- Created: August 6, 2023 12:30 am
- Updated: November 12, 2023 5:41 pm
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 11 miles
- Time 14 min
- Speed 47 mph
- Min altitude 4783 ft
- Peak 5449 ft
- Climb 873 ft
- Descent 207 ft
CO 65 N (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway) should be annotated as the portion of 65 from I70 to Mesa, CO. This section of pavement is almost like a racetrack, very smooth pavement and predictable sweepers back and forth which could encourage higher than average rates of speed on a motorcycle. With that in mind, when running a reasonable pace any rider on just about any street bike should be able to navigate this section of road. When I last rode this section I saw countless motorcycles ranging from Harley to Sport Touring, Adventure and Standard. Given how good the road is, ironically did not see any Sportbikes giving it a go, probably too far away from Denver for that sort of action.
1. CO 65 N
The byway runs north from Cedaredge along Highway 65, to the top of the Grand Mesa at more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m). It also includes Land's End Road to the Land's End Observatory from Highway 65. The byway continues past Island Lake, one of more than 300 trout-filled lakes in Grand Mesa National Forest. On the north side of the Mesa are the towns of Mesa, Collbran, and Powderhorn Ski Resort. The byway continues along De Beque Canyon, with its colorful sandstone bluffs, and eventually meets Interstate 70 in the town of De Beque.
Source: Wikipedia
CO 65 N (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway) should be annotated as the portion of 65 from I70 to Mesa, CO. This section of pavement is almost like a racetrack, very smooth pavement and predictable sweepers back and forth which could encourage higher than average rates of speed on a motorcycle. With that in mind, when running a reasonable pace any rider on just about any street bike should be able to navigate this section of road. When I last rode this section I saw countless motorcycles ranging from Harley to Sport Touring, Adventure and Standard. Given how good the road is, ironically did not see any Sportbikes giving it a go, probably too far away from Denver for that sort of action.
