CONTINENTAL DIVIDE RIDE DESCRIPTION AND SYNOPSIS
JULY 6-10 2023
Four Day 750 mile Adventure Motorcycle ride on the Continental Divide
- From and to the Colorado Springs Airport.
President Theodore Roosevelt said on a Train ride in 1900 that the beauty of the route from Colorado Springs to Victor:
“This is the ride that bankrupts the English language.”
65% Off-Road. Ride over 11+ Mountain Passes in the Heart of the Rockies.
- The Ride is from July 7-10 – Friday to Monday.
- This is a low-key, high adventure, no hassle Adventure Motorcycle ride on the Continental Divide.
- Includes proven phone compatible GPS Tracks, Gear Portage, 2 nights camping, some meals and a Chase Truck.
- 1 Night in Leadville on you
The ride starts from the secure Colorado Springs Airport and returns 4 days later.
Ride over Mountain Passes you’ve heard about:
- Victor Pass*
- Trout Creek Pass
- Weston Pass
- Independence Pass*
- Hagerman Pass
- Mosquito Pass**
- Weston Pass*
- Cottonwood Pass*
- Cumberland Pass
- Waunita Pass
- Blacksage Pass
- Old Monarch Pass
- Monarch Pass*
- Marshall Pass
- Pikes Peak (Not a Pass)*
- Over 70,000 feet in elevation gain in 4 days
- * = Paved
- **= Alternate Tough loop on Day 3
Colorado Springs Airport to the Continental Divide. And Back.
- 11 Mountain Passes.
- 4 Days, 750 miles.
- Ride up Pikes Peak on Day 4 if you wish.
- GPS Tracks.
- Gear Portage.
- T-Shirt.
- Route Maps.
- Chase Truck and Support.
- 60% – 80 % Off-Road.
- Lodging Not Included.
- Camping spots are included
- Club will reserve Lodging and purchase some meals.
Check the Article & Photos on Adventure Rider:
BRIEF SYNOPSIS:
4 Day Adventure Ride on the Divide – July 7-10. Show up in Colorado Springs on Thursday July 6.
Discounted Lodging available on Thursday and Monday at the COS Airport Raddison Hotel.
Eleven + Mtn Passes.
- DAY 1 – Ride from Colorado Springs Airport
- Around Pikes Peak on sinuous old Railroad Lines.
- To the old mining town of Victor.
- Down Phantom Cyn, thru Canon City to Temple Cyn Park.
- To Cotopaxi, then ride through the high Mountain plains.
- Drop down into the old railroad town of Salida.
- Camp at the Drift-In on the Arkansas River (Included)
- Or lodge at the Poncha Lodge (On You)
- DAY 2 – Ride over Aspen Ridge to Trout Creek Pass.
- Then over Weston Pass, the road to riches, to paved Independence Pass.
- Arrive in Aspen for Lunch.
- From Aspen, ride the jeep road Hagerman Pass
- Drop down into Leadville.
- Spend the night at the Historic Delaware Hotel in Leadville. (on You)
- DAY 3 – Ride offroad from Leadville.
- Then down the Arkansas river valley on old RR Lines, to Buena Vista.
- From BV, take Cottonwood Pass to the town of Tincup.
- Ride over Cumberland Pass to Pitkin.
- From Pitkin, over Waunita and Black Sage passes to the top of Old Monarch Pass.
- Down paved Monarch Pass to Sargents.
- Then up and over the first Railroad line over the Continental Divide on Marshall Pass and back to Salida.
- Camp at the Drift-In on the Arkansas River (Included)
- Lodge at the Poncha Lodge (On You)
- DAY 4 – Ride out of Salida off-road up an old Mountain racetrack to to the South Platte River.
- Come out of 11 Mile Canyon and ride off-road thru Florrisant to Divide.
- Off-road to Woodland Park and ride down Rampart Range road to Garden of the Gods.
- From GOG you can ride up Pikes Peak.
- Your choice, then ride Gold Camp road to Cheyenne Canyon, and back to the COS Airport.
- Stay at the Airport Raddison. (On you)
- This is an Epic 4 day adventure with over 70,000 ft of elevation gain.
- 11+ Mtn Passes on all the dirt road short or long cuts laid out by our local experts.
BRIEF RIDE DESCRIPTION
- Colorado Springs to Gold Camp Road old Railroad Right-of-way to Victor pass.
- Phantom Canyon Railroad Right-of-way to Canon City, to Temple Canyon Park to Cotopaxi.
- To Ute Pass to Salida. Overnight in Salida. 1 Pass.
- Camp on the river or Stay in Poncha Springs.
Day 2 – Off-Road from Salida to Buena Vista. To Leadville.
- To Trout Creek Pass, then over Weston Pass to Granite.
- Mt. Elbert Forebay to Twin Lakes.
- To Independence Pass to Aspen.
- From Aspen to Basalt
- To over Hagerman Pass to Turquoise Lake to Leadville.
- Overnight in Leadville.
- 4 Passes.
- Stay at the Historic Delaware Hotel.
Day 3 – Two Options: Hero ADV Loop
- From Leadville over challenging 13k foot Mosquito Pass & almost 12k foot Weston Pass.
- To Cottonwood Pass to the town of Tincup.
- Cumberland Pass to Pitkin, to Waunita & Blacksage Passes.
- To Sargents to the old Railroad right-of-way Marshall Pass to Salida.
- Camp on the river or Stay in Poncha Springs.
Day 3 – Standard Loop from Leadville
- Pipeline Right-of-way past the Twin Lakes
- Old Railroad Right-of-way to Buena Vista, along the Arkansas River
- Over Cottonwood Pass to the town of Tincup.
- Cumberland Pass to Pitkin,
- To Waunita & Blacksage Pass,
- To Old Monarch Pass to Monarch Pass to Marshall Pass to Salida.
- Over Paved 12k+ foot Cottonwood Pass
- Over 12k foot Cumberland Pass to Pitkin.
- To over 12k foot Old Monarch Pass to Sargents.
- 10K+ foot Old Marshall Pass Railroad right of way to Salida.
- Overnight in Salida.
- Camp on the River or Stay in a Hotel.
- 6 Passes.
Day 4– From Salida toUte Pass
- To 11 Mile Canyon Railroad Right-of-way on the Platte River.
- Across the High Mountain Plains to Hwy 9
- From 11 Mile Cyn, RR ROW To Woodland Park.
- Rampart Range road to Garden of the Gods
- Up to Pikes Peak Summit if you wish.
- To Manitou Springs & Old Colorado City
- To Cheyenne Canyon RR ROW to Colorado Springs Airport.
- 65 – 75 % off road
- This ride will stage and park at the secure Colorado Springs Airport.
- Long Term parking at the Airport is $8 a day. (4 days)
