- Created: November 1, 2023 8:21 pm
- Updated: November 13, 2023 2:41 am
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 29 miles
- Time 38 min
- Speed 46 mph
- Min altitude 6706 ft
- Peak 9393 ft
- Climb 2900 ft
- Descent 4541 ft
Colorado State Highway 165 begins where it intersects CO 96 and runs south past the famous landmark, Bishop's Castle and into Rye and eventually Interstate 25. This road gave me flashbacks of riding in North Carolina or West Virginia because of the type of scenery you'll take in part of the way. I struggled to rate this road and almost leaned towards intermediate but in truth there are only a few long hairpins that switch back on themselves and the rest is pretty par for the course. Linked turns, some longer ones but really nothing someone who was riding their own pace on a motorcycle couldn't handle. Any rider on any type of bike could handle this road.
Be aware it is a longer ride, coming through lots of National Forest area and eventually into Rye and I-25. Lots of places to pull over, snap a few pics and just relax. Good passing zones too.
1. CO 165
SH 165 begins in the west at a junction with SH 96 roughly fifteen miles east of Silver Cliff. From there the road proceeds to the southeast through portions of San Isabel National Forest. One notable attraction on the route is Bishop Castle, about 12 miles (19 km) south of SH 96.
After Fairview, the highway meets the southwest end of SH 78 near San Isabel, through which SH 165 also passes. After San Isabel, the highway turns more nearly easterly and passes out of the national forest and though Rye. The route continues east through Colorado City before reaching its eastern terminus at exit 74 of I-25.
The highway forms part of the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway.
Source: Wikipedia
Colorado State Highway 165 begins where it intersects CO 96 and runs south past the famous landmark, Bishop’s Castle and into Rye and eventually Interstate 25. This road gave me flashbacks of riding in North Carolina or West Virginia because of the type of scenery you’ll take in part of the way. I struggled to rate this road and almost leaned towards intermediate but in truth there are only a few long hairpins that switch back on themselves and the rest is pretty par for the course. Linked turns, some longer ones but really nothing someone who was riding their own pace on a motorcycle couldn’t handle. Any rider on any type of bike could handle this road.
Be aware it is a longer ride, coming through lots of National Forest area and eventually into Rye and I-25. Lots of places to pull over, snap a few pics and just relax. Good passing zones too.
