funrover 

I have 2 plans for the not too far off future and was wondering if anyone here could help me. I am wanting to know what you thought of the riding conditions on

Hwy 115 from Colorado Springs to Canon City and


HWY 24 from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista

Thanks

cyccommute 

CO115 from Colorado Springs is very rolling but has nice shoulders most of the way. There are few services on the entire road, so plan accordingly.

US24 from Colorado Springs is both good and bad. Just out of Manitou Springs, the road is steep and very narrow with lots of stupid people. Once you get to the North Pole/Pike's Peak turn off, the road widens out but is still steep. Once you get past Woodland Park, the traffic drops off and the road flattens out some. You still have Wilkerson Pass to climb but it's not too bad. South Park is windy and be sure to stop in Hartsel since this is the only place to get any supplies between Woodland Park and Buena Vista.

One more bad bit and you are in Buena Vista. Trout Creek Pass is busy, narrow and fast. Be very careful once you enter the canyon. There's not much shoulder and lots of blind corners. You'll be fast on the downhill but the cars are faster. Also watch for rocks in the corners.

funrover 

I drive 24 a lot and keep looking at it, I really want to do that ride. The 115 route seems like it would be a much better place to start however. Thanks for the input!

clydesdale

Yea I will have to say HWY24 is not a good route from the springs to woodland park. I have thought about it too. It is not worth my life. 115 is good but as stated above long haul between services. Have fun stay safe.

Shifty

The ride from Manitou to Woodland park is OK, I've done it many times. The key is to do it at low traffic times. When you get to Cascade you get off of highway 24 and take the side road al the way into Green Mountain Falls, then up onto 24 again to Crystola where you turn left onto another side road into Woodland Park.
The ride from Woodland Park to BV is a scary ride, I did it once, not fun.

If you want a better ride take highway 115 to Florence, then south on 67 to Wetmore, then up Hardscabble Pass on 96 to Westcliffe. From Westcliffe you can go north to Texas Creek, then highway 50 into Cannon City, Florence and then back to the Springs.

funrover 

Do you know the name of the sideroads? Why was it scary from Woodland to BV?

Shifty

The first place to turn off of 24 is in Cascade, take the left turn on the road to Pikes Peak Highway. That is Fountain Ave, then where the Pikes Peak road angles left, you go straight onto Chipeta Park Road. Follow Chipeta Park Road into Green Mountain Falls, past the little pond and the post office the road turns right and goes up to 24. Get onto 24 for a mile or so, then turn left at the Crystola Inn and take Woodland Ave right into the center of Woodland Park, this road goes right behind the Walmart store. Here's a map for you:
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2436114

Woodland Park to Divide is fine now, huge wide shoulder. From Divide to BV highway 24 has a very tiny, or no shoulder and cars and trucks go very fast. It's a beautiful ride (except for the miles and miles of South Park), it's just dangerous. Like I said, I did it once and feel lucky to have made it safely to BV. I guess if you pick the right time it would be OK, not a weekend, that's for sure.

funrover 

Thanks!!

Heyduke

Funrover:

Are you planning on doing either of these rides soon? When is "the not too far off future?" Another rider and I have been talking about WP to BV. We would rather be dropped off in WP than chance being grinded along Ute Pass but we could be talked into it. Also, are you riding a road, cross, touring or MTB? Are you planning on doing the WP->BV ride in one day? We were thinking about camping.

Anyway....the more, the merrier!

funrover 

I am thinking early summer and one day. I have a road bike that I am doing it with. My wife is going to tow our little camper to BV and camp there!

cyccommute 

Not wilderness camping but think about the KOA in Bueny. One of the prettiest campgrounds around.