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I just reserved a cabin about a mile north of Ouray on 550 for a week in mid july. I have been in the area once before but I am not real familiar. If anyone has any good information (or tracks) to share I am all ears. Bringing the 990 and my dad is bring his KLR. Would love to bring the 300 but I don't have anyone to ride a smaller bike with . So I am looking for cool FS type of roads in the area to explore. My dad is 70 so he won't ride anything too crazy. We rode the Alpine loop and Owl Creek pass to the top (from the west) last year and he is fine with that type of riding. So looking for similar passes\loops. One day we would like to make it over to Lake City and was also wondering if anyone had riden from Ouray to Cinnamon\Engineer passes. Is it harder than the Alpine loop? I know there are two ways to get there from 550. Is one easier than the other? Plan on doing a lot of research in the next few weeks. Last time I was there it was somewhat unplanned and we just winged it.

Any must sees? Any pass(es) I should avoid with my dad? Any links to good sites to research the trails in the area? Another question... has anyone ever went to the Mesa Verde National Park? Is it worth the drive from Ouray? Bringing the wife and kids and was wondering if anyone thought it was worth the drive to see. Also, Black Cannon National Park. Worth the visit?

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim

I have some tracks on adv laying down tracks rockies. The west side of Engineer is a little rough, I often ride California, Hurricane, Corkscrew instead but all those are more challenging than Owl Creek. Animas Forks is a really cool ghost town, I haven't been to Carson in a few. Between California and Hurricane is the start of Poughkeepsie (BAD).
Ophir's not too bad, maybe combine it with Last Dollar Road instead of Black Bear and Imogene. From Ouray you could go up Imogene as far as Sneffels.
Here is a link you'll find useful..

http://www.myxj.net/blog/colorado-gps-tracks/

another..

http://www.narrowgauge.org/4x4/html/4X4.html

Los Pinos runs from Slumgullion Pass all the way over to Sargeants, Marshall, Old Monarch, Black Sage, Waunita and Cumberland are all easy, but quite a haul being based in Ouray.
I was just reading up on Bolam pass, but have never been on it.

Have not been to Mesa Verde but it is on my list. Friends say go. Go.
Durango and Silverton narrow guage RR would make a great family day. Expensive at ~$100/person, though.

Long day, but riding over toward Hancock, Tomichi, etc. is a pretty ride. Lots of high speed gravel between Lake City and US 50.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 410&page=2
Take a look at page 4 of that report for my GPS tracks. Google says 2 hours by pavement to get from Gunnison back to Ouray.

Thanks guys still researching it now. Love the link to all of the tracks. I would check out the advrider thread but it appears their site is down. Read something somewhere about Mesa Verde was voted the nations favorite NP and was surprised to hear that.
Can't wait.
Jim

Here is a source of GPS tracks, pictures, ideas, difficulty, etc that I use for CO and UT: http://www.traildamage.com/

Realize that 4x4's and motos find different things challenging, so look at the different rating areas.

Jim

Engineer pass from west to east, Ouray to lake city, is a fair bit tougher that the alpine loop. I am taking about the most common way out or Ouray (Mineral Creek) it is pretty hard for a big bike in the beginning, then gets somewhat easier. Other passes are Imogene to Telluride, and Yankee Boy. Stony Pass out of Silverton it is fairly rocky but easier from west to east. Animas Forks up to the loop is easy. I would not recommend Black Bear on a big bike. Those are the ones I know around Ouray/550. Let me know how your cabin is. I am thinking of going out there for some pass riding in August maybe o camp or a cabin, depending.

tim wrote:Jim

Engineer pass from west to east, Ouray to lake city, is a fair bit tougher that the alpine loop. I am taking about the most common way out or Ouray (Mineral Creek) it is pretty hard for a big bike in the beginning, then gets somewhat easier. Other passes are Imogene to Telluride, and Yankee Boy. Stony Pass out of Silverton it is fairly rocky but easier from west to east. Animas Forks up to the loop is easy. I would not recommend Black Bear on a big bike. Those are the ones I know around Ouray/550. Let me know how your cabin is. I am thinking of going out there for some pass riding in August maybe o camp or a cabin, depending.

Thanks all for the info. I am more worried about my dad than myself. I just don't want to get him on anything he isn't comfortable with or he might not want to come back with me. We definitely want to get back over to Lake City if for no other reason to take a look at the fire damage over by the Rio Grande resevoir. Assuming the area is now safe.

I have found a good site to find a cabin is VRBO.COM (vacation rental by owner). Basically you rent someone elses second home. Decent rates compared to a motel if you have more than a few people. We got this place for $1,500 for a week (http://www.vrbo.com/404574). Seems expensive but when you think we have 8 people which would require at least 2 hotel rooms the price isn't bad. This is my first time using VRBO.COM. When I get back I will chime in with how the cabin was. Perfect area being only a mile north of Ouray and butting up on BLM land. Hopeing to hit most of the passes in the area next week. Might not get my dad on the one way part of Black Bear though In fact it might wig me out as well on the 990.
jim

If your schedule permits a couple days to acclimate will make your trip much more enjoyable. The upper parts of Imogene are the toughest, on the Ouray side you probably don't want to go past Sneffels, and on the Telluride side no higher than Tomboy mine with your Dad on a KLR. If you wanted to attempt it, it's probably easier east to west.
You don't want tall highway gearing for engine braking, and no half worn brake pads.
You can experience most of Black Bear by going from Telluride up to Bridal Veil Falls, you can go as high as the driveway to the old powerplant atop the falls, past there it's one way only coming down.
You guys can ride Ophir, Cinnamon and most of Engineer, I wouldn't go any further west on Engineer than Mineral Point. Between California and Hurricane if you aren't careful you can get sucked into Poughkeepsie pretty easy. Two years in a row one of our group got down by Lake Como by mistake and it's difficult getting back up outta there.
There's a bunch of stuff on both sides of the Animas River valley between Animas Forks and Silverton. It would be a few miles of pavement, but a trip to Creede is worth it. Interesting geology and old mining relics above town.

Great info thanks!!
Actually last year we rode the entire alpine loop (Cinnamon to Engineer) and he really enjoyed it. So anything fairly comparable to that he won't have a problem with. I bought the 4x4 book people always mention but that doesn't always transfer to a bike well.
Jim

Looks like Black Bear/Bridal Veil falls may be a no go for your trip, road construction.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.p ... 618&page=3