Introducing Shadow Mountain Drive And Kerr Gulch Road
After rejoining U.S. 285 just near Conifer (see part one, “The Hills Are Full Of People“) we only stayed on it going west long enough to get off again just past Conifer at CO 73, which runs from Conifer north to Evergreen. After just a few miles we turned west on Shadow Mountain Drive, which is Jefferson County Road 78.
Shadow Mountain Drive is a nice side trip.
Turns out this is a really nice road. It goes up, winds around a lot, and eventually comes out at Evergreen, although by the time it does it has morphed into Black Mountain Drive and then Black Forest Road. It rejoins CO 73 less than a mile from where you hit downtown Evergreen. And just as so many other roads we traveled this day, it demonstrated just how full of homes and people these hills are. So now I know.
At Evergreen we got on Evergreen Parkway north just a short way and then turned west on Stagecoach Boulevard. This winds its way up through the canyons, eventually reaching Witter Gulch Road. This is a very nice road that runs very steeply, with a lot of switchbacks, up to meet the Squaw Pass Road, CO 103.
I had only ever been on this road once before, on a different RMMRC ride, and that time we were going down. This time we were headed up, so it was very different. If you like tight twisties you need to go ride this road.
Here we turned east again, back down to where Squaw Pass Road meets Evergreen Parkway. Then we turned north.
In about two miles, going past Bergen Park, we came to Jefferson County Road 23, Kerr Gulch Road. This is the kind of road you’ll drive past forever without really even noticing. The only marking is a small sign that reads CR 23–there’s no indication where it goes.
Kerr Gulch Road
Once again, this is a good road, not busy, quite scenic and it runs down to Kittredge, on Bear Creek Road, which runs up from Morrison to Evergreen. Who knew this was here? You’re even less likely to notice this road down at the Kittredge end. It’s a little east of the main part of town and looks just like any of the other roads that run off into the hills to the homes around there. For anyone heading up Bear Creek, looking to get over eventually to I-70, this is a terrific short-cut. But who even knew it was there? I sure didn’t.
From Kittredge we turned east toward town, and once we emerged from the canyon at Morrison it was time for everyone to split up and head their own ways home. This was a heck of fun day’s ride.
Biker Quote for Today
You know you’re a biker if anyone who doesn’t ride is just ‘OK.’
