nomd wrote:
>anyone know what rt. 285 from Denver to Fairplay or Buena
>Vista is like.
>
>
Yes, I have ridden it from south of Morrison to Buena Vista
- in late June.
Have you seen this page?
http://www.dot.state.co.us/BikePed/maps.htm
The State Map is a 3MB pdf (and their server acts like it's
on a phone line), but it's a pdf file and you can zoom right
in for detail and printing.
>Is it multi lane highway or two lane rd.
>
There's some four lane spots when you are closer to Denver
to handle heavy commuter traffic (rush hours and weekends).
Most of the route, though, is two lane with shoulder (except
4 lanes near towns - like Conifer). I'm pretty sure the
shoulder disappears west of Bailey, but so does the traffic.
>? Is it scenic ?
>
Yes. In Denver and Lakewood, it's dreadful, but once you are
west of there you go through some interesting spots. There's
some interesting exposed topography near Morrison (Dinosaur
Ridge) - and the layered sandstone of Red Rocks.
http://www.geocities.com/jghist/Spec...drocks/red.htm http://www.cliffshade.com/colorado/dakota_hogback/
Once past Turkey Creek Canyon, you enter the more typical
lush green mountains of Colorado. My favorites parts begin
near Conifer and especially west of Bailey.
>I was thinking of taking it out of Denver on my way to
>Crested Butte
>
You've chosen the best route.
>and eventually to the San Juan range.
>
Excellent! Cross over to Crested Butte by going to Buena
Vista and then west over Cottonwood Pass. You'll hit hard
packed dirt on the way down the pass - on the west side, but
it's very manageable and this is definitely the best way to
get to Crested Butte (as opposed to highway 50 over Monarch
Pass to Gunnison - a very UNdesireable route).
>It looked like a pretty tame road to start a tour with and
>get used to the altitude.
>
Not entirely. Leaving from Boulder, I did 60 miles and 6000
feet by the time I got to Grant at the base of Kenosha Pass.
However, Kenosha Pass is only 10,000+ feet - a lower pass
than most, so that part is much tamer. It's certainly easier
than taking the I-70 route and climbing Loveland Pass at
12,000 feet. There are some steep spots - like Crow Hill.
>Whats the traffic like in august?
>
>
It's a main artery for returning from weekend jaunts, so on
Sunday their is lots of eastbound traffic. East of Conifer,
commuting hours are very busy. Riding between rush hours on
a weekday will be fine. There's really no other practical
route, and your assumptions about being a tamer route are
basically correct.
Highlights on the route:
Hot Dog stand in Aspen Park- near Conifer.
http://www.r-
oadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_Attracti-
onNo==1532
Dropping down from Kenosha Pass you'll be in South Park
(like the cartoon). The view as you descend from Kenosha
Pass is spectacular. Have your camera ready.
Cottonwood Hot Springs west of Buena Vista.
http://www.cottonwood-hot-
springs.com/ It's a little expensive to get a room there,
but you can camp free within a mile (state campground) and
pay for the pools. Or $25 and you can camp on their site and
soak. These are *the finest* hot pools I've ever been in. It
is well worth a stop here, especially on a cycle tour.
There's nothing like a good mineral hot soak to cure what
ales (aches?) you.
I would have recommended this route if you had asked. But
ride it on a weekday. Avoid early morning and late afternoon
rush hour near Denver.
There's a friendly little tavern and grill in Grant - right
at the beginning of the final ascent of Kenosha Pass - where
they let a friend and I set up our tents for free on our
first night of a ride to Buena Vista (easily reachable on
the second day. From Fairplay to Trout Creek Pass, it is
slightly downhill with and there is typically a tailwind.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.)
Let me know if you have more questions.
--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is common.
*****************************
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