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Start: Steamboat Springs, CO
End: Estes Park, CO
Distance: 140 miles
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When we woke up it was overcast and quite chilly. We ate breakfast, put on our warm gear and headed out up and over Rabbit Ears Pass. We stopped at the junction of Hwy 14 and 40 and debated about going up to Walden via 14 and then down 125 to Grandby. But with the wet-stuff in the air, we decided to stay on Hwy 40. Stopped in Kremmling for something to drink and a "fat pill". Along with "a ton" of other bikes and cars coming and going to Rocky Mountain National Park, we got gas in the station at the intersection of Hwy 34 and 40 just outside of Granby. The section between just before reaching Lake Granby through Grand Lake is an "over developed resort" area; glad we didn't plan on spending any time there - not our cup of tea.
We stopped at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (detail map) to get a lay of the park, warm up and put on some warmer clothes. Along the way into the park there were numerous spots were cars had pulled to the side of the road for "wild critter" spotting; but none were motorcycle friendly. Stopped at several of the trail heads and Timber Creak; but no "wild critters" there... - don't they know they need to go to motorcycle friendly stops!! LOL. We stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center to 1) warm up, 2) get use to 11,183', 3) eat, and 4) get out of the rain showers that had started. The parking lot was a "mess" with cars not following the directions of the rangers directing traffic. Fortunately, they were parking motorcycles the wide concrete walkways by the restrooms. Our table at the Alpine Visitor Center over looked the Old Fall River Road. There were lots of cars working their way out the steep packed gravel road. On the way into Estes Park, we drove to the start of the packed gravel just West of the Alluvial Fan. Looks like a "fun" road but no sure I'd want to try it on my FJR.
After warming up, eating and the showers having passed, we head for Estes Park. Sortly after leaving we reached the highest elevation of the highway - 12,183'. It was windy and chilly but very beautiful. We spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring various overlooks and sites following Hwy 34 into Estes Park
We stayed at Nicky's Resort in Estes park and ate at Nicky's Steakhouse. We sat at the end of the bar overlooking Fall River drinking our beer and splitting a "monsterous" steak. The room was smaller and "country" style" with a shared walkway / balcony:
West end of Kremmling
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Rocky Mountain National Park
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