2015 Rally: Riding

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Concours owners like to ride, and the primary objective of COG rallies is to bring members and friends together to ride and explore new areas. This page provides several ride suggestions and samples while visiting the Four Corners area. The sample rides listed below come from COG.

All COG rides are considered sample ride routes and are unguided. Follow them as-is or adjust to meet your desires. Make new friends and head out for a ride. Hospitality area should have a ride hookup meeting place or place to post notes if you are looking to meet other rider. Unguided dual sport routes will also be posted.

POPULAR Area Riding Attractions

The Million Dollar highway – this area is well know for a stretch of US 550 called “The Million Dollar Highway”. The Million Dollar Highway stretches for about 25 miles (40 km) in western Colorado and follows the route of U.S. 550 between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado. It is part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. Between Durango and Silverton the Skyway loosely parallels the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles (19 km) south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass which gains the highway its name. This stretch through the gorge is challenging; it is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic — many cut directly into the sides of mountains. During this ascent, the remains of the Idarado Mine are visible. Travel north from Silverton to Ouray allows drivers to hug the inside of curves; travel south from Ouray to Silverton perches drivers on the vertiginous outside edge of the highway. Large RVs travel in both directions, which adds a degree of annoyance to people on motorcycles. Summer temperatures can range from 70–90 °F highs at the ends of the highway to 50–70 °F in the mountain passes.

CO 141 – Colorado 141 from US 491 to US 50 is a great ride paralleling the Delores River.  At Gateway CO (home of the  Gateway CO Automobile Museum), CO 141 heads East through Unaweep Canyon to the Gunnison River valley where it joins US 50 at Whitewater.  Not as technical as US 550, but much longer and beautiful terrain.  

The Gateway, CO Automobile Museum was founded by Discovery Channel CEO John Hendricks.  I don’t know why he put the museum where he did, but it is an excellent place to take a break and soak in the history.  It certainly exceeded my expectations.

COG PROVIDED SAMPLE RIDES

Maps and GPX files provided by Rick Davis

Download all the maps and gpx files in a single zip file

 PDF MapGPX filesNotes
San Juan Skyway PDF MapSan Juan Skyway GPX File Map
Pagosa Sprints - Wolf Creek Pass PDF MapPagosa Sprints - Wolf Creek Pass GPX File
Moab - Arches and Upheaval Dome PDF MapMoab - Arches and Upheaval Dome GPX File
Mesa Verde and Aztecs PDF MapMesa Verde and Aztecs GPX File
Lake Powell Ferry Loop PDF MapLake Powell Ferry Loop GPX FileWinter Ferry Schedule (changes for Spring and Summer)
Delores - Gateway Loop PDF MapDelores - Gateway Loop GPX File
Cortez to Ouray PDF MapCortez to Ouray PDF Map
Aztec Ruin Loop PDF MapAztec Ruin Loop GPX File
2 day loop through Wolf Creek Pass and Gunnison PDF Map2 day loop through Wolf Creek Pass and Gunnison GPX File

2015 National Rally Ride Routes

LinkMileageDescription
Utah Park Tour750Wow - that's a long haul! You might want to make this a 2-day event and spend the night in Torrey, UT at Austin's Chuckwagon Lodge and General Store.
2-Up Challange232A great loop through some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. If you want to see Telluride, go early in the week. The Bluegrass festival starts on the 18th, so it will be packed starting Thursday!
Wolfe Creek419160 thru pagosa spgs to Wolfe Creek Pass, back down thru NM and back to Cortez
Aztec Ruin Loop307Full Loop Takes you through some desert stretches or you can cut that part out.
Mesa Verde and Aztecs208Full day of ruins
MOAB-Arches and upheaval dome376Time can be trimmed if only one point of interest is selected
Desert Ferry Ride398Lake Powell-Ferry Loop
Delores/Gateway Loop376Optional Million Dollar hwy to Durango adds 30 minutes to ride
Two Days of Great riding5462 Day Through Wolfe Creek Pass to Rt149-Overnight in Gunnison Second Day To North Rim of Black Canyon to Million Dollar Hwy Lots to see and do along the way
Cotez to Ouray117Visit Silverton Along the way. Ouray is a great lunch stop
Viva Las Vegas1100Overnighter to Vegas Baby

2015 National Rally Ride Routes - to/from the Rally

Starting Point and RouteMileageDescription
Gunnison
Gunnison
Grand Junction
Grand Junction
Springer, NMThis I-25 point is 73 miles North of Las Vegas NM.
Las Vegas, NMThis I-25 point is 73 miles North of Las Vegas NM.

Dual Sport Rides

LinkMilageDescription
39.2 milesDual sport ride 1
59.4 milesDual sport ride 2
71.9 milesDual sport ride 3
52.1 milesDual sport ride 4