I've been trying to plan a trip through the Rocky Mountains and I think I finally have it all planned out. I think.
I wanted to plan something that was part highways/Interstate, to make a descent time, and part dirt roads for the excitement of adventure.
The trip is going to start in Aurora, CO and the destination is Taylor Park Reservoir in Almont, CO. Total mileage will be 207.9 miles 1 way and should take about 5.5 hours not including stops. My friend Paul is going to come with on his 2012 BMW GS1200 Adventurer, the perfect pack mule.
The 1st leg of the trip will be leaving the city via I-70 and veer off on Loveland Pass for a total stretch of 86 miles. In Keystone, CO we start the 2nd leg and will take Keystone Rd to Colorado Trail and follow it for 28 miles/estimated 1:15 minutes to Hwy 285. From there, take Hwy 285 for 58 miles/1 hour to Buena Vista, CO. The final leg of the trip we will take Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista to Almont where we will set up camp for a couple of days. I'm excited to do some fishing there. If you look up Taylor Park Marina, you can see pics from the Annual Spring Fishing Tournament.
http://www.taylorparkmarina.com/photogallery.htm There are some absolute MONSTERS in that lake! I guess the monsters go hide at the bottom of the lake for the Summer, but the rainbow trout bite all year round.
This trip should be a lot of fun and adventurous. There are plenty of surrounding dirt roads around the Reservoir, so when we aren't drinking beer and fishing, we will be adventuring around the mountains. Now that I have a route planned, I'm getting super excited for the Maiden Voyage. I'll keep everyone posted.
Scottie