Route suggestions from ABQ to Grand Junction?

[JonnyCinco]

While I sift through all the Tenerites clamoring to be in my presences in ABQ....would like to get some suggestions from the peanut gallery.

After slabbin' it across the flatlands, recommendations on heading up from ABQ to Grand Junction? I should have about 3 days to make the trip. But, I will be loaded (3 week bike trip, which will include the missus luggage). So, fun roads, but I would like to avoid "WTF am I doing with an 800lbs pig on this road" roads ::021::

Right now...my route:

http://goo.gl/maps/jvVqn

 

[ST-venture]

I would recommend NM state road 76 out of Santa Clara / Santa Cruz through Chimayo to 75 and 518 to Taos. Then US 64 to Pagosa Springs.
Then US 160 to Durango, US550 to Ridgeway, then 62, 145 and 141 through Gateway, then on to GJ. No dirt roads here though.

 

[gmtech]

beware just on the million dollar higway last week rock slide 3 miles ish south of Ouray road closed 8am to 1230 then open for an hour then closed till 6pm one lane open when road is open so as long as your before or after that your good

all the oil has worn off since last june
took the 4runner this time with friends looooaddddsssss of snow!

 

[JonnyCinco]

Glad to hear my oil spots are gone. Not sure if I will venture up there again this time around.

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[Don in Lodi]

Do you have time to loop west to Mexican Hat and the mesa country? Valley of the Gods, Moki Dugway... Sorry, that area of southern Utah is a full trip on its own, maybe ignore that. ::26::

 

[JonnyCinco]

I was thinking of hitting up that area. Just a bit worried with the load I will be carrying. What is the terrain like? I can handle gravel and dirt pack. would get a bit worried with rocky climbs that involve ledges and sand.

 

[Don in Lodi]

A buddy ran his BMW LT down Moki, he said it was well graded. It is actually a numbered highway that UDOT keeps in good shape, dirt or not.

 

[Ramseybella]

You could take 550 from Bernalillo to Bloomfield to 64 to Farmington to Ship rock north on 491 AKA 160 to Cortez Colorado then north on 145 to Dolores CO (stop and have a beer and a bite in Dolores) then to Telluride (great ride indeed) then right on 64 to Ridgway then north on 550 to split onto 50 the Grand-J.
on the way back I would head all the way down through 550 (camp at Ouray if you can find a spot at the Amphitheater campground south end of the town site 11 choice view teared site) to Durango then Pagosa to Chama to Abiquiu right on 96 cross over the dam back to NM 550 south to home..
Damn Dude I am ready to go with you Lol!! ;D

 

[klunsford]

You could take 550 from Bernalillo to Bloomfield to 64 to Farmington to Ship rock north on 491 AKA 160 to Cortez Colorado then north on 145 to Dolores CO (stop and have a beer and a bite in Dolores) then to Telluride (great ride indeed) then right on 64 to Ridgway then north on 550 to split onto 50 the Grand-J.
on the way back I would head all the way down through 550 (camp at Ouray if you can find a spot at the Amphitheater campground south end of the town site 11 choice view teared site) to Durango then Pagosa to Chama to Abiquiu right on 96 cross over the dam back to NM 550 south to home..
Damn Dude I am ready to go with you Lol!! ;D

This is a nice route. great roads and great scenery. Take it from some who used to live in Colorado and has ridden that same similar route many, many times.