Trail Ridge Ride

[usranger74]

http://goo.gl/maps/8j7Yy

Some food for thought.

The Trail Ride Road up and over Rocky Mt Nat. Park is a spectacular ride but it is not necessarily and fun ride in a car or motorcycle.

The Park is a destination for folks from all over the world. Many of them fly into Denver and rent RVs. Those RVs are often driven by flat landers who panic when they see a curve. The same can be said for many of the cars on the road. The end result is often a clogged road with slow moving RVs and cars and with many overlooks and parking areas packed. On top of all that, the road is often under "repair".

The best time to ride Trail Ridge is at first light. Get up and get going before the tourist hit the road. The problem with that is, it's cold at 12,000 feet or at least it can be.

The "ride' I have outlined above is worth a look. If I do it, I am on the Trail Ridge Road by 0630.

If you have ridden the Bear Tooth High Way in MT and think that Trail Ride Road might be the similar you are right in that both are high altitude roads with fantastic views. But on the Bear Tooth you can often cruise at 40-50 MPH, you are above 10,000 feet much longer, the road is better and traffic jams are rare and there are few RVs.

[pronghorn]

I've riden Trailridge 3 times this year and traffic has not been a problem. Weekends are the worst times and there is less traffic riding west to east. It is not a fast ride at anytime, they patrol both sides. For fast and twisty there is Peak to Peak south out of Estes and loop around over Berthoud Pass and finish in Estes. If you come to Estes Trailridge should be on your bucket list for the scenic reasons and pure enjoyment.

[mobandy78]

Originally Posted by pronghorn

I've riden Trailridge 3 times this year and traffic has not been a problem. Weekends are the worst times and there is less traffic riding west to east. It is not a fast ride at anytime, they patrol both sides. For fast and twisty there is Peak to Peak south out of Estes and loop around over Berthoud Pass and finish in Estes. If you come to Estes Trailridge should be on your bucket list for the scenic reasons and pure enjoyment.

I've been over Berthoud Pass a few times in the winter. Can be a tricky drive in blowing snow. I even tried to ski there the first year I went across it, but we arrived too late and didn't get to ski it. I would have had to take an avalanche course before hand and I was too late in the day for it... oh well. It is a neat drive from I-40 to Winter Park, though.

[waterman]

If it is dry, I might give Old Fall River Road a try. Dirt all the way to the top. I've taken it in a car.

[Sin City Stan]

Originally Posted by waterman

If it is dry, I might give Old Fall River Road a try. Dirt all the way to the top. I've taken it in a car.

We drove it in a 1978 Chevy Blazer. It was a year old. Not sure if I will give it a go on a bike.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Sin City Stan

We drove it in a 1978 Chevy Blazer. It was a year old. Not sure if I will give it a go on a bike.

Drove it a couple years ago in a car. No problem.

[usranger74]

I am not saying the ride on Trailridge is not worth the time. If you have not done it, it's worth the time. All I am saying is that the road has a lot of traffic on it, parts of the road are not in good repair and even on weekdays many of the parking lots and overlooks are full. Your best chance for light traffic is an early morning ride. The route I outlined in fact takes you up and over Trailride. Mid to late June if the peak time for visitation to the Park.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by usranger74

I am not saying the ride on Trailridge is not worth the time. If you have not done it, it's worth the time. All I am saying is that the road has a lot of traffic on it, parts of the road are not in good repair and even on weekdays many of the parking lots and overlooks are full. Your best chance for light traffic is an early morning ride. The route I outlined in fact takes you up and over Trailride. Mid to late June if the peak time for visitation to the Park.

Bill, they actually repaved a big chunk of trailridge a couple of years ago. Most of it is in very good shape. Weekdays are a whole lot better for that drive than any weekend.

[cactusjack]

Bill, what you say is true for nearly every National Park. When we were in Arches in 2010, the place was packed with idiots in rented motorhomes. One of them nearly took out a bunch of our bikes in a parking lot. Yellowstone and Yosemite can be horrible to drive through, traffic wise.

One of the things I like about Trip's propensity to schedule rallies during the middle of the week is that there is usually less tourist traffic.

[usranger74]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Bill, what you say is true for nearly every National Park. When we were in Arches in 2010, the place was packed with idiots in rented motorhomes. One of them nearly took out a bunch of our bikes in a parking lot. Yellowstone and Yosemite can be horrible to drive through, traffic wise.

One of the things I like about Trip's propensity to schedule rallies during the middle of the week is that there is usually less tourist traffic.

CJ - Could not agree with your more. That's why I don't care to ride in NPs. Great places to visit and enjoy but not a good ridding experience.

[Sin City Stan]

Our route to and from the Rally will take us on Trail Ridge Road. We will be looking forward to other routes during the Rally.

[Loafer]

I plan on going to the rally, not sure how much riding I will be up for
when I get there. That loop looks like a must do.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Loafer

I plan on going to the rally, not sure how much riding I will be up for
when I get there. That loop looks like a must do.

Good to hear Gerry. There will be a couple rides that might be a must.

[Top Cat]

Since there are no planned group rides for the National I have been researching on my own for scenic rides to take while there.
I have a 290 mile ride planned but it includes the trail Ridge, which on further research says it is 48 miles from Estes Park to Grand Lake and takes 2 hours. If this is correct it does not leave us much time for the other 242 miles.
Would we be better off taking Bill's route and doing the Trail Ridge ride by itself on a different day?
Also, it would be nice if someone familiar with the area would plan and lead a ride to the Garden of the Gods from the motel.
I researched that also and there are a lot of roads there and it would be nice to know which to take.
According to my mapsource program some of them may be one way, is this correct?

[waterman]

Tim,

At some point we will have ride maps up that Pronghorn and I came up with.

Garden of the God??? That would be one long day. Longer than the 290 you have on the trail ridge ride. That is a doable ride. I've done it myself. Doesn't leave alot of time for stops but there is some.

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Since there are no planned group rides for the National I have been researching on my own for scenic rides to take while there.
I have a 290 mile ride planned but it includes the trail Ridge, which on further research says it is 48 miles from Estes Park to Grand Lake and takes 2 hours. If this is correct it does not leave us much time for the other 242 miles.
Would we be better off taking Bill's route and doing the Trail Ridge ride by itself on a different day?
Also, it would be nice if someone familiar with the area would plan and lead a ride to the Garden of the Gods from the motel.
I researched that also and there are a lot of roads there and it would be nice to know which to take.
According to my mapsource program some of them may be one way, is this correct?