ACA Great Parks Routes
11-01-18, 10:25 AM
#1
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ACA Great Parks Routes
Wondering if anyone has a "connector" for these 2 routes? Thought I would start my off season dreaming!
Thanks!
Thanks!
11-01-18, 11:40 AM
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11-01-18, 11:55 AM
#3
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Yes Tom, they connect with the "TransAmerica" route. In 1983 I was introduced to Bikecentennial, now ACA, as a member of a group tour called the "Great Parks Odyssey". It started in Durango CO and followed the "Great Parks South" route to Walden CO (The GPS route ends at Steamboat Springs). At Walden we picked up the "TransAm" and followed it to Missoula where the "Great Parks North" route begins. We followed that to Jasper AB. A wonderful trip!
11-01-18, 01:27 PM
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Sorry! I thought they were 2 sepersep and distinct routes. I did not see the connector. I will take a closer look.
11-01-18, 02:12 PM
#5
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Yes, they are two separate and distinct routes and they can be connected with part of a third additional route, the WY and MT sections of the TransAm...
^ GREAT PARKS NORTH (southern end)
^ GREAT PARKS SOUTH (northern end)
^ TRANS AM (Missoula > southeast)
^ TRANS AM (Walden > northwest)
Click on sections 4,5 and 6 at this link to see further TransAm map details...
https://www.adventurecycling.org/rou...america-trail/
^ GREAT PARKS NORTH (southern end)
^ GREAT PARKS SOUTH (northern end)
^ TRANS AM (Missoula > southeast)
^ TRANS AM (Walden > northwest)
Click on sections 4,5 and 6 at this link to see further TransAm map details...
https://www.adventurecycling.org/rou...america-trail/
Last edited by BobG; 11-01-18 at 03:58 PM.
11-01-18, 04:47 PM
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Thanks! I've got it!!
11-01-18, 05:14 PM
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God this makes me want to go out!
11-01-18, 09:20 PM
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Bob, that does sound like a nice routing.
11-02-18, 05:30 AM
#9
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Indeed it is a spectacular route from start to finish. I'm surprised that ACA has dropped it from their guided tours menu. About a two month trip as I recall.
I added the "Million Dollar Highway" (Ouray>Silverton>Durango) to my route by starting at Grand Junction and riding south to meet the tour group at Durango. The ACA route then heads west to loop through Telluride so I only had one short stretch to repeat from Ridgeway back to Montrose. Hot and dry the first 60 miles from Grand Junction to Montrose.
Million Dollar Highway to the Icefields Parkway... Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison (side trip), Rocky Mountain NP, Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier and the Canadian parks... the tour checks all the boxes! You even have VIA Rail Canada waiting in Jasper to take you home.
Gosh, Tom has me dreaming about it now!
I added the "Million Dollar Highway" (Ouray>Silverton>Durango) to my route by starting at Grand Junction and riding south to meet the tour group at Durango. The ACA route then heads west to loop through Telluride so I only had one short stretch to repeat from Ridgeway back to Montrose. Hot and dry the first 60 miles from Grand Junction to Montrose.
Million Dollar Highway to the Icefields Parkway... Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison (side trip), Rocky Mountain NP, Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier and the Canadian parks... the tour checks all the boxes! You even have VIA Rail Canada waiting in Jasper to take you home.
Gosh, Tom has me dreaming about it now!
11-02-18, 05:38 AM
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We rode across Canada in 2017 and the Icefield Parkway was amazing!!! So I thought about the above!!
11-02-18, 06:23 AM
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There's been some concern over on the AC forums about the level of traffic on some of the Colorado roads. 35+ years of population increase and development on a constrained transportation network will do that. I wouldn't let this dissuade you from an amazing, incredible tour, but you should be aware up front.
Last edited by tcs; 11-02-18 at 09:10 AM.
11-02-18, 07:51 AM
#12
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If you don't mind gravel there are some fun alternates to the ACA route in CO. Here's a side trip I took that bypassed Monarch Pass...
Taylor Park Reservoir...
Taylor Park Reservoir...
Last edited by BobG; 11-02-18 at 08:25 AM. Reason: add photo
11-02-18, 01:49 PM
#13
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The road on the west side of Cottonwood Pass was paved a couple of years ago, so gravel riding is no longer necessary. However, the road is closed for other work until about Memorial Day 2019. https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/co/cottonwood/
11-04-18, 07:34 AM
#14
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edit- All of you ACA tour veterans will recognize the "BIG POT" on my rack. Yes, 35 years later it is still standard issue on their self contained tours. I was on a side trip away from our group for a couple of days. They had another big pot in the group and let me hold on to mine!
Last edited by BobG; 11-04-18 at 09:33 AM.
11-04-18, 11:25 AM
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11-04-18, 12:19 PM
#16
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[QUOTE=BobG;20647319]Thanks for update mje. My trip was 35 years ago. Is Cumberland Pass still gravel? (for Tom's benefit, not mine).
Sorry, I didn't notice that portion of your route. Yes, there is plenty of gravel to ride from Taylor Reservoir to Parlin. Or Tom can avoid gravel entirely by continuing down the paved road to Gunnison and rejoin US 50 there.
Sorry, I didn't notice that portion of your route. Yes, there is plenty of gravel to ride from Taylor Reservoir to Parlin. Or Tom can avoid gravel entirely by continuing down the paved road to Gunnison and rejoin US 50 there.
11-04-18, 01:07 PM
#17
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Ah, yes. I see now in the Google aerial view that CO 135/742 is paved all the way from Gunnison to Taylor Lake Reservoir. Thus one could bypass the ACA route of US 50 and US 285 all the way to Buena Vista on pavement. You'd have to climb Cottonwood Pass at 12,129' rather than Monarch Pass at 11,312' but have quieter roads to travel and also bypass the gravel Cumberland Pass at 12,025'. Thanks.
