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0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Also, I'd HIGHLY recommend that people check out Larimer County Road # 27. This road runs between US 34 east of the Big Thompson Canyon and dumps off just west of Poudre Park in the Poudre Canyon. This road is MADE for bikes, I had a blas and though I was going to have to buy new floorboards for my Electra Glide by the end! The pavement on this route is in better shape than CO 14 or US 34, and the corners were almost entirely gravel free. One note of caution on this route, the corners aren't real well marked, and if you screw up you'll lauch yourself out into the cow pastures.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Started this ride in Golden, Co. Rode up the Golden Gate Canyon road to the Peak to Peak Highway. North on the Peak to Peak to Estes Park at the entrance to Rocky Mt. N.P. Stopped for a late lunch, and wait for the rain to stop in Estes Park. Then east to Loveland for the night. Made the "loop" the next morning, stopping to photo white water kayaker in part of the Poudre River, along with alot of scenec pullouts. Overall this is a great ride, good road, beautiful scenery. What more do you need. I have ridden all over the rockies, and the western states, and recommend this ride.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

My ride started in the Black Hawk/Central City area thus included the awesome Peak-to-Peak Hwy to Estes Park. From Estes Park, the ride took me down Hwy 34 to Loveland and then, the only low part of the ride, up US 287 to Ft. Collins - lots of traffic lights... and traffic! Once the ride headed back into the hills, up the Cache la Poudre canyon, traffic thinned out and the scenery became awesome. The farther up the canyon, the less traffic and the more grand the scenery became. The approach into Walden becomes a completely different climate zone from the Poudre canyon. The semi-arid plains of North Park - beautiful in it's own way - and dotted with antelope! Riding back down to Granby and up to Grand Lake took me back into what once was a heavily forested area, now nearly treeless thanks to our mountain pine beetles. The ride over Trail Ridge Rd. ended up being an early evening ride with the sun at my back. The scenery was absolutely spectacular! Lots of wildlife, including elk & moose, could be seen from the road. The best photo opp. was of Longs Peak. A layer of clouds above and again below the top of the mountain with the sun behind created a fabulous sight! Then on down the east side of Trail Ridge into Estes Park, south along the Peak to Peak and home. One of the best rides in Colorado!!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

I'm a local and this is one of my regular rides. I think the route writeup misses a couple of key things that a visitor to the area should be aware of:
1) Trail Ridge Road (US34 between Granby and Estes Park) deserves to be called out by name. It is the highest continuous paved road in the US, topping out above 11,000'.
2) It's also effectively a toll road - about $20 to buy a RMNP day pass.
3) If you start in Ft. Collins, you're gaining ~7,000' in a two hour time span - be prepared for altitude.
4) You should expect epic thunderstorms coming up anywhere from noon to 5p in that area. You ABSOLUTELY DO NOT want to be above treeline (~10,000') when that comes through. The chances that you are going to be a lightning bolt's best path to ground is VERY high.
5) Expect a snow storm on Trail Ridge anywhere in the first month after it opens for the season (around Memorial Day) and be advised that early/late in the season this road is frequently closed due to weather conditions.

That said, this is a beautiful ride. The US 34 stretch is best done early in the day to avoid the HUGE amount of summer tourist traffic that floods Rocky Mountain National Park.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

This route is truly a beautiful ride. Poudre Canyon is a fun ride with beautiful scenery. Top this off with Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

this route is the best ride you will find any where, my parents twin brother and my self road from wisconsin and made a point of taking this road... My parents had taken it years before

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

This was a beautiful ride but longer than what most of the comments indicated. I would suggest making it a 2-day since there is so much to see. It took our group between 9-10 hours total. We met at 9 am in Denver and ended up in Estes Park at 7:00 pm.to spend the night. The route is beautiful roads are good. It does rain in the afternoon in the Rocky Mountain Park so plan to leave at a time that you will miss the afternoon storms.

15 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Light traffic, good pavement, pretty good scenery, even by Colorado standards. I did 2/3 the route skipping the ride through RMNP missing the best scenery but avoiding the slowest roads (and tourists). This is a great ride for cruising with some curvy sections. Enjoyable.

63 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Another great route that goes through beautiful country. The description of this route is spot-on and can be done in one long day but is best done in two. Lots to see and check out. Rocky Mtn. National Park is spectacular with a good chance of seeing a lot of wildlife. North Park Inn & Suites in Walden is a motorcycle friendly motel and a good place to spend the night.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

There is only one reason this ride is not rated higher. As my friend from New York said when we pulled off at the first stop on Trail Ridge above 11, 000 feet "I'm scared". Not for everyone, but if you want to ride on a different planet...this ride is it.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Did this on a tour from Illinois.
Even after Trail Ridge Road and that spectacular scenery, CO-125 provided a wonderful low-key ride through subtle scenery. Going from North to South the road follows watersheds with lots of beaver dams and meadows. Then topping a low pass the road straightens out and drops into sagebrush country on the run to Walden.
I highly recommend the River Rock Cafe in Antlers Inn. Plain good food and a relaxing place to stop.

2630 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Walden Loop-CO

While this route covers a lot of distance, there are three different areas. The most troublesome is the trek between Loveland and Ft. Collins which is constant traffic taking a lot of time. You might want to try taking I-25 between them to save time and hassle.

The two areas very similar in all aspects are the Poudre and Big Thompson Canyons routes. Both are fun on bikes, curvy and with beautiful scenery. Both have approaches on their west sides that is also curvy but travel through typical Colorado forest with conifers, aspen, and open grassy meadows. The big difference in the two are while Ft. Collins to Walden has all the scenery, it has almost no traffic. The route from Granby to Loveland through RMNP has above tree line views (not for the faint of heart on a bike) and tons of tourists. Expect to do a lot of stopping here.

The third different leg is from Walden to Granby. The northern 30 miles is open ranch land with views of miles to the surrounding mountains. The southern 30 miles is hilly, curvy and full forest and quite green. I saw two moose right by the road along here last trip. I'll post a photo.

By the way, this is one of the more spectacular routes in Colorado.
--

2630 McR Points

Motorcycle Type :

Update: You will find lodging much cheaper in the east slope cities, so plan on riding from there if you can choose. Plus a lot more variety.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Made this run in 06 and 09. Bringing friends in 10. The ride from Omaha to Fort Collins is a nice one day. Lodging in FC area is about $120.00 per night. This is a great trip out to Walden. You'll love RCM Natl. Park. Maybe head to Steamboat. Staying anywhere near the tourist areas demands higher prices. It is what you make of it. Estes Park in July is a zoo. Too many people for me...keep riding. Wind down to Leadville area and onto Ouray and Durango for a real treat. Enjoy!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Have the good fortune to live within five miles of the east entrance to the Cache la Poudre canyon. This loop is as good as any ever found and that includes Tail of the Dragon and Fairbanks and back. On Highway 14 (N. College Ave) leaving the "Old Town" area which has some excellent restaurants there are a number of lower cost locally owned motels if you don't want to do the Hilton. A KOA is at the junction "Ted's Place" about 5-6 miles north out of Ft. Collins just as Highway 14 branches off at the start of the Cache la Poudre canyon. We usually take the Walden to Laramie to Ft. Collns loop as early as possible in the year and the RMNP loop after July 1. It is COLD at 14,000' even in late August. Take a long day for each loop and you will understand this incredible M/C tour or stay at the Antler Inn in Walden and enjoy a wonderful three days!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Live close to the Walden Loop. Love to ride it. Always spectacular views. See something different every time. Plenty of good food along the way!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

This is one of the nicest rides I have ever been on! Beautiful scenery and great roads.

7 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

We did this ride yesterday. It was a beautiful day. We rode straight from 8 am through 3:30 with about a 30 minute stop in Granby for lunch. Instead of taking the last segment from Granby to Estes Park, drove on US 40 through Winter Park to Idaho Springs and back into Denver.

42 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

I have only ridden this once and we were in a bit of a hurry but I plan on riding it again ASAP but take more time next time.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Did ride in May 2013. Road was good and scenery was great, however, major weather change with severe crosswinds heading into Walden and very cold temps and snow along shoulders on Cameron Pass. Be prepared with plenty of gear if you Spring or Fall ride it.Antelope, Elk and Moose were spotted on this journey.

5 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Got caught in a hailstorm at 10,000 ft in Rocky Mountain National park, but otherwise the ride was incredible!

4 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Shouldn't be missed.

126 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Scenery good but not as good as the San Juan Mountain loop. Ride enjoyment is 3-4 in that it is a National park with lots of tourist and slow speeds. Great for a 2 up Ok for those of us that like to lean into it. Only did the lower half due to forest fires so will have to repeat when the road opens.

209 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Rode the lower half of this, from Loveland thru Estes Park and RMNP to 40. Loved the park and the great vista's.

62 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Best views of the Colorado Rockies superb day trip with lots of places to stop and enjoy the views.

157 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Great riding. Maybe my favorite. Stayed at Estes park and cut back through on 27.

50 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

On this route you will go over 4 paved mountain passes over 10,000; 3 in Rocky Mountain National Park while you ride over Trail Ridge Road (one of my favorite rides) this is a seasonally open rode and the weather changes rapidly and there is frequently a lot of traffic. Parking at the Visitors Center at the top of the road is often packed but there is motorcycle parking at the top of the lot near the store when available. After leaving Walden on Hwy. 14 you will go over Cameron Pass. Very scenic and I've personally seen moose in this area a number of times near the road, be cautious.

197 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

This is, indeed, a great loop ride. Great suggestion. However, due to Covid, be aware. The NPS has some pretty restrictive requirements for riding through the Rocky Mntn Park. You have to pick, by lottery, on line, a specific time and date (yes! within a two hour window!) of when you will enter the park. Effective 2020 and 2021. for 2021 they relaxed a little and you "may" enter after 3 pm if the park isn't crowded, without your "timed entry permit". Anyway, just plan accordingly and you will really enjoy this route!

197 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

This is, indeed, a great loop ride. Great suggestion. However, due to Covid, be aware. The NPS has some pretty restrictive requirements for riding through the Rocky Mntn Park. You have to pick, by lottery, on line, a specific time and date (yes! within a two hour window!) of when you will enter the park. Effective 2020 and 2021. for 2021 they relaxed a little and you "may" enter after 3 pm if the park isn't crowded, without your "timed entry permit". Anyway, just plan accordingly and you will really enjoy this route!

197 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

This is, indeed, a great loop ride. Great suggestion. However, due to Covid, be aware. The NPS has some pretty restrictive requirements for riding through the Rocky Mntn Park. You have to pick, by lottery, on line, a specific time and date (yes! within a two hour window!) of when you will enter the park. Effective 2020 and 2021. for 2021 they relaxed a little and you "may" enter after 3 pm if the park isn't crowded, without your "timed entry permit". Anyway, just plan accordingly and you will really enjoy this route!

20 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Arrowhead Lodge,

236 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Started in Florissant - rode Peak to Peak and then Trail Ridge Rd. Fantastic ride. Stopped in Estes Park for lunch at a BBQ trailer - great and a lot of food.

166 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Rode it on our trip to see the eclipse in 2017.

41 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Wow! What a great ride. We started the loop in Fort Collins and rode up to Estes Park for entry into RMNP. Entry reservations are required from 9 AM to 3 PM. We got there before 8 AM and there wasn't a line at the gate. We spent 5 hours inside the Park. Even with the evidence of last year's fires the park was still beautiful. The loop up to Walden was fun. The ride down Poudre Canyon was spectacular!

48 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

My best friend lives in Colorado, took all this time to ride it. Phenomenal ride!

105 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Rode the south end of this on my way to the peak to peak highway. Kind of an unexpected surprise and was a road I wish I had intentionally planned. The tight turns along the cliffs and the river are constantly keeping you on your toes. Watch your speed as the turns dont have much warning and are deceivingly tight

197 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

YES! YES! YES! Highway 14 west out of Fort Collins, up the Cache LaPoudre River is incredible. Take it all the way into Walden, CO up at about 8,500 feet in elevation. going up the canyon is incredible, with the river on your right for about 80 miles. once at the pass and the high plateau you are in wildlife nirvana. Watch for Moose!, Elk!, deer, turkey, and everything!. Weather can change in a heartbeat up there so pack some extra gear, (rain suit, and maybe heated clothing) I have left Fort Collins at 90 degrees and 3 hours later rolled into Walden in snow!. Hit Rabbit Ears pass while you are up that way. But the return route shown here is great, coming back around through the Rocky Mountain National Park. ($25.00 fee unless you have a pass). Estes Park can be crowded. There is a bypass around to the south which takes you down to Nederland (hwy 7) and some more awesome roads. But La Poudre canyon is a DON'T miss!

10 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Holding to Colorado's scenic expectation this ride will not disappoint

344 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring

more fun

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

We took parts of two days East -- West out of Fort Collins (stayed in Granby). Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful but very cool in early August. We saw 10 male elk grazing just off the road on top. We were not disappointed.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

We did this exact loop, it was a really nice ride. your right about the lack of traffic after Walden, just a few cars. A local bike shop Red Hill does this in reverse from Lyons, co every summer.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

This is one of our favorite routes when we are out at our place in Colorado. It is absolutely breathtaking.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Anyone have any recommendations on reasonable and quiet places to stay in Ft Collins, Walden, Granby and Loveland? Looking for a place to crash and then go. Not sure where I will land each day. I plan on taking a week to ride in from Omaha, NE to make the loop in June 2010.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Good ride every one should also consider riding up to Red Feather Lakes.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

just took walden loop in june of 2010 rode into park on 34 north ridge is torn up. it is down to dirt for about 10 miles. it is in terrible shape. ride to walden worth the trip, but turn around and go back the same way. by the way the bowling alley in walden has pretty good food.....

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

I took this ride on 7/10/10 and the construction on Trail Ridge road in Rocky Mtn. National Park is complete, so no need to turn around, the road is fully paved.

2 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

One of the best day trips in our area. Cheyenne, WY to Ft Collins CO, Poudre Canyon Rd to Walden and south to Granby then back over the mountain to Loveland and back to Cheyenne. 8 1/2 hours and 360 miles of mostly mountain road. I believe this is the best route for this ride because you ride UP the best parts of the mountains. NOTE: Be prepared to pay $20 per bike to ride thru the park between Granby and Estes Park. Great ride.

65 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Rode in one day from Fort Collins back to Fort Collins. pre-rode Poudre River Canyon the night before. Highly recommend this route,, great variety from canyon riding, open plains and finalize with the rockies. July brings afternoon showers and the last part in to Estes Park and thru Rocky Mountain Nat. Park was not fun. Had rain, ice pellets, hail, and lightning, while going over the top.. bit of ice on road, made it a little hairy. Once I came down into Estes, the weather cleared and the trip thru Big Thompson Canyon was scenic, but at the end of a long day, a bit of a grind... this route is
well worth riding!!