Posts Tagged ‘Coal Creek Canyon’

An Interesting Route Combination

Monday, July 25th, 2022

Our route.

I did a ride a couple weeks ago with the RMMRC and while none of the roads were new to me, the particular sequence was and it was an interesting route. I had known the gist of the ride beforehand but when I tried to figure out what Gray, the leader, had in mind I was way off. That map above shows the route but it can’t zoom to show you the detail.

We met first at the Full House Sports Bar and Grill for breakfast, then rode out to Golden, where we picked up a few more riders. Then we headed north on CO 93 to where we turned up Coal Creek Canyon, CO 72.

It was a great day to ride, with the weather cool enough in the morning that I wore my sweatshirt under my mesh jacket and was chilly. But with the heat we’ve been having, it was a welcome chilliness. Gaining elevation heading up Coal Creek it got even cooler and it did not get warmer as the day progressed.

We reached the Peak-to-Peak just south of Nederland and turned south. This in itself was interesting because almost any time I go up Coal Creek Canyon I turn north toward Nederland. We took the Peak-to-Peak down to Golden Gate Canyon and turned down that road.

Here’s where it gets interesting. We didn’t take Golden Gate all the way back down to CO93, we made the sharp left turn to go up Robinson Hill Road (CR69) and up into that area, where we met Douglas Mountain Drive (CR60), which took us down the really steep road where we again met the Peak-to-Peak, this time south of Black Hawk. This is a great road and if you haven’t been on it you owe it to yourself to ride it. Also, of note, at the top of the steep downhill there is a sign “Pavement Ends” and it used to do that. Since last year, however, since I was on it last, they’ve done some paving so the only portion that is not completely paved are a couple tights corners. Who knows why they didn’t pave those. But if you don’t like riding off the pavement, have no fear–this is a good road for a street bike.

We jogged left the very short distance to where old US 6 peels off from the Peak-to-Peak and heads up toward Idaho Springs. Where the road meets I-70 we took the old US 40 route up alongside I-70, which itself is a really nice climb. Over the top of Floyd Hill and down to the overpass across the slab onto CR65, which winds its way around to Bergen Park. There we jumped on Evergreen Parkway briefly, toward I-70, and turned down Kerr Gulch Road (CR23).

That brought us out just outside of Kittredge and we turned left down Bear Creek Canyon to Morrison. A really nice ride. And, by the way, it did finally get warm, making that cool morning all the more appreciated.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if you dream of owning a Harley dealership.

Found A New Road

Thursday, June 24th, 2021

You can’t see the detail with the map zoomed out this far but you won’t have any trouble finding the roads.

Don’t you love it when you find new roads to ride? Of course you do. So do I.

Well, this one does require that you be willing to do a little gravel but it’s good gravel. Heck, I’ve even ridden my Concours, which notoriously hates gravel, on part of this stretch once before. But no question it’s better with the V-Strom.

Judy and I wanted to get up in the hills away from the heat the other day and we headed up Golden Gate Canyon Road out of Golden. There’s a point where you come on a small lake or pond–Kriley Pond–just a short ways before you get up to the Peak-to-Peak. Immediately past the pond you’ll see a dirt road going off to the north. Take it.

This is Mountain Base Road and it takes you along the western edge of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, just inside the park. This segment is just 3.5 miles to where you hit County Road 2, also called the Gap Road. Turn right onto Gap Road.

One of the first things you’ll come to on Gap Road is Panorama Point. This is a high spot where the view is expansive, and there’s a viewing structure as well as toilets here. Be advised that you are in the park and while there is no park fee for using the roads, if you stop you are technically required to get a day pass, for $10. So use your own discretion if you choose to stop.

Heading east on Gap Road it only stays gravel for a couple more miles and you hit pavement. And where do you suppose this pavement brings you out? In Coal Creek Canyon. Who knew there was a road connecting Golden Gate Canyon and Coal Creek Canyon? I sure didn’t. And It’s a really nice road, very scenic, very pretty. Also very twisty.

The total distance is only 11.8 miles, of which roughly half is very good gravel, the rest excellent asphalt. Not a big deal but hey, when you’ve ridden pretty much every road in the area multiple times it’s really nice to find something new.

Biker Quote for Today

An intellectual is a man who doesn’t know how to park a motorcycle.

Smokin’ Mama!

Thursday, October 1st, 2020
motorcyclists at Brainard Lake

Regrouping up at Brainard Lake.

Wednesday seemed like it would be a great day to ride, so Roy planned a fall color RMMRC ride up the Peak-to-Peak. As I headed out, though, going west on Hampden, I couldn’t even see the foothills. Either I was heading into a serious rainstorm or a ginormous cloud of smoke.

I assumed it was smoke from the forest fires, and counted on that because I did not have my rain gear with me. As I got further west I started smelling the smoke, so that question was answered.

As I approached C-470 I could see that the smoke was much much thicker to the north, where I still couldn’t see the foothills, versus the south where I could see the hills. Not good, considering that we were heading north.

When I got to the meeting place I immediately asked Roy if he had a Plan B. He said of course he did, but he apparently didn’t hear the “B” portion because he proceeded to detail the route originally set. That is, he definitely had a plan. Not a Plan B. I asked about the smoke but he didn’t think it was of any concern.

We headed up the Golden Gate Canyon road and I wondered if, as we got higher, the smoke would either clear or perhaps the wind would be blowing up there and chasing it away. In the meantime, it was killing my sinuses and I coughed constantly.

Up on the Peak-to-Peak it was better than down below but not good. But it wasn’t terrible. We headed north and whenever we came to places where we went down, such as coming into Rollinsville and Nederland, you could see the denser smoke in the lower areas and you could sure smell it as we came down.

Just past the turn-off to Ward we turned left to go up into Brainard Lake Recreation Area, our destination. I was a little surprised but the fact is I had never been there. It’s a really nice ride up to the lake and very pretty once you get up there. More importantly, we really seemed to finally shed the smoke as we climbed this little bit higher.

So we got up there and had the lunches we had brought and the sky was blue and sunny and it was beautiful. How nice. You couldn’t have asked for better. And the place was busy. Don’t all these people have jobs to go to? Apparently not. We didn’t.

Heading down it was startling how quickly we hit smoke again. We hadn’t even made it back to the ranger building where you pay your entry fee when it started looking and smelling smoky. And then by the time we were back down to the Peak-to-Peak we were right back in it.

From there we scattered. There are so many ways to get down from there. Some of us went down through Ward through Left Hand Canyon. Others headed for Coal Creek Canyon. Others, who knows?

Riding down Left Hand Canyon I realized I had only been this way a few times, not like the dozens or hundreds of times I’ve ridden the other canyons coming up to the Peak-to-Peak. It’s a nice ride and I realized I ought to be adding this canyon to my “The Peak-to-Peak Highway and Adjoining Canyons” page. Something else to add to my to-do list.

Biker Quote for Today

Top 10 signs that a computer is owned by a Harley rider: 02. — The keyboard is mounted at the level of the user’s chin and his seat tilts backward — ape-hanger keyboard!

Cold In Them Thar Hills

Thursday, November 23rd, 2017
motorcycle in Coal Creek Canyon

Stopped at a more open space coming down Coal Creek Canyon.

I took another potentially “last ride in the hills for 2017” yesterday. The weather was so nice, and I knew the roads were clear, so what else could I do?

While it was very warm in the city, as soon as I turned up Clear Creek Canyon, with the deep shade cast by the steep canyon walls, the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. That’s OK, I had my electric vest on and had finally found my misplaced winter gloves, the ones with a Thinsulate lining. I was cool but not uncomfortable.

Cruising up the canyon, however, it soon also got quite windy. When the wind comes howling down a canyon it can really turn into a blow but this was moderate, though gusty. At one point I passed a guy on a Harley heading down the canyon and I was convinced it was Bill. Bill lives right off CO 93 and runs up to Black Hawk to gamble frequently and this guy was dressed like Bill dresses, had the same open-face helmet, and even looked for all the world like Bill. We waved.

Reaching Black Hawk I stopped for a belated lunch and texted Bill. No, he and his wife were busy planting tulip bulbs they had just brought back with them from a trip to Holland.

With a free lunch in my belly and a little extra pocket money, courtesy of the Lodge Casino–thank you very much–I got back on the bike. And I noticed immediately that the temperature had dropped while I was inside. Plus, I was going to be climbing for a while. Thank goodness for the electric vest.

Getting further up on the Peak-to-Peak I was as last in the sunshine, though the wind was whipping. Initially I had considered going all the way to Nederland and the Boulder Canyon road but had long ago ruled that out. And at the higher elevation it was colder and I was now reconsidering my plan to cruise over to the Coal Creek Canyon road to head down. But I’ve been up and down the Golden Gate Canyon road so often lately that I really, really wanted to do a different route. So I blew on past the Golden Gate turn-off when I got to it.

It seems I wasn’t the only motorcyclist who had the idea that this was a day for the hills. This was mid-day on Wednesday but there were still a good many bikers up there.

And it got colder. By the time I reached the turn-off for Coal Creek Canyon my fingertips were getting numb. Thank goodness for the electric vest! And now I could start losing elevation, although I still had to climb up to Wondervu. Would that road be icy? There was melted snow running across the road in numerous places along the Peak-to-Peak and sooner or later that snowmelt would definitely be turning to ice.

But the road was OK and I got over the hump at Wondervu and headed down. And it was really nice to be going down Coal Creek for a change. And despite the cold it was, still, a great day to be out riding.

So I came down to CO 93 and turned south. Of course, this road between Boulder and Golden is notorious for high winds and on this day it lived up to its reputation. I rode close to the right side of the road to give myself all the room possible whenever the gusts would try to push me into the northbound lane. I came through the west side of Golden and past the Taj Mahal then turned south to get on C-470.

It was when I had just crossed over I-70 and the southbound lanes were converging that the most powerful gust of the day blasted me relentlessly across my lane and into the lane on my left. Fight it though I might, resistance was futile and I had only a split second to check my mirror to see that while the car behind me to my left was close, there was room for me in front of him. If he’d been 10 feet closer it would have been hairy.

And oh yeah, it was right after this that it occurred to me that my fingers were no longer cold.

The rest of the ride home was uneventful. Chalk up one more ride in the hills for 2017. Will this one be the last? We’ll see. I’ve got all winter to ride the prairie.

Biker Quote for Today

If you don’t like motorcycles then you probably won’t like me, and I’m OK with that.

Not a Day for a Mountain Ride

Monday, October 21st, 2013

OK, I admit it, I am just as curious as anyone else to see an area I’m familiar with after disaster has struck it. I had been thinking for a while that I’d like to see the aftermath of flooding in Boulder Canyon, and that didn’t seem like an unreasonable thing to do considering that they got the canyon completely open again pretty quickly.

Coal Creek Canyon Roadblock

Who knew Coal Creek Canyon was not open? Not me.

It was Saturday and I got on the V-Strom to go have a look. It was a gorgeous day, warm and sunny, and I figured I wouldn’t need the electric vest. I don’t yet have a hook-up for the vest on the V-Strom, so if I wanted to use the vest I would have needed to have taken a different bike. I wanted to ride the V-Strom.

Blasting out 285 it started getting chilly with the high-speed breeze but I knew I was only going to be going fast for a short while. It also started getting quite windy. I turned north on C-470 and cruised up through Golden and onto Rocky Flats on CO 93. I had decided I would run up Coal Creek Canyon and catch the Peak-to-Peak to Nederland and then come down Boulder Canyon to Boulder. Didn’t happen.

As I turned off 93 at the road to Coal Creek Canyon there was a sign flashing that said “Highway 72 closed to Blue Mountain.” Say what? Where the heck is Blue Mountain? Is that a mountain, a town, a road, . . . ? So I decided to ignore the sign.

There was obviously something going on because all along the road there was a pipeline that had been laid aboveground–presumably temporary–carrying who knows what into the canyon. And there were trucks. And then there was that roadblock in the photo above. Figuring on pleading that I had no idea where the road was blocked to because I don’t know where Blue Mountain is, I went past the roadblock.

Not far beyond, however, there was another roadblock, this one manned by a state trooper. No skipping past this one. The guy I spoke to said Coal Creek got a lot worse flood damage than Boulder Canyon or several others. Really? I told him honestly that I had had no idea that was the case. And I said I guessed I’d take a different route.

So back to 93 and on up to Boulder I went. From there I headed up Boulder Canyon, figuring to just run up to Nederland and then back down. It was right near the mouth of the canyon that I saw some evident flood damage and repair. At about five bends the water wanted to go straight and when the bank interfered it ate away the bank. And the road. But fill had been brought in, the banks restored, new pavement laid, and a temporary guard rail set up. In truth, it was not all that bad and not all that big a deal.

I thought surely there must be worse upstream, but as I continued up the canyon I came upon a bunch of small houses and buildings right next to the water that appeared completely undamaged. How could that be? I would have thought they would have been swept away if there was serious flooding. Best I can tell, the creek was raging but the banks were enough to contain it for the most part. And it must have only gotten concentrated down near the mouth of the canyon, maybe from adjoining canyons adding their flow to the total. In other words, nothing at all like what happened in the Big Thompson.

By now the sun had gone into heavy clouds, the wind was whistling down the canyon, and the temperature was dropping as I climbed. I was wishing I had my electric vest and thinking maybe I wouldn’t go all the way to Nederland. Then traffic came to a complete stop. We all sat there for quite a while as probably 200 vehicles came by the other direction. Obviously there was something big up ahead that forced everyone to take turns using a single lane. That must be what I want to see, I thought.

Eventually we started moving and less than a mile further on we came to the delay: a traffic accident that was in the final stages of getting cleaned up. Wonderful. And now I had to keep going and oh me, what a long line of traffic was backed up heading down the canyon. When I finally reached a place where I could turn around and get into the line I was a long way past the accident site. And we didn’t move for 10 minutes or more. Maybe 15. You better believe I wished while sitting there that I had my electric vest.

Finally we started to move, went past the accident site where things were completely cleaned up, and crept en masse back down to Boulder. And then I headed home. Back in Boulder the sun was shining and the temperature was a lot higher than up in the canyon. I guess this was not a day to plan a ride in the hills.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re becoming addicted to riding when you make your passengers sit behind you in the rear seat instead of beside you.

Took a Ride Up Boulder Canyon and Down Coal Creek Canyon

Thursday, April 13th, 2006

I knew I didn’t have photos from Boulder Canyon yet but when I realized I didn’t have any from Coal Creek Canyon either that made it clear what I was going to do today. Headed up to Boulder on US 36 and then up Boulder Canyon on Colorado 119 to Nederland. Along the way, if you’re in the mood for a stop, you can pull over at Boulder Falls and hike up to the falls. Nearing Nederland you come upon Barker Dam, which forms the reservoir that is just downstream from the town.

A quick jaunt south on combined Colorado 119 and 72 and then they split. Highway 119 continues as the Peak-to-Peak Highway and 72 cuts back east toward Rocky Flats, down on the prairie. But first you pass through Pinecliffe and then climb steeply, with lots of tight switchbacks, to the crest at Wondervue. Over the top and then down you go through Coal Creek Canyon. Finally, bursting suddenly onto the flatlands, you see all of Denver laid out before you.

Of course I shot pictures. You can check them out on the Peak-to-Peak and Canyons page.

By the way, on the run I turned over 77,000 miles on my Honda. She just keeps on running.