I'm not sure exactly where I should post this question, so feel free to move it as necessary.

A group of fellow riders and I are thinking of doing a week long trip around southern Colorado and/or northern New Mexico this summer. The only bike trip I've made across that area was when my wife and I took a loop from Dallas to the Grand Canyon and back on my '87 Wing about 25 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions for a couple of base sites and good roads to ride in the area. The group runs much closer to the sportier riding side, rather than the cruiser type. We would like to keep the riding to about 250 miles a day, give or take depending on the terrain.

Have any of you done the either the Unaweep/Tabeguache or Silver Thread Byways in SW Colorado?

I've done exactly what you are planning for the last 3 years.

I use Gunnison, CO as a home base and then ride out a different direction each day. There are a few awesome short runs close by as well.

Thanks, Arata. Any specific routes that you could suggest would be greatly appreciated.

We did NW Arkansas in 2011 and some of the guys would like to do that again (Push Mountain Rd was pretty sweet). I'm looking to steer them to some place different.

Can't go wrong with SW Colorado.

1) 550 from Durango to Ridgeway aka the million dollar highway
2) 62-145 Ridgeway to Delores
3) 160 Durango to Pagosa Springs then 84 down to Chama then 17 over to Antonito
4) or 160 Durango to South Fork then 149 toward Gunnison
5) Gunnison to Carbondale via 50->92->133
6) Carbondale to Leadville via 82 over Independence pass

These are all epic roads and there are many more. I think of this area as my back yard.

This is assuming you are using a Concours. If you want to go adventure biking there are many spectacular dirt roads and passes in that area as well.

+1 on Rhino's recs. I did all those roads this summer. I would add:

1.  160 from Pagosa Springs to Durango to Mesa Verde.
2.  84 south out of Pagosa to 64 in New Mex. to Dulce, continue to 511 to Ignacio and then into Durango.

Pack lots of gear. I hit 41 degree/hail/sleet on my ride from Antonito back to Chromo in mid August.

Do not leave any food in bags overnight in this area. Bears are everywhere.

I'm not sure exactly where I should post this question, so feel free to move it as necessary.

A group of fellow riders and I are thinking of doing a week long trip around southern Colorado and/or northern New Mexico this summer. The only bike trip I've made across that area was when my wife and I took a loop from Dallas to the Grand Canyon and back on my '87 Wing about 25 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions for a couple of base sites and good roads to ride in the area. The group runs much closer to the sportier riding side, rather than the cruiser type. We would like to keep the riding to about 250 miles a day, give or take depending on the terrain.

Have any of you done the either the Unaweep/Tabeguache or Silver Thread Byways in SW Colorado?

The previously mentioned rides will keep you busy for a week and are "must do" rides. If your friends liked NW Arkansas, Southwest Colorado will blow their minds.

This is assuming you are using a Concours. If you want to go adventure biking there are many spectacular dirt roads and passes in that area as well.

+1
Phantom Canyon Road
Gold Camp Road
just to mention 2

One of my all time favorites is 518 out of Taos down the mountain into the Mora Valley.

One of my all time favorites is 518 out of Taos down the mountain into the Mora Valley.

Wow! All the time I've spent in that area I'm not sure if I've done 518. Well ok then, first good Saturday with clear roads I will check it out. Thanks.

Wow! All the time I've spent in that area I'm not sure if I've done 518. Well ok then, first good Saturday with clear roads I will check it out. Thanks.

Be sure and report back. And of course, pictures would be great.

Be sure and report back. And of course, pictures would be great.

Will do! Just for grins, across the valley and a bit north of Taos is highway 17 from Chama to Antonito and this video was taken on the Chama side of the pass.

The high country is God's country.

The high country is God's country.

 

Add Wolf Creek Pass (out of Pagossa Springs) and then on over to Creede.

Add Wolf Creek Pass (out of Pagossa Springs) and then on over to Creede.

Absolutely! See #4 on my list

I'm not getting much of a commitment out of my riding partners for this trip.  They've all done the area several times in years gone by, but I have not and sure do want to do it.

I may have to look for a new group of riding buddies.  Five or six weekend trips a year to the Texas Hill Country just isn't satisfying my urge to "travel" on this bike.

Taos NM would be a great place too, although I'm partial to Gunnison. 

Here are a LOAD of rides out of Taos, courtesy of (STOC) a group of us that meet every year.  Maps are uploaded in individual PDF's and one big Garmin Mapsource file.

Ride 1: The Enchanted Circle - 80 miles.

Ride 2: Los Cañones Grandes y Pueblos Viejos (Big Canyons and Old Towns) - 111 miles

Ride 3: The Enchanted Figure-Eight - 190 miles

Ride 4: The West Loop - 272 miles

Ride 5: The East Loop - 295 miles

Ride 7; Oceans, Fire, and Ice: A Geology Field Trip - 310 miles

Ride 9: Los Cojones Grandes - 551 miles

the rides skipped were dual sport rides... if needed can be provided.

Rob,

Glad to see Ride 9 is a 2-day ride...