Route around Denver, CO

[tagalong]

We'll be leaving Yellowstone in a couple days heading down to Colorado Springs.  Can anyone suggest a route that would have us totally bypassing Denver? 
Thanks!

[Challenger]

If you are going for the ride, We did Rt-40 from Craig to Rt-9 to Rt-24 into the springs a few years ago, will take a lot more time, If you are in hurry, skip this Rt. maybe someone from Co. will chime in. 

[elraque]

I'm pretty familiar with that area. Your route will depend on how you're leaving Yellowstone.

There are several ways to get to I-70 (or I-25). From I-25 it's tough to bypass Denver, but you can go through Fort Collins instead of taking I-25. You'll still hit most of Denver.

I-70 is better because it will let you get onto I-470 (an outlying belt route), then to Hwy 85 which will take you to Castle Rock, then south on I-25 to Colo. Springs.

Let us know if you want more details. The way you're leaving Yellowstone will determine your route to Colorado.

[Duckwheat]

Come down thru Rawlins, to Baggs, Wy, to Craig, CO. to Steamboat Springs, to Silverthorne, to Breckenridge, over the pass to Fairplay to Salida, to Canon City, Slip up the back side from Canon City to Colorado Springs.

THat is one pretty ride.

DW

[GreenLantern57]

DW, that sounds like one pretty ride.

[tagalong]

hey duckwheat--is this route full of switchbacks or fairly gentle curves?  our friends took a spill in custer state park and aren't real comfortable on tight turns right now!  your route sounds great as we're heading to rawlins tomorrow.  thanks for the response!! 

[Hoser]

I'm pretty familiar with that area. Your route will depend on how you're leaving Yellowstone.

There are several ways to get to I-70 (or I-25). From I-25 it's tough to bypass Denver, but you can go through Fort Collins instead of taking I-25. You'll still hit most of Denver.

I-70 is better because it will let you get onto I-470 (an outlying belt route), then to Hwy 85 which will take you to Castle Rock, then south on I-25 to Colo. Springs.

Let us know if you want more details. The way you're leaving Yellowstone will determine your route to Colorado.

Castle Rock was a mess last year going to IZ9 due to constuction, mlght not be too bad now if you miss rush hour.  Hoser

[Charlie]

We'll be leaving Yellowstone in a couple days heading down to Colorado Springs.  Can anyone suggest a route that would have us totally bypassing Denver? 
Thanks!

Bro,

Do not leave Yellowstone via the south entrance!  191 is all tore up at the moment.  No pavement for almost the entire way to Jackson Hole, WY.  I was on it two weeks ago, it was raining and pot holes forever!  Find an alternate route.

Charlie

[tagalong]

Charlie,  got your message.  we're riding with dawn and ken.  we're leaving out of cody and ken is looking for the best (least sharp turns) route out to rawlins.  but, he'd also like to avoid denver.  we're very familiar with the springs area but not coming in from this direction. hoping someone can let us know if the way past steamboat springs is pretty smooth curves.
see you at inzane!
alane and john

[9Ball]

done this route many times.  It's not a difficult ride under any circumstances, but you have to remember you're going through mountain passes...of course there are switchbacks.

Your friend needs to relax and ride his own ride and practice reasonable entry speeds and rolling on the throttle to keep the suspension loaded.  By time they get to Colorado Springs they will be an expert.

It's not rocket science and it's not a race...unless of course you want it to be.

Ride safe

[Westernbiker]

Tagalong, sent you a PM please read.
Thanks

[Charlie]

Charlie,  got your message.  we're riding with dawn and ken.  we're leaving out of cody and ken is looking for the best (least sharp turns) route out to rawlins.  but, he'd also like to avoid denver.  we're very familiar with the springs area but not coming in from this direction. hoping someone can let us know if the way past steamboat springs is pretty smooth curves.
see you at inzane!
alane and john

Alane,
If you go that way, plan on some traffic back up in Steamboat Springs.  US 40 is being worked on on Main Street there.  When we went through, we decided to have lunch there.  It is a really nice town and has a number of shops you may want to visit.  It is a sort of Artsy town, similar to Bay Harbor in Michigan.  My wife especially enjoyed a shop where some guy makes quilts.  They are not normal quilts though.  Most are so intricate they look like photographs from 10'-0" away.  There is also a great western store, lots of antique, clothing, art, etc. type stores.  Abe Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin are sitting on benches.  I tried to get Ben to give me some sound advice, but he wasn't talking at the time.

Regarding avoiding Denver, I can't say the best way to go.  I can say US 40 down to I 70 is a beautiful road.  It goes through Winter Park, which is also a very nice town.  There are a few switchbacks south of Winter Park, but most of the road is very awesome riding.  This was probably one of the best routes we took.

[Duckwheat]

No significant switchbacks on that ride at all. Nothing like in Custer St. Park.

The pass is not that bad, good highway up an over. The route I gave you does not include Castle Rock so I am not sure why they brought it up.

Have fun. Steamboat is a good place to eat. Traffic is tourist and will be worse on a weekend than a weekday.

DW

[F6Dave]

There are lots of nice routes through the Colorado mountains that will get you past Denver, but they'll all add significant time.  If your only goal is to avoid the traffic, the E-470 toll road will bypass 90% or more of the metro area.  The drawback is the ridiculous price: $12 for 46 miles.  You'll be billed a month or so later in the mail as the toll booths have been removed and they now take pictures of your plate to ID you.

Keep in mind that I-25 has significant congestion outside of Denver, thanks to a legislature and governor who give transportation a very low priority (hopefully changing in November).  The 4 lane stretches south of Denver to Colorado Springs, and north to Fort Collins, now see stop and go traffic much of the time.  You also have other N-S options in eastern Colorado, like CO-71, a good and nearly deserted road.