Last Update: 04/29/2012

The Butt-Kicker ~415 miles

AKA "A Taste of Colorado"

[click map for larger view]

SUMMARY: Mountains and Canyons are the key aspects of this great ride!!! Join your Gold Wing friends for one heck of a "Taste of Colorado" Ride, or as many of us Colorado Riders also call it, the "Butt-Kicker" Ride. This will be a long day with lots of great views, twisties, sweepers, and spirited, but safe, riding. Those uncomfortable with taking lots of twisties and sweepers, or long rides, should skip this ride. However, for those up to the task this will be a great day of riding taking in some of Colorado's best roads and scenery. You will cross the Continental Divide four times on this ride: Fremont Pass, Independence Pass, Monarch Pass, and Hoosier Pass. You will also travel via the beautiful spots of Twin Lakes, Aspen, Redstone, McClure Pass, North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and South Park -- this ride has a little bit of everything. Lunch could be in either Redstone or Crawford depending upon the timing. When riding CO-92 along the North Rim of the Black Canyon, be sure and stop at the "Pioneer Lookout" and do some walking around the trails -- magnificent views. The ride will be about 415 miles, so bring plenty of liquids to drink along the way, and be sure to bring the camera!!!!

GPS Data Files:

[NOTE: After downloading these files to your computer, you need to re-calculate the route in MapSource or your software before transferring them to your GPS.]

	Garmin GPS data file with all Copper Routes and Waypoints (should work in most Garmin GPS units, but you will need to have your GPS recalculate the route using these points.
	Click here to download a GPS Exchange data file with all Copper Routes and Waypoints (should work in most GPS units, but you will need to have the GPS recalculate the route using these points)

	This ride is included in the GPS files in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction -- both are very good, but WingNutZZ has a bit of a preference for the CCW direction.

Directions:

Copper Mountain > CO-91 south (Leadville/Exit 195) > Fremont Pass > US-24 east > Leadville > CO-82 west (Aspen) > Twin Lakes VU > Independence Pass > Aspen > CO-133 south > Carbondale > CR-15 into Redstone (perhaps lunch) > CO-133 south > McClure Pass > Paonia Reservoir > Paonia > Hotchkiss > CO-92 east > Crawford (perhaps lunch) > CO-92 east (do not go to the Black Canyon North Rim National Park, but continue on CO-92) > perhaps stop at the Morrow Point overlook and definitely at the Pioneer Lookout > Blue Mesa Dam > US-50 east > Dillon Pinnacles VU > Gunnison > Monarch Pass > Poncha Springs > US-285 north > combines with US-24 east near Buena Vista > Trout Creek Pass > South Park > (US-24 east splits off; stay on US-285 north) > CO-9 north > Fairplay > Hoosier Pass > Breckenridge > Frisco > I-70W > Copper Mountain

Photos From The Butt-Kicker Ride