We did it last year on the S10 but I had Shinko 804/805's however they were not needed you could probably do it on any tire. Really an awesome ride.
 

SkunkWorks

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Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,735
Location
Colorado
Looks like a really awesome ride.
I am making my first trip to CO this August riding the Tenere. I am staying 1 night at Mueller State Park during the trip and I am interested in riding Phantom Canyon Road from Canon City up to Victor then 67 over to Cripple Creek then on to Mueller.
What is your opinion of Phantom Canyon Road?
Is this something I can do on a fully loaded Tenere with Metzler Tourance's.
In the video's I've seen the road looks maintained however I would like to hear from someone that has actually ridden this.
Thanks

Yes,
As the others have said, it is a mellow dirt road. I have ridden it a few times and the only thing you'd have to worry about is the occasional car or truck taking up more than their half of the road.
Make a loop using Old Stage Rd. and Shelf Road and you'll have an awesome day of riding from Canon City!

https://goo.gl/maps/KEESiPVQ4iSHR3oe9

Dirt Route 1.JPG
 

KYwoodsrider

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Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
186
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
Yes,
As the others have said, it is a mellow dirt road. I have ridden it a few times and the only thing you'd have to worry about is the occasional car or truck taking up more than their half of the road.
Make a loop using Old Stage Rd. and Shelf Road and you'll have an awesome day of riding from Canon City!

https://goo.gl/maps/KEESiPVQ4iSHR3oe9

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Thanks for the routes
It really helps with planning the trip.
 

KYwoodsrider

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Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
186
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
I have another question
Great advice, I found Red Feature, nice area with trails/fire roads/county roads. Most fun was Buckhorn Rd at Masonville, CO up over White Mtn and back Poudre Canyon Rd. Incredible ride
Looks nice but I don't think I will make it that far north on this trip.
 

KYwoodsrider

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Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
186
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
I do have another question.
Riding from Ouray to Mueller SP I'm thinking of taking 139 out of Gunnison across Cottonwood pass to Buena Vista. (139 to CR742 to CR209 to CR306)
Does anyone know if this is all paved?
 

SkunkWorks

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Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,735
Location
Colorado
Hwy 50 along the Arkansas River is very scenic .
If you are riding that way into Canon-City, make sure you detour along "Skyline Drive" on your way into town.
It's a fantastic Hogs-back Ridge that gives you a great view down either side.

Skyline Drive.JPG

IMG_3418.JPG
 

KYwoodsrider

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Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
186
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
Hwy 50 along the Arkansas River is very scenic .
If you are riding that way into Canon-City, make sure you detour along "Skyline Drive" on your way into town.
It's a fantastic Hogs-back Ridge that gives you a great view down either side.

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Yes. I have that as part of my route.
I extended my trip by one additional day so I could ride from Mueller down Phantom Canyon road to Canyon City.
 

2talltoo

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Joined
Jan 21, 2018
Messages
295
Location
Denver, CO
It's a shame they paved Cottonwood pass now it is a VERY busy road and SLOW (RVs now use it). Many times you will encounter cattle from Almont to the pass itself, you may think you missed those fresh pies but you will be spreading fertilizer. Another nice unpaved road is Colorado Hwy 12 form Paonia reservoir (on Hwy 133) to Crested Butte. You never know the condition of this road but usually it is hard packed. Here I had a unique to me (Iowa farm boy raised) experience riding through thousands of sheep being moved, my riding buddy and I now refer to it as Sheep Shit Hwy. I am a (the glass is half full guy) but Colorado and for sure the San Juans are getting loved to death.
 
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