docmirror

I was going to put this in a different thread, but no reason to just pile on. Below is a great route to take through the mtns. Good roads all the way, and room to stretch things out along with some twisties.

Out of Denver on 285 southwest, up into the hills. Pass Conifer and turn left at the light on hwy 126 to Pine and Deckers. Twisty here for many miles. Join hwy 67 for Woodland Park. Once you get there, stop for some bbq at the shack east of the Dinosaur museum. Go to the Dino museum, it's cool!

Leave Woodland park on 24 west to Florissant, then take hwy Teller county 1, stop at the Florissant Fossil beds, and take the tour. then keep going down Teller rd 1 into Cripple Creek if you want to gamble, or turn off on Teller rd 11 to the right if you want to skip gambling. Stay on Teller 11 all the way to hwy 9, and turn left toward Canon City. When you get to hwy 50, turn left and go to the Royal Gorge park, and if you are adventuring, take the zip line. Yikes.

After touring Royal Gorge go back west on hwy 50 toward Salida. Take hwy 285 north, and you can then stop at any of the Arkansas river trips in spring or summer. Ride the rapids. Now stop at Princeton Hot Springs and take a dip in the hot pool, then you can stay overnight there, or go up to Buena Vista and grab a room. Now, head north on 24 to Leadville. Turn right on 91, twisties again, take it easy and get back to I 70 going east. Turn off on 9 north to Kremmling. Then go right on 40 and stop at Parshall Inn for snack or lunch, alternately go to the Glory Hole in Hot Sulpher Springs. Continue on 40 through Winter Park, and back to I 70 at Empire, then back into Denver.

Great trip for a wknd.

oldfrat

Doc, you may not realize this, but you've also described a great itinerary for a fly fishing 928 owner. The South Platte river is famous for its big trout in Cheesman Canyon, just north of Deckers, and in the river from around Deckers downstream. Great fishing in the Arkansas river from Canon City through Buena Vista, also in the Colorado River from Kremmling to Hot Sulphur Springs. I've spent many happy days playing with the trout in those waters! Lots of public fishing water and free campgrounds in all three areas.

PS: If your route is going to take you from DFW to Denver, check out what having your GPS take you via Limon, CO does to your travel time. Flat, lonesome, very nicely maintained highways to Limon, and not a lot of potential speeding tickets. Lots of truck traffic, but not too many stretches where you'll be stuck behind a big rig. Way more fun for a 928 than cutting over to I-25 before heading north over Raton Pass.

Brad