I am from Minnesota and have been coming out west for only 6 years and have never ridden in Colorado yet. I have seen in magazines that Grand Mesa gets a lot of snow & then I have heard that Rabbit Ears are good. I know there are many more areas than just those 2 to ride in. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on good areas with lodging? The 3 or 4 guys that I go with like boondocking & climbing hills. I am not a big tree fan, still a little hesitant of them because I hit one last year while out west. The lodging that I usually try to find is a cabin that has a kitchen, bathroom, sleeps like 4-8 (4-8 beds) - no sharing, lol. Just seeing what other people have used or know about. Thanks.
Riding area question
- Thread starter Delo
- Start date
Crap, man! We all hit trees, ain't no biggie. Just don't hit em hard.
As for riding areas, those are all great places. As for the best place at the time of your stay, well that is a crap shoot. It all depends on the jetstream and where the storms pass over. Sometimes RE will get 24-36" while GM gets 6', or Gunni will get 3' of fresh and RE will get 4". Just keep an eye on the weather and go from there. Depending on where you stay most places can be traveled too in a few hours and you can still get a full day in riding.
As for riding areas, those are all great places. As for the best place at the time of your stay, well that is a crap shoot. It all depends on the jetstream and where the storms pass over. Sometimes RE will get 24-36" while GM gets 6', or Gunni will get 3' of fresh and RE will get 4". Just keep an eye on the weather and go from there. Depending on where you stay most places can be traveled too in a few hours and you can still get a full day in riding.
It was not too hard of a hit but all that broke was plastic and my pride. Hurt though when I bounced off tree with shoulder, but it is all good. I guess I am not opposed to be able to drive to a couple of different areas if we need to. It is wierd out west one area gets pounded with snow and a few miles away gets barely anything. Met a guy here at home who said the Breckinridge area is nice, he was familiar with it because he lives out there. Thanks tmk I will check out Steamboat Lake Outfitters.
I am just asking that ALL the snow go to where I want to go riding. I don't think that is asking too much is it?
I've never ridden there, but Grand Lake sounds like a good candidate for you. Lodging like you are looking for and lots of scenery and ridding up there. I think you can still ride out of your lodging accomodations. You could always attack "chicken hill". Ask around, I think PJ knows the area.
RE is nice but no lodging up there. You would have to go back and forth between Kremmling or Steamboat.
RE is nice but no lodging up there. You would have to go back and forth between Kremmling or Steamboat.
I
ItDoAble
Well-known member
Grand Mesa is a very large area with a huge variety of terrain. West side has most of the lodging, and is more geared towards touring, meadow riding. East side has more up and down, but can be easier to get lost in. South end has more climbing. Lodging is reasonable (several ride out from cabin locations), and there are less crowds. If you're on an extended trip, it would probably take a week or so to ride it all. Most years GM gets LOTS of snow. Driving from MN, it would take you ~6 hrs more to get there than RE/Steamboat/GL.
Rabbit Ears is a smaller area and lodging would either be in Steamboat (skier expensive), Kremmling (cheap small town, 1 hr away), or Walden (cheaper smaller town, 1 hr away). You can ride out Rabbit Ears easily in 2 days, and gets crowded. IMO RE is so popular because it can be done in a long day trip from Denver, gets good snow, and some big names ride there. One or two days a season is plenty for me.
Steamboat Lake is fun (~25 mile No of Steamboat). It's mostly touring / meadow riding. The Aspen riding is the best I've found, awesome! Check out California Park if you go there. You could ride SL out in 2-3 days.
GL is OK, with a little of everything to play in. A lot of the 'rental' crowd go there. You can ride your sled in town if snow permits. About 2 days of riding there, lots of lodging.
Rabbit Ears is a smaller area and lodging would either be in Steamboat (skier expensive), Kremmling (cheap small town, 1 hr away), or Walden (cheaper smaller town, 1 hr away). You can ride out Rabbit Ears easily in 2 days, and gets crowded. IMO RE is so popular because it can be done in a long day trip from Denver, gets good snow, and some big names ride there. One or two days a season is plenty for me.
Steamboat Lake is fun (~25 mile No of Steamboat). It's mostly touring / meadow riding. The Aspen riding is the best I've found, awesome! Check out California Park if you go there. You could ride SL out in 2-3 days.
GL is OK, with a little of everything to play in. A lot of the 'rental' crowd go there. You can ride your sled in town if snow permits. About 2 days of riding there, lots of lodging.
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Wow thank you ItDoAble, VERY informative. I appreciate all the responses this will help. The drives usually seem to be 16-18 hours from here in MN to where ever we go. The magazines that I get show that Grand Mesa normally gets a lot of snow so have always been interested in going there. As far as time out there we usually are out there for 7 days of riding. Only able to get out there once a year so make the most of it. Thanks again.
Has anyone stayed at Grand Mesa Lodge? I found them and just wondering has anyone had any experience with them? They say you can ride right from the cabins.
H
Hammertime
Active member
Grand Mesa lodge is an excellent choice great people. They also have the cabins you are looking for. You can make a sled trek across the mesa all the way to Electric Mountain Lodge and have lunch and get refueled. You will not get bored there in 7 days for sure. 7 days at the Mesa and you will be back the next year!
That is what I like to hear. I am on a budget and with a cabin with enough people and we usually bring out our own food it is way economical. Go out to eat once and awhile but I am out there to snowmobile as much as I can in 7 days - that is all. Thanks.
Thanks ItDoAble I will keep checking out the website to see how things are going.
