Denver to the South Park Basin Loop

Motorcycle Route Author

By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jun 30, 2009

Rider Reviews

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Guest

April 5, 2011

Yes, South Park can be a bit windy. Just get…

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Guest

September 21, 2009

The previous rating is a good one, except for the…

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Written Directions

Leave Denver via southbound Hwy #85 thru Sedalia; pick up Hwy #105 in Sedalia and head southbound to Palmer Lake-Monument. Pick up I-25 slab for a few miles as you head south into Colorado Springs and then exit southwest from I-25 onto Hwy #115 headed southwest past Fort Carson toward Canon City. Pick up Hwy #50 westbound into Canon City and 3 miles west of the Canon City head northwest on Hwy #9 across South Park. Hwy #9 meets Hwy #285 in Fairplay where want to take a right on to 285 and head northeast over Kenosha Pass back thru Bailey & Conifer and end back in Denver.

Scenery

A little bit of everything with a lot of scenery. Start with rolling foothills along the Palmer divide; a little bit of slab; then go SW of Colorado Springs past Fort Carson watching the landscape become more arid and full of bluffs. On the way back you tour the South Park basin which is one of Colorado's three most prominent & beautiful Rocky Mountain valley areas. During this ride you'll pass by the Buffalo Mountain range and return along wonderfully scenic road over Kenosha Pass.

Drive Enjoyment

Virtually great roads all the way around the Loop. It's two-laners through back country about 80% of the Loop. Blacktop all the way w/county maintenance crews keeping Hwy #115, Hwy #9 very well maintained for all internal towns.Hwy #285 is a two-lane (w/occasional passing lanes) State Hwy and is maintained maticulously due to it being one of the primary thru-ways internal in Colorado. I-25 is an Interstate and is well maintained but constantly under varied types of highway maintenance at varied portions.

Tourism Opportunities

Plenty of food stops between stretches of open range. Throughout almost the entire loop, you're never more than 30 miles from a gas/convenient store stop. However, once you turn northbound from Hwy #50 onto Hwy #9 and begin crossing "South Park"...you're out in open range. Although you're still only 40 miles /- from a given small country store or small town at any given time, it's always good to keep your tank above 1/4 tank. As you drivetheentire Loop, there are always many and varied side road picnic areas; thru South Park you have varied reservoirs, mountain ranges and state sponsored "vistas views" to stop at along with a handful of official "state reststops" etc.