Pikes Peak Motomarathon rides southern Colorado

September 15, 4:35 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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Pikes Peak Motomarathon Day One route

The second event in the Motomarathon inaugural season just ended, and this time these sport-touring pass baggers saw the San Juan Mountains and a bit of New Mexico.

This Pikes Peak Motomarathon ran four days, Sept. 11-14. The original Colorado Motomarathon was June 12-15, and covered central and northern Colorado.

Starting this time in Colorado Springs, the riders had to hit checkpoints and take photos to prove they were there. Routes could vary as long as the checkpoints were hit, so I've created some maps showing likely routes for each day.

Day One started from Colorado Springs and climbed Pikes Peak, rode Cottonwood Pass and North Cochetopa Pass, visited Crested Butte, and ended in Gunnison. That map is shown above.

Day Two began in Gunnison, headed south through Lake City and over Slumgullion Pass, down over Wolf Creek Pass, into New Mexico, to Chama, and back into Colorado over La Manga Pass. Then it was back to Gunnison.

Day Three again began in Gunnison, headed southwest to Lizard Head Pass and Dolores, through Durango and up to Ouray over Molas Pass, and back to Gunnison.

Day Four left Gunnison heading west again, to the Blue Mesa Dam, then north to Hotchkiss and over McClure Pass, to Aspen and over Independence Pass, and then returned to Colorado Springs for the wrap-up.

According to Motomarathon creator John Metzger, about 20 riders from numerous states participated in this event, with about half having ridden in the first event. Mounts included a wide range of bikes including a Can-Am Spyder and a Harley-Davidson V-Rod in addition to the typical sport-touring bikes.

A third Motomarathon event is now in the works, probably in southern California, with a base in Palm Springs.

Additional Motomarathon articles
Motomarathon to tackle 400 Colorado mountain miles per day for four days
Inaugural Motomarathon event now in progress
Easy Day Two for Motomarathoners
Motomarathoners cruising some of the best Colorado has to offer