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jfink
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We were going to post real time, but just had to much fun riding and visiting in Colorado. So this is an after the fact report. Here is the route we rode from Spotwalla.
As we expected to ride:
What we actually rode:
Day 0 (we arrive in Raton)
We started from Raton, NM with the hope of riding the Santa Fe trail over the old Raton pass. Turns out all the property on the Colorado side of the pass has been sold to a developer who has gated off the pass. But we rode the NM side none the less.
Some dirt on the old Santa Fe pass.
Overlooking the City of Raton from Goat Hill
The Iridium Layer from the K-Pg extinction event 65 million years ago.
We rode the day we got there, and it began to rain, turning some of the road into mud. But at least it isn't the type of mud we get here in east Texas.
Day 1
We decided to try to make it around Interstate 25 on the east side. There was a New Mexico road that was paved all the Colorado border. The riding was good and fast. However, when we hit dirt we ran into a little problem.
City of Raton marker did not necessarily bode well.
A little further and a locked gate
We probably could have made it around however we ran into a Colorado Dept of Trans who said the road was completely gone from the rain up ahead, there was no getting through. So we turned around and rode the interstate.
Where we were stopped again for road construction
We finally were able to break loose and head east across the plains.
More road closures
We managed around the bridge outage by riding down through the ravine
There were a number of abandoned churches along the total route, here is one of them
And finally the mountains to the west
We stopped in Florence Colorado at the Super 8 next to a Federal Maximum Security Prison. None the less, I slept well after a big dinner and a couple brews.
Day 2
We rode the Phantom Canyon Rd to Victor then Gold Camp to Colorado Springs. Entering Phantom Canyon we were met with another "road closed" sign. We rode up anyway and passed a front end loader and spoke with the operator. He said there had been a landslide and there was another front end loader working up the road. He said we were on our own
if we went on. Not sure what that meant.
I suppose we should have turned around, but we didn't and when we got to the landslide, there was a gap big enough to drive a truck through.
The operator said that he had not been beyond this point. The road was very fast except for the occasional wash out.
One of several tunnels
A pretty amazing wood floor bridge
A nice view of Colorado Springs from Stage Coach Road
More dirt
Day 3
We rode Rampart Range Road out of Colorado Springs which I have been on many years ago, but I don't remember these views.
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak from one of the many switchbacks
Pikes Peak again
After riding Rampart we worked our way into Denver and spent 3 days with relatives visiting the Avery brewery where Chucks son works as the manager of operations.
More to come ...
As we expected to ride:
What we actually rode:
Day 0 (we arrive in Raton)
We started from Raton, NM with the hope of riding the Santa Fe trail over the old Raton pass. Turns out all the property on the Colorado side of the pass has been sold to a developer who has gated off the pass. But we rode the NM side none the less.
Some dirt on the old Santa Fe pass.
Overlooking the City of Raton from Goat Hill
The Iridium Layer from the K-Pg extinction event 65 million years ago.
We rode the day we got there, and it began to rain, turning some of the road into mud. But at least it isn't the type of mud we get here in east Texas.
Day 1
We decided to try to make it around Interstate 25 on the east side. There was a New Mexico road that was paved all the Colorado border. The riding was good and fast. However, when we hit dirt we ran into a little problem.
City of Raton marker did not necessarily bode well.
A little further and a locked gate
We probably could have made it around however we ran into a Colorado Dept of Trans who said the road was completely gone from the rain up ahead, there was no getting through. So we turned around and rode the interstate.
Where we were stopped again for road construction
We finally were able to break loose and head east across the plains.
More road closures
We managed around the bridge outage by riding down through the ravine
There were a number of abandoned churches along the total route, here is one of them
And finally the mountains to the west
We stopped in Florence Colorado at the Super 8 next to a Federal Maximum Security Prison. None the less, I slept well after a big dinner and a couple brews.
Day 2
We rode the Phantom Canyon Rd to Victor then Gold Camp to Colorado Springs. Entering Phantom Canyon we were met with another "road closed" sign. We rode up anyway and passed a front end loader and spoke with the operator. He said there had been a landslide and there was another front end loader working up the road. He said we were on our own
if we went on. Not sure what that meant.I suppose we should have turned around, but we didn't and when we got to the landslide, there was a gap big enough to drive a truck through.
The operator said that he had not been beyond this point. The road was very fast except for the occasional wash out.
One of several tunnels
A pretty amazing wood floor bridge
A nice view of Colorado Springs from Stage Coach Road
More dirt
Day 3
We rode Rampart Range Road out of Colorado Springs which I have been on many years ago, but I don't remember these views.
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak from one of the many switchbacks
Pikes Peak again
After riding Rampart we worked our way into Denver and spent 3 days with relatives visiting the Avery brewery where Chucks son works as the manager of operations.
More to come ...
Last edited:
Way back in 2005, I tried leading a group North out of Raton over the old pass and could not find a way through. We even cut West a ways on 555 and tried cross over just below where CO 12 makes its bend North... No luck. It was all gated off. We did talk to a guy. It was a BIG resort type place where people had their summer cabins. REALLY nice summer cabins! Like you, we eventually had to just head back to I-25 and run up to Trinidad. There was some nice dirt that cut the corner of 12 and came out just South of Cuchara. We got to ride over the Royal Gorge bridge. That was pretty cool! Then we worked our way West to Montrose on 50 and spent the rest of the week riding in that area.
Looks like you guys had an awesome time, and that's what it's all about, eh? Thanks for sharing.