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We hope you enjoy reading our blog and do not hesitate

to post your comments and feedback!  Carrie and Sandra



Day 1 in Idaho Springs, CO.

August 2012:  Two friends, Carrie and Sandra, set off on a 2 week independent cycling trip across Colorado, USA. 

Our adventure began in Idaho Springs and we cycled over 1,000 kms experiencing challenging climbs and scenic descents through the Rocky Mountain National Park, Frisco, Breckenridge, Salida, Gunnison, Montrose, Telluride, Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez and more!

We thoroughly enjoyed our cycling trip and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an adventure - visit the Adventure Cycling Association for inspiration to start your trip with a wide range of maps available!


You can also read about our side trips to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and the Grand Canyon National Park where I hiked from the South Rim to the North Rim.


  

Mesa Verde NP to Cortez

Contemplating the descent down from Mesa Verde National Park to Cortez, CO - the end of the cycling trip!

Day 13 - Mesa Verde and Cortez.

We cycled just over 1,000 kms across Colorado!

Today is the last day of our cycling trip!  We have a short ride cycling just over 30 kms on highway 160 - straight to Cortez.

We left Morefield Campground and enjoyed a scenic descent to the bottom, before following the highway into Cortez.

Reaching Cortez signaled the end of the cycling trip and we took a few commerative photos by the welcome sign and felt proud of ourselves for reaching the end without having any punctures or accidents!


We celebrated over lunch and then headed over to the Kokopelli Bike Shop in downtown Cortez to drop the bikes off as the owner kindly agreed to ship the bikes back to New World Sports bike shop in Fort Collins. 

The guys at Kokopelli were extremely helpful and we would highly recommend them!

Kokopelli Bike Shop in Cortez, CO.

Now we seperate and start another adventure! 

Please click the links on the left hand side to read our trips to Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon National Park.

Starting point: Mesa Verde National Park, CO
End point: Cortez, CO
Total distance:  32 kms

Dolores to Mesa Verde National Park

That is where we are heading! Pointing to a steep climb up to Mesa Verde National Park!

 

Day 12 - Dolores, Mancos and Mesa Verde National Park.

 

A relatively easy day, covering about 60 kms along highway 184 all the way to Mancos, then highway 160 to Mesa Verde National Park.

We left Dolores early and decided to travel to Mesa Verde via Mancos.   After a 16 mile ride we arrived and found a great breakfast place ‘Absolute Bakery’... once again, it is all about the food on this trip! 



Entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.

After a short 5 mile ride from Mancos, we arrived at Mesa Verde National Park and as soon as we had passed through the entrance it was an extremely steep climb up to the campground.  With the climb over with, we set up our tents and cycled out of the campground leaving all our gear for the first time...it felt amazing!   

The first stop was the Visitor Centre, involving yet another steep climb and at this point we surrendered and caught a lift up with some friendly tourists!  We spent the next few hours cycling around some of the sites and visited the museum. 

 

Cliff Palace View lookout in Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

Mesa Verde National Park - "It offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings".  Source: National Park Service.

Incidentally, we got chatting to one of the rangers who remarked that tourists often ask if there are any more 'undiscovered' ruins?!

One of the many cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people in Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

It is easy to spend a few hours in the park and after touring around we were hit by the fact that the only way to the restaurant is a 5 mile climb up!  We hadn't accounted for the extra distance we cycled in the park, so we tried in vain to get another lift but it didn't work and we struggled up the hill and had a well deserved dinner!

By the time we left it was starting to get dark and due to the amount of wildlife, it is not safe to cycle back so we got a lift from the staff shuttle.

Beautiful lookout point in Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

Starting point: Dolores, CO
End point: Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Total distance:  72 kms
Campground: Morefield campground

Telluride to Dolores

Day 11 - Telluride, Rico, Stoner and Dolores.

We are cycling over 90 kms today along highway 145, all the way to Dolores.  We have a steep climb up Lizard Head Pass (10,222), where we follow the Dolores River all the way to our motel.

 

We woke up to discover that it is a great place to explore and we couldn't resist taking the free gondala up to see the town.  The views are amazing and it is well worth the trip. 

Beautiful views in Telluride, accesible with the free gondola from Telluride, CO.

Once out of town we had a hectic climb ahead, which was made worse by the fact that we realised that we could have taken our bikes up the gondola and avoided the climb!  Slow and steady is the name of the game and once the climb was over, we cycled down into Mountain Village and then up  ‘Lizard Head Pass'. 

The climbs get a lot easier and once at the top, the sense of achievement is worth it!

The scenery in this area is beautiful and after a quick 12 mile downhill cycle to Rico, we were both starving and found a great diner with the best philly cheese steak sandwiches!

After lunch we enjoyed a 38 mile descent all the way to Dolores, covering the distance quickly and arrived in Dolores just before 7pm.

With no accommodation booked (we found it difficult to find places to stay here), we did a quick fly-by of the town and settled on a cheap and cheerful motel cabin room and enjoyed dinner at a local  brewery.

Starting point: Telluride, CO

End point: Dolores, CO

Motel:  Motor Inn
Total distance:  104 kms

Montrose toTelluride

The scenery in Colorado is breathtaking.

Day 10 - Montrose, Colona, Ridgeway, Placerville, Sawpit and Telluride.

We are cycling around 70 kms today - taking highway 550 to Ridgeway, highway 62 to Placerville and finally following 145 to Telluride.



Welcome to Ridgeway, CO.

After being hosted for the night, we were up early and driven to see the local sights of Black Canyon National Park. 

Once back on the road, we followed 550 to Ridgeway, which is mostly downhill all the way.  It was a lovely hot day, so we stopped in Ridgeway and saw the 'True Grit' bar before we started an uphill climb to Placerville!

This area of Colorado is stunning and I often found myself pulling over and taking lots of photos.

For the first and only time on the trip, we lost each other and in all the confusion we ended up cycling the extra distance to Telluride.  With no accommodation booked, we spent the night in a great hotel.

Starting point: Montrose, CO
End point: Telluride, CO
Total distance:  104 kms
Hotel:  Victoria Inn

Gunnison to Montrose

Great day cycling from Gunnison to Montrose - spoilt for scenery!

Day 9 - Gunnison, Sapinero, Cimarron and Montrose.

We have a big distance to cover today - cycling over 100 kms following highway 50 all the way.

It was a cold morning, so when we finally managed to drag ourselves out of our warm sleeping bags, we  cycled the short distance into Gunnison for a warm breakfast! 

Warmed up, we stayed on highway 50 all the way to Montrose, cycling alongside the Gunnison River for almost half of the journey. 






Despite being on the highway for the entire day, the scenery in this area is stunning.  You also realise that being on the bike makes you appreciate the views so much more than if you were driving in a car. 

I am offically hooked on touring places on a bike, I just wish I started earlier!

 

Starting point: Gunnison, CO

End point: Montrose, CO
Total distance:  107 kms
Campground: Hosted!

Salida to Gunnison

Day 8 - Salida, Poncha Springs, Maysville, Garfield, Sargeants, Doyleville, Parlin and Gunnison.

 

Today we are cycling

98 km through many small towns.  Once out of Salida, we are back on highway 50 all the way to Gunnison, with a steep climb up Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312).

 

 

Starting point: Salida, CO
End point: Gunnison,CO
Total distance:  98 kms
Campground: Tall Texan Campground

Fairplay to Salida

Day 7 - Fairplay, Johnson Village, Nathrop and Salida.

Todays journey covers an easy 70 km route, with a long descent from Fairplay on highway 285, taking us nearly all the way to Salida.  We only have one small climb up Trout Creek Pass (9,346' elevation).

We woke to a cold morning in the campground and headed straight to Johnson Village for breakfast.

As most of the ride was downhill, we had managed to cover over 35 km by early morning!

The views today were amazing, with some of the most scenic downhill yet throughly enjoyed with no steep hills to climb!  

We took highway 291 to Salida and with plenty of time to enjoy the town, we stopped at a few coffee shops and relaxed for a few hours before leaving for the campground.

 

 

Starting point: Fairplay, CO
End point: Salida, CO
Total distance: 72 kms
Campground: Heart of the Rockies Campground