Can You Make It? Cinnamon Pass: Adv Motorcycle in Colorado

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Thanks for coming along! What passes have you ridden? Can you see yourself ever coming to Colorado?

[@Garzatron-ue3cp]

I’ve ridden my mtb over it many times. Once in the middle of the night. The stars were gorgeous.

[@marksteiner3810]

Well done. Good, safe riding practices while viewing scenery. Once took my Honda 650 Enduro up to Mt. McClellan west of Georgetown on a former narrow-gauge RR grade of the Argentine Central NGRR. Goes a bit above 13,000 feet and provided great views of Grays and Torreys Peaks (Front Range high points). The road to Animas Forks was once the RR grade of the Silverton Northern NGRR. I guess the RR ran until World War II. I first went there in June 1975. No visitors to the ghost town that year. Looks like many have since discovered the scenic and historic advantages going to Animas Forks. Thanks for the video.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Thanks, Mark! That sounds like another great adventure. I read that about the RR grade, the old Gallopin' Goose RR grade is at the end of our property that ran from Dolores to Durango. There is a ton of history to be discovered without a doubt. I like history, so it adds a lot more depth to the scenery giving a more full picture. You are correct about the traffic. Even when we moved here in 2010, it was substantially less. Not so much anymore. Traffic jams on weekends. The first ride I did up there was on a Honda XR650L and it was raining with the traffic. My first trail ride on that bike. Seems like each one is a learning experience. Thanks for the comments, perspective and another destination to ride!

[@marksteiner3810]

@@swcoloradoadventures You are welcome. I was job-stationed for 25 years in Denver (Lakewood) and during that time saw the place change. The entire state. I moved some of the family to AZ (North Maricopa County) in 1999 and and continued commuting to and from Denver once a month until 2015. Never got over Cinnamon Pass but saw the road from Lake City to American Basin, a beautiful alpine wildflower spot a few miles short of Cinnamon. Last there in 2008. Also have taken Engineer Pass from Lake city twice (once to Silverton); the other time back to Lake City. Never tested the rough stretch to Ouray. There were times when I chose to drive over Lizard Head Pass and saw the railway exhibits in Ridgway and the Goose and depot in Dolores as you mentioned. Otto Mears could not construct a NGRR over the Sneffels Range (for obvious reasons) but left some delightful NGRR history along that line. The San Juan Extension rail line ran from Denver to Durango at one time. Standard gauge over La Veta Pass to Alamosa; narrow gauge after that. From there, you could take a narrow gauge train to Silverton, Animas Forks or Gladstone. The present operating lines of the San Juan Extension are the Cumbres and Toltec NGRR and of course, the Durango and Silverton NGRR. I come from a railroading familly from St. Paul, and my dad worked for the Northern Pacific in both Duluth and St. Paul. Interesting how railroads and motorcycle routes cross paths from time to time. Again, thanks - Mark

[@swcoloradoadventures]

@@marksteiner3810 good stuff!

[@danzuelch]

It was so beautiful, I had to watch it twice!

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Hah! Thanks for saying so, Dan. Mission accomplished!

[@earlliotti5316]

One of those times when you keep reminding yourself "the bike goes where I look." Great vid!

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Too true! I finally started making my brain look “beside” that big rock. Thanks for watching!

[@brucebennett9154]

Great ride. Mike issues - poop happens - everyone on y-tube deals with it. I like the music so no worries. Keep it going!

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Thanks Bruce! I think I will. Its a pretty fun hobby and everyone has been great to interact with. That makes all the difference IMO. See you on the next one!

[@TheRealTragicallyInept]

Nice! I have a '22 REH as well, very pleased with it. Thanks for sharing your adventure, really enjoyed watching. 👍

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Thanks! Ready for the snow to melt and go get some more. Have fun out there!

[@graymangw6016]

Get out and ride while you can. Looks great.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Absolutely! Short season this year

[@EverythingOutdoorswithTito]

If you make it to Cimarron ever (between Montrose and Gunnison) stop by and say high. Pleasant valley camping and cabins is my place right next to owl creek pass. Cheers and keep up the good content

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Nice! I would say this summer, but the snow shortened the season so much I don't think I will make it out of Silverton area a little closer to home. BUT, It will happen at some point in the future. Thanks for watching and the invitation!

[@joelrogers5972]

Are you east or west from the road construction on hwy 50? Is it possible to take cimmaron road all the way to Ouray?

[@EverythingOutdoorswithTito]

@@joelrogers5972 I’m west of the construction, Owl creek pass will bring you out on 550 in ridgway Cheers

[@paulstoker7650]

That was amazing, thanks for sharing it. You and the bike did a good job on that trail, it looked tough going.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Thanks Paul! No tip-overs (until the next video…). It was a really cool trail. Not too challenging on the side we did. Thanks for watching!

[@graymangw6016]

Amazing out there, very jealous.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

I am trying to encourage some of y'all to come out and play. Is it working?🤣 Thanks!

[@graymangw6016]

@@swcoloradoadventures I'm in SE Wisconsin and i get out here and there.

[@bradygasm69]

Thanks for the video! I'll be there in mid September and I wanted to make sure my KLR would make it loaded down with 100 lbs of camping gear. Looks like it'll be fine.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Sure thing! Keep in mind, we only did the side from animas forks to the pass. If you go over, there are some pretty challenging wash outs this year that may pose an issue. Just a heads up! Thanks!

[@joelrogers5972]

Very nice! We were out there in August, so we just missed you. Overcrowding on the trails continually gets worse every year.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Sure does. Thankfully the middle of the week is still manageable. Thanks!

[@Gabrielmtbgopro]

great video !! i did that on a bicycle as part of the Colorado trail , I really like that section as well thanks for sharing your experience

[@swcoloradoadventures]

Oooooph…Thanks Gabriel! I guess I could’ve done that on my Ibis Ripmo, but, you are tougher than I admittedly. Appreciate your comments. Thanks for watching!

[@Mark-mq1cc]

Last Sept I took my daughter on the alpine loop on my tiger800 and it was miserable! All these damn sxs have ruined the roads and were a constant threat to our safety on the way up to lake city from Silverton.

[@swcoloradoadventures]

They are everywhere. I won’t even go up on a weekend anymore. That’s not even to mention the dust. I’m for everyone getting up in the mountains but I understand the frustration.

[@traceysmalley3516]

SxS are usually rental tourons (tourist/morons)

[@onemileattatime2642]

What were the temps up there at elevation? I still see youre rocking the Tourmaster gear! I have been a fan of it for 8 years now. Back in 2016, I donned Tourmaster Transitions jacket and the Ventire Air pants, and i struck a dear going 45-50mph! Down i went and a sliding! I walked away with only 1 minor bruisand a minor scrape where the jacket eventual crept up. Bike was totaled, but me virtually unsalcsthed! Tourmaster held up and did its job! Is that style adequately vented for that riding because mine has been for actual touring and not slower ADV riding?

[@swcoloradoadventures]

You have impeccable timing! I just picked up a mesh jacket, Cortech, at LBS because the other is too hot. I feel good when I step on the scale after a ride, but it’s all water weight loss. Temps were 70ish and sunny. Too hot for the 3 or 4 season jacket by far. I had a Velcro strap at cuff come loose, but the TM jacket has domes it’s job well. The pants as well (Caliber) but they are too hot as well. Made it through all my slides and tip overs really well. Thankfully no deer! Hopefully this new jacket is cool, literally. I’ll report back I’m sure. Hope it’s a good one. Thanks!

[@y404mog]

Do you recall your RT time from Silverton to the Pass and back?

[@swcoloradoadventures]

So sorry I missed this! It’s roughly 4 hours with pictures and pit stops. Depends on which day as well. A weekend would have been longer. Hope that helps!

[@t-bone9403]

What kind of bikes are you guys riding ?

[@swcoloradoadventures]

We’re riding Himalayans.

[@7nash974]

what bike are you riding?

[@swcoloradoadventures]

I am riding a Himalayan. I saw several dual sports of different varieties and a Tenere 700 during that trip as well. Thanks!