Passes & Canyons Blog

Getting ready to ride in Morrison.

After two days of rain it seems our heat wave has been broken. That meant that Wednesday was a great day for a ride. And there were 13 riders who showed up for the RMMRC excursion who seemed to agree.

Heading out early, I felt it wise to wear a sweatshirt under my mesh jacket. I didn’t regret that, and later in the day I was actually wishing I had an additional layer. That’s how cool it was.

We gathered in Morrison and headed up Bear Creek Canyon to and through Evergreen. At the Evergreen reservoir we left the highway and continued on up the canyon on Upper Bear Creek Road to Witter Gulch Road. Then it was up, up, up till we reached the Squaw Pass road. I had to wonder how some of these new guys were doing on this very technical road as they dropped well out of sight behind me, but everyone made it to the top.

From there we turned east down to Evergreen Parkway and got separated by cars along the way. When those eight of us in front got through the traffic signal, the five behind did not. That might not have mattered but we very quickly then turned off Evergreen Parkway at CR65, which runs northwest to cross I-70 and connect with old U.S. 40 just on the eastern downslope of Floyd Hill. Gray, who was leading, had said he would stop at turns so no one would get lost but he didn’t, nor did anyone else. As the last one in the eight I did stop, but I was afraid I would not be particularly visible as the others came along.

My fear was well founded. They came roaring along and went straight on through the intersection, never even noticing me though I was waving to get their attention. I waited a few minutes to see if they had spotted me at least and would come back but no one showed so I slowly headed along, pulling over a couple times to let cars past me. Finally I sped up to try to catch the others.

The first obvious spot for the main group to wait would have been where CR65 hits U.S. 40 but they weren’t there. I deduced that it was more likely that they were heading up Floyd Hill to drop down on the other side into Clear Creek Canyon and U.S. 6. I headed that direction and there at the top they were pulled over waiting. Gene came back and asked me about the others, then passed that info along. Nothing much to now but keep going and figure they knew the destination.

So down we went into the canyon, to where U.S. 6 branches off from the Peak-to-Peak Highway and there we went toward Black Hawk just a short distance before taking the sharp right turn to take us up Douglas Mountain Drive.

This is a terrific road and now that it’s nearly completely paved, though very roughly at points, it should be a must for anyone out for some fun riding. Up and over the top and then we dropped down into Golden Gate Canyon. We turned east to come out at Golden and then on to our lunch spot. No sign there of the other guys so we went on in and got tables. Then five minutes later there they were.

Turns out, they knew they had lost us so they pulled over to confer. Bruce had a pretty good idea of the planned route so he led and they pretty much followed the same route we did. If we had stopped at some point, even for a few minutes, they probably would have caught up with us. So all was well. And what a great day for a ride! And what a good route.

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.

Looking down from up high on Douglas Mountain Drive.

I mentioned this road on Monday and promised more info right away, so here we are: Douglas Mountain Drive. I was jazzed enough by this road that I went out a couple days later and rode it again, this time with my regular camera and my GoPro camera.

As before, I headed up Golden Gate Canyon Road. It was a great day to be out riding, with a lot of heat in the city but much cooler up higher. Plus, there was not a bit of traffic in front or behind me so I could cruise at my own easy speed.

I reached the well-marked turn to the left to go up Robinson Road and made the turn. A sign warned of road work ahead and there was, but just minor shoulder work and the flag man flipped his sign to send me right on up. All clear after that.

The road does enough serious climbing that I figured I would need to ride it in the other direction some time. You go on up and over a crest and then, what a surprise, you’re in an alpine park that is a neighborhood. Who knew so many people lived up here?

On through the park and I came to a place where Robinson Road goes off to the right but the pavement goes to the left, now becoming Douglas Mountain Drive. A “Pavement Ends” sign could lead you to believe the pavement would end soon but that must apply to Robinson Road, up ahead, which goes to gravel immediately. If you’re not paying careful attention you won’t notice the change and wonder about the sign.

Douglas Mountain Drive continues on over a ridge and then you come to another “Pavement Ends” sign. This one is for this road but it really ought to read “Pavement Maintenance Ends.” I suspect the county decided to cease maintaining this road but it will be years before it totally degrades. Right now it is paved all the way, though in need of some repair. Not a problem, you just steer around the potholes.

And then it goes down. And down and down, at steep angles with hairpin curves. And great views. And look at all the houses built on the steep sides of the hills!

I stopped right where the two roads split and that’s when I turned on the GoPro. You can watch the video of the whole ride down to where it hits Colorado 119, the Peak-to-Peak Highway, just past where US 6 goes left to head to Idaho Springs. A nice ride.

I got to the bottom and didn’t really relish running down Clear Creek Canyon so I turned around and went right back up. That also gave me the opportunity to check out Centennial Cone Park, which is part of Jefferson County Open Space. The road to that branches off just a short ways up the hill. It looks like a very nice place but if you’re going to hike the whole loop it’s about 14 miles.

Then a nice ride down to Golden Gate Canyon Road and another cruise down the canyon with zero traffic in front or behind. And then into the heat of the city.

Biker Quote for Today

“I want to ride my motorcycle up the side of the Luxor to the light and vanish.” ? Criss Angel