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Overall
Summary: |
Weekend
Rides: Great National
Sand Dunes Trip |
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Rating:
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Route:
Highway 285 south into Alamosa and back
along Highway 67. |
| Features:
Winding mountain roads with some
multi-lane highways. |
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Distance:
554 miles. |
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Ride Time:
Approximately 11 hours & 10 minutes. |
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Season:
June through August. |
| Maximum Grade: 9% |
| Change in Elevation: 4,800 feet |
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Overivew: |
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Ride from Morrison, Colorado, south through Salida to Alamosa Colorado
to visit the Great National Sand Dunes. |
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| Directions,
Day 1: 205 miles, 4 hours & 13
minutes |
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From Morrison CO, take Morrison Rd west,
toward Evergreen.
Morrison Rd will
become Bear Creek Rd/Highway 74. Continue on Highway 74 into
Evergreen
Colorado.
At Evergreen Colorado, take a slight right onto Highway 73 South.
Continue south on Highway 73 to Conifer Colorado. At Conifer Colorado, turn right
(south) onto Highway 285. Take Highway 285 southwest through
Bailey Colorado and into Buena Vista Colorado. At Buena Vista Colorado, Highway 285
will turn south and merge with Highway 24. Continue south on
Highway 285 to Highway 17. Turn left (south) onto Highway 17 and
continue to Alamosa Colorado. Plan on staying the night in
Alamosa Colorado. |
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| Map,
Day 1: |
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Elevation Profile,
Day 1:
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| Directions,
Day 2: 349 miles, 6 hours & 57
minutes |
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Leaving Alamosa Colorado, head east on
Highway 160 to Highway 150. Turn left (north) on Highway 150.
Highway 150 will take you to the
Great National Sand Dunes park.
Plan to spend two to three hours at the park before heading back to
Highway 160. Continue east on Highway 160 to Walsenburg Colorado. At Walsenburg Colorado, turn left
(north) on Highway 69. Continue north on Highway 69 to Texas Creek Colorado. At Texas Creek Colorado, turn right (east) onto Highway 50.
Continue east on Highway 50 for a bit
until you reach Highway 9. Turn left
(north) on Highway 9 and continue north
to Fairplay. At Fairplay, merge
onto US 285 North. Continue on US
285 back Conifer. At Conifer,
merge onto Highway 73. Follow
Highway 73 to Evergreen and turn right
(east) onto Highway 74. Take US 74
east to Morrison, CO. |
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| Map,
Day 2: |
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Elevation Profile,
Day 2:
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Photos: |
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Our Review: |
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(This ride has not yet been reviewed) |
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Your Ratings: |
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(No ratings have been received for this ride) |
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Points of Interest: |
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The Great National Sand
Dunes Park, just eat of Alamosa Colorado, features a desert-like
scene of sand dunes and mountains.
This park provides public restrooms,
showers and campgrounds. |
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| During the mid-spring and
early-summer months, snow-melt from the
surrounding Mt. Adams can produce a
shallow river that runs along the base
of the dunes. This can provide
beach-like fun. |
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Important Notes: |
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| You must purchase an entrance pass
to get into the park. This pass
costs $3 per adult and is good for
one-week. Children are free.
Remember to carry a small amount of cash
to cover this fee. |
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| When visiting during the extreme
summer months; late June, July and
August, expect temperatures on the sand
to exceed 100
degrees
Fahrenheit. Pack plenty of water,
sunscreen and snacks and be prepared to
seek shade and take periodic breaks to
avoid heat exhaustion. |
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