Passes & Canyons Blog

A rider coming to Winter Park, CO, from Louisiana asked a question about routes. Here is the answer I gave him. He will be coming into Colorado over Raton Pass.

Unless you need to make time, get off the interstate as soon as you can. You could get off at Trinidad and loop over Cuchara Pass, then go west on US 160 over La Veta Pass, swing up past the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, and then head north to Poncha Springs and Buena Vista. From Buena Vista you could either go to Fairplay and over Hoosier Pass or go through Leadville and over Fremont Pass, either way reaching I-70. Then go east on I-70 to where US 40 branches off and goes over Berthoud Pass and down into Winter Park.

If you want to get there more directly but still have time to get off the interstate a bit, leave I-25 at Colorado Springs and go up US 24 to South Park over Wilkerson Pass, then head toward Buena Vista and follow the previous directions.

Once you reach Winter Park there are all sorts of possibilities. Take a look at www.motorcyclecolorado.com for all sorts of options.

We just got back from a week’s vacation and of course it was a working vacation. As soon as possible I’ll be adding a lot of new information to the website, filling in a few of the blanks. I’ve got new info and pictures on Unaweep Canyon, Lizard Head Pass, and Cuchara Pass. And I’ll be adding info on a number of additional motorcycle-friendly campgrounds. Also have a few eateries to list as recommended and one or two motels. Anyone who wants to recommend (or pan) restaurants and motels/hotels just send the information along. The whole idea with www.motorcyclecolorado.com is to provide useful information for others around Colorado.