Colorado Motorcycle Tour 1:
Short But Sweet - Page 5

Idaho Springs, Colorado and Tour Finish

• Continue on CO-103 - 25.0 mi
Visit Idaho Springs, Colorado and Idaho Springs Hot Springs


• Continue on 13th Ave - 0.1 mi
• Turn left at Colorado Blvd/I-70-BL - 315 ft
• Head east on Colorado Blvd/I-70-BL toward 13th Ave - 1.3 mi
• Continue on Frontage Rd - 0.2 mi
Chance for refreshments, dining, gas, hotel

• Take the ramp onto I-70 E - 2.9 mi
Our few minutes on the highway

• Take exit 244 on the left to merge onto US-6 toward Golden - 0.3 mi
• Turn right toward US-40 - 295 ft
• Turn left at US-40 - 7.6 mi
• Turn left to merge onto I-70 E - 1.9 mi
• Take exit 254 toward Genesee Park - 0.5 mi
• Turn left at S Mt Vernon Country Club Rd/US-40
• Continue to follow US-40 - 5.5 mi
• Turn left at W Colfax Ave/I-70-BL E - 8.2 mi
Tour Complete

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Dining for the hungry motorcycle rider in Idaho Springs varies from simple coffee houses to a reasonably priced Buffalo Restaurant and a brewery/restaurant offerring hand-crafter beers brewed on the site. I have never been disappointed by the fine food at The Buffalo Restaurant & Bar, which specializes in bison dishes, but they also provided a wide variety of non-bison appetizers, entrees and desserts. Another satisfying place for food and/or drinks is Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub, offering hand-crafted beer and very tasty food at reasonable prices. Continue down the main strip through Idaho Springs to find a Safeway (grocery store), hardware stores and auto parts stores, gas stations, several more restaurants, and a selection of local motels for a respite from the road. Visit the Idaho Springs Resort for a soak in their naturally heated hot pools or a massage. Idaho Springs Resort is always warm, so it is a popular destination all year regardless of the temperature (or snow) outside the main building.

There are a lot of interesting little shops and other sights to see in Idaho Springs. You may want to park your motorcycle in one of the many free parking lots and travel the quaint streets on foot to get a better view of everything Idaho Springs has to offer.

After your travel through Idaho Springs, it's time to get on the highway, I-70, and head East toward Denver. Fortunately, this tour includes only a few miles of 4 lane highway driving, and the trip from Idaho Springs to I-40 is one of them. Take any of the three I-70 interchanges in Idaho Springs east on I-70 toward Denver. The speed limit on I-70 near Idaho Springs is 60 MPH, and this stretch of highway is often patrolled by Colorado State Police. I prefer to ride my motorcycle off-highway whenever possible, so let's get off I-70 as soon as we can. Continue east on I-70, through the tunnel and past the Central City Parkway, to Exit 244 toward Eldora Mountain Ski Resort. Exit left onto route 6. On your immediate left after the exit, you'll see Kermitt's Roadhouse, another Colorado biker hot spot. The parking lot at Kermitt's is usually filled with motorcycles on the weekends, or following the Sturgis gathering as riders head home through Colorado. Kermitt's offers good food at good prices, in a rustic 'good time' atmosphere.

After passing Kermitt's, watch for a right turn to get onto I-40 and go uphill alongside I-70. I prefer to keep off the highway as much as I can, and I really enjoy this stretch of I-40. It's not as fast as I-70, but it sure is a lot more interesting. If you aren't in a hurry, you can stay on I-40 all the way back down to Denver and Colfax Road, with only one trip back to I-70 at El Rancho, where you can stop to eat, sleep and/or fuel up your motorcycle. There are a lot of opportunities to ride onto I-70 and rush back to Denver. But if you're in no hurry, get on I-70 at El Rancho and take the second exit, exit 254, to get back onto I-40 to complete the tour. The last part of I-40 before you get to Denver keeps you riding your motorcycle alongside I-70, but on a 2-lane, curving road with great views and opportunities to see some more sights. Just as you get off at exit 254 and cross over I-70, there is a bison (buffalo) heard overlook. Here you can park your motorcycle and watch the bison that are often gathered under the trees near the road. Continuing on I-40 down toward Denver, you will have opportunities to take a side trip to the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Boettcher Mansion, Buffalo Bill's Grave, or the Mother Cabrini Shrine, all accessible from I-40.

That's the end of the first tour! Travelling less than 100 miles, we have seen enough to keep us busy for days. I hope you enjoyed the ride!

Les Brown - September 4, 2008

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