Another long PDMR ride is in store for this ride.  Although Cottonwood Pass is not that far away, we will be taking the scenic route to get there.  The good news is it will NOT be as long as the North Pass Ride we did in August.

Google Maps says this ride should take 6 hrs 48 mins, but with all the stops for rest, gas, lunch, etc. expect to take maybe 9 hours to complete.  As such, we’re thinking of ending the ride at Colorado Mountain Brewery on Hwy 24 and 21st street in COS for dinner.  Unlike the North Pass Ride, we will not be starting earlier than normal, but at our usual 9am time.  I'm sure many of you will appreciate that.

We’ll head south from COS along Hwy 115 to Penrose then ride west via Hwy 50 to Canon City, over Monarch Pass, and onto Gunnison.  Gunnison is where we’ll have lunch.  There are quite a few places to choose from to eat so it should be fun.

After lunch, we’ll head north along CO 135 and turn onto County Rd. 742.  From there we’ll head towards Taylor Park Reservoir and turn onto County Rd. 209.  We’ll head up the west side of Gunnison National Forest to Cottonwood Pass.  From Cottonwood Pass, we’ll head down to Buena Vista and onto Hwy 24 to Wilkerson Pass.  The last leg will be from Wilkerson Pass to COS and the Colorado Mountain Brewery for dinner.

Hope to see many of you there.  Invite your friends if they have the courage to join us.  :)

Stopping points:

• Canon City (rest)
• Salida (rest)
• Gunnison (gas and lunch)
• Cottonwood Pass (rest and pictures)
• Wilkerson Pass (rest)
• Colorado Mountain ‘Brewery (dinner)