CA to Sheboygan Round Trip...

[Johnrg]

I'm heading to Sheboygan, Wisconsin to visit relatives and stopping along the way to ride and paddle. First day to Flagstaff as before arriving to storm clouds but this time it's clearing up for tomorrow. So after dinner scouted some new trails just south of town I found on rider planet (link below). No trail markers and just a dirt road in. Will be easy staging 3 miles south of town and my motel and supposedly 50 miles of trails and double track so will be doing some exploring in the morning before heading to Santa Fe. Plan on doing an out and back north of Santa Fe if the weather cooperates and then heading to Pueblo to paddle the reservoir and ride over near Breckenridge. Hope to spend a few days exporing CO before blasting through Nebraska and Iowa. A wide open trip, stopping to ride or paddle as I go.

A shot of the staging area as the sky begins to clear. Tacky and perfect conditions especially after all the humidity in CA. and the 112 degree temps when I stopped in Needles!



http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/arizona_15079/ride_5659.htm

 

[Johnrg]

Rode at Kelly Canyon this morning for just under 20 miles. Some nice single track is being put in. Rode straight in on the forest roads initially and then looked for the trails. Easy access off South Lake Mary road and near the airport. Red dirt and some rock but nothing too technical. Fun morning before hitting the highway by 10am. In Santa FE for the night and Pueblo tomorrow.

 

[Johnrg]

Tomorrow if the weather cooperates in the morning will do a route I scouted out online up Rio Chiquito FR 437. Hope to get some views of the surrounding peaks. Looks like 1hr north of SF just shy of Taos.

 

[ghte]

Nice so far Mate

 

[ray_ray]

Rode at Kelly Canyon this morning for just under 20 miles. Some nice single track is being put in. Rode straight in on the forest roads initially and then looked for the trails. Easy access off South Lake Mary road and near the airport. Red dirt and some rock but nothing too technical. Fun morning before hitting the highway by 10am. In Santa FE for the night and Pueblo tomorrow.

Sounds good and what do you mean by "Some nice single track is being put in" ... The state is building new trails?

 

[HUSKYnXJnWI]

Excellent- you are trailering/hauling your 310 across country and stopping to ride single track and explore along the way...
Thats my kind of Dualsport! I am envious.

 

[Johnrg]

Ray Ray.. New multi use area and yes state fs seems to be creating the trails and signage. Pretty cool and inclusive of all users.
Huskynxjnwi - Yes, got all my toys for fun along the way.

 

[Johnrg]

My scouting worked like a charm. Started out at 11 so a little late but was cool in the woods and up at elevation. I took the Rio Chiquito route on FS-437 and 438. I hesitated dropping elevation with the road as it went back down to the river before hitting the highest elevation since I didn't want to get myself into a washout or mud bog so stayed at 10k feet and just rode about 35 miles. Easy access just south of Taos. I parked at the start of the fire road and was good since I could head into town and gas up the bike before reloading in the van.

You can see my route was a little shorter than planned but a great area and up top is a mtb only singletrack that runs the ridge. I tried to do it but signs said no.



Staged at the bottom of the FS road. No designated area to park but I did so anyway.



The meadows were pretty cool and plenty of wildflowers. The singletrack crossed the meadow and into the trees. This is where the two roads split on the map. Basically was all doubletrack but excellent conditions with no dust.



In Pueblo and will paddle Lake Pueblo in the am if the weather cooperates

 

[ghte]

Loving it

 

[Johnrg]

Hot damn... It's 103 degrees at Lake Pueblo! Luckily I was up at the crack of dawn and got some exercise in before the heat. Water was balmy and avoided the noise and boat traffic. Some wind to contend with but paddle into the wind first and helps you on the return leg. 6.25 miles done and then laundry and supplies refreshed. Early start to Dillon tomorrow. Paddle Dillon Lake and the following morning going to ride the Golden Horseshoe network before heading to Nebraska and Lake McConaughy.

http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/colorado_15066/ride_df30.htm

The launch...



6.25 miles in...



Post paddle breakfast...

 

[Johnrg]

Awesome morning above Breckenridge to over 11k feet. and was so close to the top but steep and rocky. Cleared a lot of stuff but one of those places that if you mess up you'll regret the attempt. You can see on the map where I turned back. Also found a house for sale. Not too shabby. Paddle this evening and in the am as I am staying on the water tonight







On the right, just above the draw, is where I turned back. If it got consistently steep, rocky and narrow it could have been dicey. I'd be up there in a flash on my mountain bike and hike a biking as needed. It's the extra 250lbs that concerned me ;-)

 

[Johnrg]

House with a view, fenced and landscaped...





Backside of the ridge towards the alternate staging area...

 

[Johnrg]

Final day in the hills and may not be on the bike across the prairie in the heat so... A paddle on Lake Dillon at 9k feet early in the morning before rolling to Ogallala, NE.



Lake McCaughny this evening with the last of the precipitation for the week. Will be out there tomorrow morning before heading to Omaha.





Council Bluffs...

 

[ghte]

Fan bloody tastic scenery for many out doors activities. What a top joint.

 

[Johnrg]

8 Miles on Lake Mendota in Madison.



Sheboygan Waterfront/Harbor... Ships and coal are gone. A few days visiting relatives and then heading north to ride.

 

[BarberPole]

I believe that's Lake Manawa where I used to water ski as a teen in the late 50s growing up in Omaha.

I also learned to ride my first bike, a neighbor's Triumph Bonneville, around the lake area also.

Cool photo

 

[Johnrg]

Ready to rumble... I beat it out of Wisconsin and across a couple of states as they were not accommodating for motorcycles. ATV's are OK but only found Jackson Trails in Wisconsin besides the tracks and with a fee for an annual pass I decided to head for the hills... The Black Hills. So am here just south of Sturgis and will ride out of the Ramada parking lot for 3 days into the hills before heading to Casper, WY to mtb and then to Meeker, CO with a season pass in CO for a few more days where they welcome us before making my way back south and west.

 

[Huskynoobee]

I love the Black Hills. With so many miles of paved twisties I drove, I saw many many more miles of dirt heading off in every direction! Hmmm wonder if I can tow my Husky on a little trailer behind my Harley...Keep the beautiful shots and reports coming!

Edit: So interested I looked up the permits, no wonder you went annual. For $5 more it's almost a requirement to come back rather than just getting the 7 day version.

 

[Johnrg]

5 minutes and 3 miles ride from motel to trail. Rocky up and down singletrack/doubletrack with some graded access roads mixed in. One auger into the high bank kept me honest. About 30 miles and a couple of hours riding. Most of the trails were loose rock I didn't stop to take pictures of.

As far as the permits the Travel Info Station next to Cabellas as you just arrive at Rapid City is a good spot or online. The Forest Service has them at Spearfish and one other but no stores.

 

[Johnrg]

Easy staging...