Motomarathoners cruising some of the best Colorado has to offer

June 14, 9:00 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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Motomarathon Day Three route

Day Three of the Motomarathon has ended and the final day is tomorrow. Whether you have any interest in this event or not, if you dream of coming to ride Colorado's twisties, highs and lows, you could do much worse than studying the route they are riding. Let's take a look at today's route.

As usual, they started out in Keystone, this time heading south over Hoosier Pass, to Fairplay. At Fairplay they picked up U.S. 285, down to Poncha Springs, where they headed west on U.S. 50 over Monarch Pass. They passed through Gunnison and alongside the Blue Mesa Reservoir, and at the dam creating the reservoir they crossed to the north side onto CO 92. This very nice road winds and curves along the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison before looping north toward Hotchkiss.

At Hotchkiss they connected with CO 133 over McClure Pass and down to Carbondale. At Carbondale they turned east toward Aspen on CO 82, and crossed Independence Pass. Just past Twin Lakes they hit U.S. 24 and took it north to Leadville and then caught CO 91 over Fremont Pass down to Copper Mountain and I-70.

   Motomarathon Day Four route

A short scoot east on I-70 brought them to Frisco and around Dillon Reservoir back to Keystone.

This was a terrific day of riding. A bit too much good riding from my perspective, but as I've said, I'm not a marathon kind of guy. If you are, go for it.

Now let's look at tomorrow's ride. I can show you the route now because it is after 8 p.m., when the next day's route is handed out.

One more time, they'll start out in Keystone. U.S. 6 will take them over Loveland Pass, down to I-70. East on I-70 to the intersection with U.S. 40 and then that highway over Berthoud Pass, down to Winter Park and on to Granby.

From just west of Granby they will head up CO 125 to the top of Willow Creek Pass, turn around, and then catch U.S. 34 in Granby. This will take them over Trail Ridge Road, down to Estes Park, and there they will get on CO 7 and 72, the Peak-to-Peak Highway. Finally, a run down Left Hand Canyon from Ward will deliver them back into Boulder, where it all began.

Again, this will be a terrific day of riding, and this one is even short--only about 225 miles. That's my kind of riding.

If this sounds like the kind of thing you're up for, the second event in the series is set for Sept. 11-14. This Centopassi ride will cover great twisty roads in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Other events have yet to be finalized and announced.

Day One, Day Two

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