Riding the Ute Trail in Colorado (A Few Pics/Vids)

This is a special dirt road ride, following the ancestral trail of the Ute Indians as they moved their summer camps through these high altitude meadows and forests. Turn your two wheels through this impresssive and lonely landscape and one can see why the Utes defended it so vigorously from other tribes wanting a piece of the big game action. Not far from here, the last wild bison in Colorado was shot back in 1900.

Anyway, this is a nice alternative route going east or west through Colorado as it roughly parallels that of much busier U.S. 50. It will mostly be you and your iron pony moving through this landscape, with hardly moving cattle the only witnesses.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=C...3-Q;FQKpTQIdcO6x-Q;FWcrTAIdboyu-Q&mra=mr&z=11



Near the "B" on the map above the GSADV pauses for two pics. That's Waugh Mountain in the background...




If you want to move through this panorama, and watch me fight off this vicious dog, here's the video link and a screen capture from the vid...

http://youtu.be/QiKZt6O7GzE



Now, at the "B" on the map above, for something different I turned south and rode Fremont County 12 south all the way to Cotopaxi on the Arkansas River and U.S. 50. This is a sweet option, but I must note it is also impressive to continue west where there is a spectacular descent to Salida. With Lord of the Rings grandeur one comes to a setting with 14,000ft. sentinels towering above you, and the Arkansas River Valley 1000's of feet below you.

But we head south on Fremont 12. Ha! BTW, let's keep this a secret amongst us ladies, but this would be an amazing ride during autumn with aspen gold splashed in every direction, around every curve. Pausing at a cow camp...


Moving through the landscape of abandoned homesteads, secluded forests, range cattle, with a daring faceoff...

http://youtu.be/9w4_Pw8vstY

Steve,

Once again, a magnificent job! Those videos just make my mouth water to get back to CO, and ride some of the same roads. Next summer it may actually happen. Anyway, many thanks for posting.

Steve - man, you have a zillion of these.

I hope you come to the rally next year and give a seminar. I've heard several people say they'd like to hear more about local riding they can actually do vs. unreachable rides on the other side of the world.

I'd be interested in doing that with you...

Ian

Hey Dan... Good to hear from you as always.

Ian... Did I read somewhere the rally is in Missouri next year? Possibilities...

Awesome!

Thanks for the trip!!! Great video.....you've got that technique mastered. I think I turn my head too much....it'd be all choppy with me turning to watch the mountains, cows, trees, etc.

Thanks! I can't wait to get back home in October to ride the southern Colorado Rockies myself....

Cool. That part just north of Salida is along the CDT. I'll be on that stretch this weekend.
I did the CDT a few years ago and remember having a hell of a time going through there as it was raining hard. I'd go about 1/2 mile and the front wheel would be stuck with mud. Clean with stick and repeat. Must've taken 3 hours to go about 3 miles!
Glad you had good weather.

Steve won't do anything but have that rather inconspicuous link at the bottom of his signature. Go back, click on it, and find his book, due out this September, which will be over 400+ pages of riding in Colorado. I have already ordered a copy. Looks super!

DADODIRT said:

Cool. That part just north of Salida is along the CDT. I'll be on that stretch this weekend.
I did the CDT a few years ago and remember having a hell of a time going through there as it was raining hard. I'd go about 1/2 mile and the front wheel would be stuck with mud. Clean with stick and repeat. Must've taken 3 hours to go about 3 miles!
Glad you had good weather.

Click to expand...

Dado... You are exactly right! This is part of the CDT. Ahhhh... the memories you have from your stint on this! And what a coincidence... last time I traversed this great road a heavy rain had just swept through, and riding friend Rick and I chatted with two riders from Virginia riding the CDT all the way to Oregon.

Here's Rick enjoying the supertanker in the slick crud ...


Here are the two CDT riders, with the Fremont County 2/Ute landscape in the background. Despite the conditions that day, still a mesmorizing ride...

What a beautiful road! It looks pretty well maintained in the photos (dry) is that correct?

Sharon, they were well maintained roads. I passed a road grader along the way, smoothing the dirt. Even thought about sending an email to Fremont County Road & Bridge Dept. noting the fine work.

MORE great stuff. Thanks, Steve!

I will be out in Colorado for about three days the week of Aug 20th. Could you please give me some specific directions on the ute trail? Id love to ride it and drop down into Salida. Thanks a million.
Roger

Roger, Just follow the map at the top of this thread. Ride north on Colorado 9 about 11 miles from its entrance on U.S. 50 (Just a mile or two west of the Royal Gorge entrance). Turn left on Fremont 2 or the Tallahassee Road. Follow it all the way. There will be signs noting the distance and pointing the way towards Salida. Fremont County 2 seemlessly becomes Chaffee County 175 at about 30 miles. Chaffee 175 will escort you on the dramatic descent to Salida.

sfarson said:

Roger, Just follow the map at the top of this thread. Ride north on Colorado 9 about 11 miles from its entrance on U.S. 50 (Just a mile or two west of the Royal Gorge entrance). Turn left on Fremont 2 or the Tallahassee Road. Follow it all the way. There will be signs noting the distance and pointing the way towards Salida. Fremont County 2 seemlessly becomes Chaffee County 175 at about 30 miles. Chaffee 175 will escort you on the dramatic descent to Salida.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. I am for sure doing the route!

Outstanding, as usual. I was in Colorado two years ago and rode some of the routes in your videos and had a great time. I envy anyone who has Colorado as their back yard.

Nice report.

Bought the book last week - supposed to be shipping out soon.
Hope it gets here before my trip to CO in September.

Earache... The book starts shipping tomorrow! September in Colorado is spectacular. Have a great ride and trip.

sfarson said:

Earache... The book starts shipping tomorrow! September in Colorado is spectacular. Have a great ride and trip.

Click to expand...

Can't wait to get it! Want to see all of the cool places that I have been riding past over the years without knowing where to stop.

Heading out September 1-12 for our annual ride to CO and UT. Have done it many times before and never get tired of going back.

sfarson said:

Earache... The book starts shipping tomorrow! September in Colorado is spectacular. Have a great ride and trip.

Click to expand...

feh. there is a KTM on the cover. i'm not buying it.

great job man, i hope it does really well.

ian

Thanks Ian.

Yeah, the publisher picked it, but admittedly I didn't push back too much. Just wanted to get the thing sent to the printer! It's a pic from the Tennessee Pass chapter when the KTM came along as I was capturing the curve with the peak in the background. Sometimes I wonder if that rider will ever see the cover and make the connection.

But hey, there is an R1100S on the back cover!