Colorado Overland Routes

[Java]

I've owned https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/ and some variations for a while and decided to actually do something with it this year, starting with a rudimentary wordpress.com site and some new videos. More to come...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmw...confirmation=1




Full Route Details: https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/ex...
Overlanding in Colorado, 468 Miles from Fraser to New Castle
Seven dirt roads make up the core of this route up to the far northwest corner of the Colorado. All seven roads were worth exploring but Yampa Bench road in Dinosaur National Monument is by far the standout. There are many historic and interesting stops along the way, including the Rial Chew ranch, a mud and stick hut, cabins, petroglyphs, incredible overlooks and the Whispering Cave. The environment is much like Utah, with stunning desert landscapes in all directions that change frequently. The five notable roads leading up to Yampa Bench were excellent as well, however our exit through the gorgeous West Rifle Creek area south of Meeker was the best surprise of this overland odyssey.


0:33 Highway 40 Between Fraser & Granby
0:49 Turn off to CR55 Cottonwood Pass
0:54 Map of Route / Route Details
1:28 CR55 Cottonwood Pass
2:07 Highway 40 Hot Sulphur Springs
2:32 CO 134
2:52 CR 16 Stagecoach Reservoir Road
3:44 Cows
4:21 CO 131 Phippsburg
4:28 Meat-Up in Yampa
4:44 CR 15
4:55 CR 8 Flat Tops Scenic Byway
6:05 CR 155 Trapper's Lake
6:22 Effects of Climate Change / Dead Forest
7:08 Beautiful Pullout / 13 Year Old Pickles
7:48 Tragic CDOT Paving Mistake
8:55 Highway 13 Meeker / CR 15 Yellow Jacket Pass
9:05 CO 7 Meeker to CO 23
9:32 CR 23 Sheepdog Drive
9:58 Etymology of Sheepdog Drive / Livestock Guardian Dogs
10:58 Highway 40 to Elk Springs
11:18 Elk Springs / CR 14 Bear Valley
12:22 CR 14N Mantle Ranch Road
12:49 Dinosaur National Monument / Yampa Bench Road
13:02 Ghost Forest & Switchbacks
14:39 Wagon Wheel Point
15:17 Harding Hole Overlook
16:53 CR 156 Echo Park
17:29 Rial Chew Ranch
18:37 Mud Roof Cabin
19:45 Petroglyphs
20:15 Whispering Cave
20:05 Echo Park
21:40 Yampa Bench to Harpers Corner Switchbacks
22:55 CR 161 Harpers Corner
23:08 Island Park Overlook
23:35 Iron Springs Bench Overlook
23:57 Echo Park Overlook
24:05 Unexplained Spooky Stuff / CR 13 West Rifle Creek
25:08 Post-Spooky CR 13 West Rifle Creek
26:38 Rifle Gap Reservoir
27:35 FJ62 Appreciation
27:54 Rifle Falls State Park
28:27 Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery
28:41 CR 226 Grass Valley
29:16 New Castle, End of Route

[Java]

site work coming up so I broke up the COPS video into the three sections to make it more logical and easier to navigate. They're loading in reverse order for whatever reason, this is section three, the last day / going home from Buena Vista to Georgetown.



SECTION THREE: Buena Vista to Georgetown
0:05 Fourmile Area
0:48 Highway 24
1:23 Twin Lakes
1:47 Road Rage gets me nowhere
2:22 Weston Pass
4:38 East Side, Weston Pass Summit
5:39 A Perfect Moment In Time
8:00 Highway 285
9:32 Guanella Pass
11:18 Georgetown, End of Route

Route Details: https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/colorado-overland-photo-safari/

Section Two, there are a few highlights but three are my favorites- Lands End Road, Escalante Canyon and the Marble Mill Site Park. The Redstone Coke Ovens are noteworthy as well.



SECTION TWO: Grand Mesa to Twin Lakes
0:01 Grand Mesa!
0:58 CR 121 Lakeshore Drive to Grand Mesa Visitor Center
4:42 Visitor Center to Lands End Road
6:03 Raber Cow Camp
7:08 Lands End Observatory
7:50 Lands End Road
10:51 Highway 50
11:11 Escalante Canyon
11:26 Big Horn Sheep
11:54 Walker Cabin
12:46 Brands Shot into Rock
13:00 Captain Smith's Cabin
13:30 The Potholes
13:56 Highway 50
13:58 Blue Mesa Reservoir & Dam
17:00 Pontoon Boat
18:15 Highway 92
18:40 Pioneer Point
20:16 Hermits Rest
21:40 Highway 133
22:05 Big B's Delicious Orchards / Cherry Pie
22:29 Paonia Pie Company Apple Pie
23:44 Marble Mill Site Park
25:08 Hays Creek Falls
25:21 Redstone Coke Ovens
58:02 Carbondale
26:22 Highway 82 Aspen
27:58 Independence Pass Road
29:22 Independence Pass & Ghost Town
29:58 Highway 24 Twin Lakes in the dark


Route Details: https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/colorado-overland-photo-safari/

The First Section is a lot of dirt roads but starts with Moffat Road and the Trestle Hike. It actually starts with a shout out to the rescue I got my last dog from. the most obscure road is probably Silt-Collbran road at the end, also one of the best. Williams Fork Reservoir was surprisingly beautiful too.



0:29 Road List / Map of Route
1:06 Shelter Dog Appreciation
1:32 Start, Interstate 70 Denver to exit 232
2:13 SECTION ONE: Empire to Grand Mesa / Hwy 40 to Moffat Road
3:03 Moffat Road- Abandoned Railroad Trestles / Needles Eye Tunnel Hike
6:01 Highway 40 Fraser
6:52 CR 50 Crooked Creek
7:35 Meet Kix!
8:22 FR 139 Keyser Creek
10:04 CR 3 Upper Williams Fork
10:34 Williams Fork Reservoir
12:32 CR 1 Trough Road
15:00 Highway 131
15:33 CR 301 Colorado River Road
18:50 Red Dirt Creek Open Space
21:23 Colorado River Ranch Historic Schoolhouse
22:46 Coffee Pot Road, Alternative Re-Route
23:55 Interstate 70 Construction Traffic in Glenwood Canyon
27:03 Silt / Collbran Road

Route Details: https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/colorado-overland-photo-safari/

[Java]

Backroads to Westcliffe / Great Sand Dunes



0:13 Route Map
0:54: Brian's Good Eats! / Kittredge General Store, CO 74 & 73
1:16 South Foxton Road
1:32 Platte River Road
1:43 William Westall Monument
2:12 South Platte Hotel
2:33 Colorado Trail Segment 2 Trailhead
3:14 Dangerous Swimming Hole
4:12 Deckers
4:40 Hotel Gulch
5:32 Rampart Range Road
6:00 Rampart Range Dedication Plaque
7:15 Garden of the Gods Road / drive through Colorado Springs
7:57 Old Stage and Gold Camp Roads
9:21 Old Stage Road kiosk and tunnel
10:37 CR 81 Grassy Creek
10:54 Vindicator Valley
11:45 CR 67 Phantom Canyon Road
12:49 Weather affects mileage / duration data
14:42 CO 50 Canon City
14:51 Big Burger World!
15:16 Elm Avenue
15:21 CR 143 Oak Creek Grade
16:52 CO 96
17:00 CO 69 Westcliffe
17:17 Sugar & Spice Mountain Bakery!

[Java]

The Bachelor Loop in Creede and backroads from Conifer to Lake City / Alpine Loop. It's all being reedited for the new site that may be ready this fall...



Part 1:



Named for a gentle mule we met along the way, this 152.7 mile route is easy and scenic. 100.5 miles of dirt roads, 51.2 miles of quiet backroads. Tons of camping, lots to see. Exit North at CO 77 for China Wall 4x4 trail. FR 185 near Salida connects with the Fourmile Recreation Area. At the end of the video is Spiral Drive, a fun road to the top of Tenderfoot Mountain above Salida.
1:18 Exit Hwy 285 on South Foxton Road
1:23 Good Meetup Spot
1:31 CR 97 South Foxton Road
1:56 Cops and a Helicopter
3:47 CR 96 SW Platte River Road
5:13 CR 126 Deckers Road
6:07 FR 550 Redskin Creek
10:53 FR 560 Stoney Pass
11:35 Windy Peak Outdoor Lab
12:21 Wellington Lake
15:45 Entering the Hayman Burn Scar
17:48 CR 211 Goose Creek
26:43 CR 77 Tarryall Road - North for China Wall 4x4 Trail
28:03 US 24 E
28:08 CO 90 Arkansas Gulch
28:20 CR 92 Caylor Gulch
30:35 Elevenmile Reservoir
31:48 CR 59 Thirtynine Mile
32:56 Horses, Mules and a Donkey
34:48 The Mule
36:50 CR 102 Freshwater Creek
37:40 Guffey
38:52 CO 9 N
39:20 CR 88 Black Mountain
41:20 CtyR 2A South Side Black Mountain
43:12 CR 2 Poncha Pass / Gribbles Run
48:24 CR 175 Ute Trail
50:13 Intersection with CR 185 Aspen Ridge / Fourmile Area
52:18 Intersection with CR 176 Spiral Drive
52:35 CO 291 Salida
52:45 Bonus Road: CR 176 Spiral Drive, overlooks Salida

Part 2:



100.9 miles Monarch Pass to Lake City, less than 12 miles are on pavement and 10 of those are at the end. Easy and scenic. Lots of dispersed campsites along the way.
0:31 Start, Old Monarch Pass
5:08 FR 888 Tomichi Pass Road
5:35 FR 887 Black Sage Pass
8:43 CR 887 Waunita Hot Springs Road
10:55 US 50 .5 miles on pavement
11:06 CO 45
11:19 CR 14 PP Razor Creek Dome
14:15 CO 114 E 1.3 miles on pavement
14:28 CR NN 14 Cochetopa Dome
15:20 CR KK14 / FR 788 Los Pinos Pass
23:28 CR 50 / FR 788 Cebolla Creek
28:41 End, CO 149 to Lake City
*The last 10 miles on CO 149 to Lake City are not in the video, it is a paved state highway.

[Nathan Bonham]

Thanks for sharing the routes! Fellow Xterra overlander, here.

[Java]

LOVE our Xterra! It's a 2013 S with Pro4x skids and Bilstiens, we've added a roofrack, awning and lightbar and it's been perfect for overlanding. All the routes currently on my site were run solo in it around the pandemic. I'm rebuilding the starter (still works, just preventative due to age), adding dashcams and converting it (and my LJ) from 4 pin trailer wiring to 7 pin in the next week or so; we're adding an aliner to the mix for longer trips and I think the Xterra is going to be a great towing rig too. I just turned 100k about a week ago and has been flawless aside from pilot(s) errors.

[Jim]

Sweet!

[Java]

Colorado to Moab with no highways:

The highways between Colorado and Moab look like the set of the Road Warrior, a desolate landscape with no interest or appeal. This is an alternative backcountry route to Moab from Grand Junction via Gateway. It begins with John Brown Canyon, a stunning desert setting with sweeping views back towards Colorado as you climb the first hill. Beaver Mesa and Thompson Canyon are sandy dirt roads that are more about where you are than what you are doing. The whole drive is excellent, but the real gem is Onion Creek. The rock formations around the road and the water crossings are unique and memorable. After driving Onion Creek I started recognizing it in car commercials.

https://coloradooverlandroutes.com/gateway-2-moab/



0:16 Highway 50 / 141
0:25 Gateway, CO
0:45 Gateway General Store
2:08 John Brown Canyon
2:25 Entering Public Lands / Pavement ends
5:50 Uranium Warning / Data Disruption
12:15 North Beaver Mesa
14:38 Thompson Canyon / Kokopelli Trail
22:38 Hill, hardest part of route
23:17 Intersection with Taylor Ranch Road
24:56 Onion Creek
31:23 Highway 128


Even easier return run:



0:14 Sand Flats Road
9:07 La Sal Mtn Road
14:45 John Brown Canyon Road
23:22 Highway 141, Gateway CO
23:39 Gateway General Store