Originally Posted by
eofelis
I live in Grand Junction and I'm familiar with riding/touring and driving many of the roads south of Grand Junction and into southeastern Utah.
I'm at work so I can't post much right now.
I can offer more specific advice and maybe some assistance if you are in the area. We are on the warmshowers list.
I, too, am on the
Warmshower list. You can contact me through them, Tobias. Or you can PM me when you get enough posts.
Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
What route would you recommend from Del Norte to Denver?
There are several. I probably wouldn't go to Del Norte and instead follow CO 17 from Alamosa to Villa Grove*. Then I'd catch US 285 to Buena Vista. From there there are several ways of going.
1. Through Leadville to Frisco over Loveland Pass along I-70 (you don't have to ride the Interstate)
2. Over Trout Creek Pass and follow US 285 almost all the way. I'd take a detour off of US 285 through Turkey Creek Canyon because the people who drive that are crazy. But that's just details.
3. Over Trout Creek Pass to US 24 and down into Colorado Springs**. Follow the I-25 corridor (again you don't have to ride the Interstate) to Denver.
4. Ride over Poncha Pass to Salida then follow US50 to Canon City*** and up through Colorado Springs.
The highest and hardest route would be through Leadville. The most traffic would be along US285 with one high pass (Kenosha) to cross. The US24 route would have a lot of traffic just before Co Springs but you are going downhill so the speed differential isn't as bad. The lowest, and most circuitous route, would be US50.
*Stop by the Great Sand Dunes National Park and, especially, visit the Alligator Farm outside of Mosca. There's also a wonderful little restaurant/bed and breakfast/general store in Villa Grove.
**Visit Garden of the Gods in Co Springs.
***Make sure you ride over the Royal Gorge Bridge outside of Canon City (there's a tilde over the 'n' so it's pronounced Canyon)