Posts Tagged ‘Cottonwood Pass’

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First Ride Over Newly Paved Cottonwood Pass

Monday, August 3rd, 2020
on top of Cottonwood Pass

Dennis up on top of Cottonwood Pass.

After a night in Cripple Creek the OFMC had a couple options on getting to Gunnison, our next stop. I had figured to just backtrack to U.S. 50 and go over Monarch Pass. But I had been in contact with my friend Kevin, in Gunnison, and he texted me saying, “I highly recommend Cottonwood Pass. Best asphalt in the state.”

Judy and I had just been over Cottonwood in the car a week earlier so I wasn’t thinking about it, but I mentioned it to the guys and they liked the idea. Obviously we had never been over Cottonwood on the trip before since it had only just been paved. So Cottonwood it would be.

We headed out of Cripple Creek by the back way but then bent north to Florissant. We went over Wilkerson Pass again, as we had two days earlier, into South Park and down to Buena Vista, again.

Approaching Buenie we could see that the area around the pass was enveloped in deep purple clouds so we figured we’d better suit up. During our stop I texted Kevin, who was planning to ride out and meet us on top. I warned him to wear rain gear. By the time we headed up the pass, however, the weather was moving along and while the road was wet we never did encounter rain. On the other side of the pass, however, Kevin got pounded.

We met up top and spent a good half hour shooting the bull with each other and also Charlie, who was up there on his Indian. Charlie just moved out to Buena Vista from Wisconsin and is just in the stage of exploring all that Colorado has to offer. I pointed him to this website but he said he had already visited and found it very helpful. Those are the words I love to hear.

We headed on down to Taylor Reservoir and stopped to peel off the rain gear because now it was sunny and warm. Riding down through the Taylor River canyon was sweet but we got to Almont and came out of the protection of the canyon and got hit by powerful winds. Those winds kept up on us all the way to Gunnison and for a couple hours more. A windy day in Gunny, I guess.

Now we were in Gunnison for two nights because this was our golf stop. The next day we hit the links but on the driving range I took a practice swing and my right shoulder hurt–a lot. I whacked a couple balls and the pain was intense! I had hurt my should back in February and had had no pain for a couple months so I thought I was OK, but obviously I was not. “I can’t do this,” I told the guys. I took my clubs back and got a refund and drove the cart for Bill while playing ball spotter for him and Dennis.

Next day we’re heading for the Million Dollar Highway.

Biker Quote for Today

Top 10 signs that a computer is owned by a Harley rider: 07. — Number key pad only goes up to two.

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Cottonwood Pass Is Paved All The Way

Monday, July 20th, 2020
Cottonwood Pass

As expected, the “improvements” have diminished the fun of Cottonwood Pass. On the other hand, a lot more bikers will now ride this pass.

Ever since I heard last fall that they had finished paving Cottonwood Pass over on the west side I’ve been wanting to get up there and see it. Part of my eagerness, however, was trepidation about the “improvements.”

We’ve all seen how so-called improvements can often diminish the appeal of a road like this. They don’t just come in and lay asphalt over the existing road, with all its twists and turns. Whereas the old road was built to the contours of the land, the “improved” road reshapes the land to the contours of the road. And inevitably they straighten out a lot of the curves.

As you can see in the photo above, the inevitable happened here. Those bare streaks show clearly how the old road used to go, and you can see how the curves have been straightened. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve done a beautiful job on the road. It just can’t help but be a bit disappointing if you know what the road was like before.

And a lot of bikers did ride this road before. I’ve even seen Harleys on the old road, so while it was rough in places it was very doable. But there are plenty of riders who would never have taken it and now they will.

Of course what all this means is that I now need to revamp the Cottonwood Pass page on the website. I already had it on there because it had been paved on the east side for a long time and, as I said, some riders were doing it even then. But now revisions are in order.

So if you’re looking to get between Buena Vista and Gunnison, you really want to consider Cottonwood Pass now. I’m sure it’s shorter than heading south from Buenie to Poncha Springs and over Monarch Pass to Gunnison, and there’s much less traffic. Do be aware, however, that this is a summer only pass and is closed in winter.

Biker Quote for Today

We know you’re a poser if you’ve never seen a sunrise from two wheels.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Info to Add to Website | 2 Comments »

Some Great Riding Still Not Open

Monday, May 25th, 2020
Independence Pass

Don’t go heading for Independence Pass just yet, it’s not open.

The RMMRC was planning a ride over Guanella Pass last week and I was very much inclined to go. But the day was extremely windy and that dampened my enthusiasm. I’ve been out on days when it was windy in town, and when I got to the high country, especially above timber line, it was howling. That’s not my idea of fun, and I ended up not going.

Well, I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to anyone who did go but the next day I read in the Denver Post that Guanella was not open yet. OK. Did they find that out when they got to Grant? Or when they got near the top? Or did they get over despite it being officially closed? I’m curious to find out.

This tied in very conveniently with a post I was already planning, which was to check out the status of all of the larger Colorado roads that close in winter. Here’s what CDOT, the Colorado Department of Transportation, has to say.

Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park is closed for the season and will remain closed until further notice due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns. To hear updated road status please call the Trail Ridge Status Line at 970-586-1222.

Independence Pass. Closed for the season. (OK, does that mean it closed last fall and is not yet open? Are they not going to open it at all this year? I find that doubtful. CDOT could be more helpful here. But the Post article said it will open on June 1.)

Cottonwood Pass. Same. The Denver Post also says this will open on June 1.

Guanella Pass. Same. The Post says to be opened at a date to be determined.

Mount Evans Highway. To be determined.

Pikes Peak. Is expected to be open to the top as of June 1.

So the bottom line here is, check before you go. Don’t count on things opening up at the time they usually do. But I tell you, once it does open I really want to do Cottonwood Pass. They finally got it paved all the way last year and I have not been on it since they were done. This is number one on my list.

Biker Quote for Today

If the countryside seems boring, stop, get off your bike, and go sit in the ditch long enough to appreciate what was here before the asphalt came.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides | No Comments »

Cottonwood Pass and Taylor Canyon Now Up On Website

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Eight months ago I went up Taylor Canyon and over Cottonwood Pass shooting pictures and gathering information to put these places up on the Passes and Canyons, Motorcycle Touring in Colorado website. Taylor Canyon is a beautiful canyon, with lots of good motorcycle-accessible camping spots. Cottonwood Pass is only paved on the east side but the gravel road is passable on the west. Both deserved to be on the site.

I’ve been busy. But I finally got it done. Here are some photos from these places.

Taylor Canyon

Cottonwood Pass

The top of Cottonwood Pass

Biker Quote for Today

To me, the best kind of trips are the ones you planned on the way, allowed yourself to change, and maybe didn’t end up where you expected.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Day Rides, Info to Add to Website, motorcycle touring, Routes to Add to Website, Suggested Rides, Updates Made to Website | No Comments »

Taylor Canyon and Cottonwood Pass Are Keepers

Monday, July 27th, 2009

After cruising Kebler Pass last weekend we went on up Taylor Canyon and over Cottonwood Pass. This was another of those Colorado roads that I haven’t been on because it wasn’t paved and I wasn’t sure how good it would be on a motorcycle. I had been hearing that it was decent gravel, however, and needed to check it out.

sport bikes
  Cottonwood Pass looking west

Well here’s the verdict. It is not as good a gravel road as Kebler Pass. It is passable, however. I know this for a fact because there were Harleys and all sorts of bikes doing the ride. (Update: Cottonwood Pass was paved all the way some while later. It is now a great road on any bike.)

I knew that Cottonwood Pass was paved on the eastern side, from Buena Vista, and I have been up there on my bike previously. What I didn’t know was that on the western side, coming east out of Almont, you pass through Taylor Canyon, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the road is paved all the way to Taylor Reservoir. It’s only about 12 miles then from the reservoir to the top of Cottonwood Pass.

Considering all that, I would definitely add this road to my list of good rides in Colorado. Personally, I would prefer going east to west so all of the gravel would be downhill. I just feel more comfortable on a street bike going downhill on rough gravel. And some of it is rough, make no mistake. But if those Harleys can do it anyone can.

I’ll be adding Cottonwood Pass and Taylor Canyon to the website as soon as time permits. I have a lot of good photos but you’ll have to wait until I get the new page up to see the rest of them.

Biker Quote for Today

Destinations are merely excuses to ride.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, Info to Add to Website, motorcycle touring, Routes to Add to Website | 1 Comment »

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