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Routes / TransAm Alternate Routes You Would Recommend
« on: March 08, 2022, 10:12:45 pm »
If you were going to ride TransAm and were willing to go off route somewhat, what detour would you recommend to people. It can be anywhere along the route so long as it can "reasonably" be done by most riders. Nicely graded gravel/dirt roads are permitted. Why do you recommend the detour and what are the pros and cons? Try to offer a route map if you can.
I'll start. I have three. The first alternative goes from Saratoga, WY to Walden, CO via Centennial, WY, over the beautiful Snowy Range Mountains. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729543 .
This route is about 40 miles longer, has a 10,800' pass, and about 7 miles of graded gravel road. The section around Mirror Lake is, to me, quite majestic. https://goo.gl/maps/dTFTBoV5JVYCR1aY6 . The pros are the scenery. The cons are the extra miles and gravel and a bit of planning for Food and Water between Centennial and Walden but the original stretch between Riverside and Walden is pretty sparse too.
The second alternative goes from Hartsel, CO to Florence, CO, via Florissant and Cripple Creek and Phantom Canyon Road. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729671 .
This route is about 35 miles longer than the TA route. The route is for the most part on very quiet county roads with services spaced nicely along the route. Lots of old Colorado Gold Mining buildings and such. Beginning in Cripple Creek, it has a 25 mile long steady 3.5% descent (TA eastbound) on the gravel Phantom Canyon Road, an old narrow gauge railroad bed, which features two tunnels and three elevated bridges. https://goo.gl/maps/YbAbV8ivpyFuDnPh7 (the pic can be rotated 360* by holding the left mouse down while moving the mouse around).
The pros are quiet roads for the most part and the Phantom Canyon Road which you could almost coast down the entire 25 miles if eastbound. The cons are about 32 miles of nicely graded gravel/dirt including Phantom Canyon Road, which would not be as fun if you were westbound due to the 25 mile gravel climb up to Cripple Creek. Plus you would miss the quirky town of Guffey along with the Royal Gorge in Canon City. The high point is about 500 feet higher on the alternate route.
If you wanted to visit Guffey, you could head south on the TA from Hartsel to Guffey and then east on CR-11 to CR-1 then south to Cripple Creek and the Phantom Canyon Road.
The final alternate suggestion is a short little alternate just west of Canon City. Heck, it may be on the official route now. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729696 .
This short paved 3 mile route goes up to Skyline Drive just west of Canon City. It is a one-lane wide ridge top road. https://goo.gl/maps/FVk2f8UJrdbnZRxV9 . The pros are the scenery. The cons are the extra 200' climbing in only a few miles. You can see the highway the TA takes in the picture. Note the route is one-way for cars but bikes can ride both directions.
What alternate routes do you recommend?
Tailwinds, John
I'll start. I have three. The first alternative goes from Saratoga, WY to Walden, CO via Centennial, WY, over the beautiful Snowy Range Mountains. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729543 .
This route is about 40 miles longer, has a 10,800' pass, and about 7 miles of graded gravel road. The section around Mirror Lake is, to me, quite majestic. https://goo.gl/maps/dTFTBoV5JVYCR1aY6 . The pros are the scenery. The cons are the extra miles and gravel and a bit of planning for Food and Water between Centennial and Walden but the original stretch between Riverside and Walden is pretty sparse too.
The second alternative goes from Hartsel, CO to Florence, CO, via Florissant and Cripple Creek and Phantom Canyon Road. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729671 .
This route is about 35 miles longer than the TA route. The route is for the most part on very quiet county roads with services spaced nicely along the route. Lots of old Colorado Gold Mining buildings and such. Beginning in Cripple Creek, it has a 25 mile long steady 3.5% descent (TA eastbound) on the gravel Phantom Canyon Road, an old narrow gauge railroad bed, which features two tunnels and three elevated bridges. https://goo.gl/maps/YbAbV8ivpyFuDnPh7 (the pic can be rotated 360* by holding the left mouse down while moving the mouse around).
The pros are quiet roads for the most part and the Phantom Canyon Road which you could almost coast down the entire 25 miles if eastbound. The cons are about 32 miles of nicely graded gravel/dirt including Phantom Canyon Road, which would not be as fun if you were westbound due to the 25 mile gravel climb up to Cripple Creek. Plus you would miss the quirky town of Guffey along with the Royal Gorge in Canon City. The high point is about 500 feet higher on the alternate route.
If you wanted to visit Guffey, you could head south on the TA from Hartsel to Guffey and then east on CR-11 to CR-1 then south to Cripple Creek and the Phantom Canyon Road.
The final alternate suggestion is a short little alternate just west of Canon City. Heck, it may be on the official route now. Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38729696 .
This short paved 3 mile route goes up to Skyline Drive just west of Canon City. It is a one-lane wide ridge top road. https://goo.gl/maps/FVk2f8UJrdbnZRxV9 . The pros are the scenery. The cons are the extra 200' climbing in only a few miles. You can see the highway the TA takes in the picture. Note the route is one-way for cars but bikes can ride both directions.
What alternate routes do you recommend?
Tailwinds, John