You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
Driving to MITM (Copper) from Denver and the Front Range
There are a couple of routes to post. Here are some to choose from, we will post for you coming from Denver, Colo Springs, NorColo (Ft. Collins, etc) and other places.
Possible Route #1: From the W side of Denver (C470 and Ken Caryl) go North on 470, past Hwy285 and then go left or W on Morrison Rd., CO74. Take this thru town (mind your speed) and continue past Red Rocks Park and up the hill on 74 towards Conifer / Evergreen. Stay on 74 as it becomes Evergreen Parkway and it goes past Evergreen Lake. You will now be headed Northward, go past the Elk Meadow Open Space Park on your left, then turn Left at the light (Buchanan Ponds) and go left on Hwy103 (Squaw Pass Rd). Stay on Squaw Pass Road ( THE WESTERN DRAGON for 31 miles or so until you get to the mouth of Mt Evans (actually, a toll booth, parking, etc). Good spot for a break by Echo Lake. Continue down the hill (Chicago Creek Rd) past Echo Lake towards Idaho Springs. Turn right on Miner St., go 1 block. Lunch there at the TommyKnocker Brewpub. Try the wings. Best I ever had. Then, go WEST on I-70 (sorry about this, only way open) until you reach the foot of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Do NOT go thru the tunnel, rather take CO6 over the pass, go past Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort, past Keystone Resort, and into Dillon. Then, take I-70 10 miles west to Copper. This whole trip, not including lunch, will take 2:30 minutes....or less.
and essentially the same, except that you skip the intitial twisties and head directly for the Western Dragon.
From Denver Metro, take I-70 westbound, up the hill towards Evergreen. Take Hwy 74 exit (Evergreen Parkway flyover) westbound. Wind around a bit, and just past Bergen Park on your right (at the Buchanan Park / Buchanan Ponds intersection) go right on CO103, Squaw Pass Road.
Continue 31 miles of twisties, at altitude, to the base of Mt. Evans. Either go up ($10 for a 3 day pass) or go down Chicago Creek Road (your only choice) to Idaho Springs.
Be sure to stop in Idaho Springs, on Miner St., for some WINGS at the TKB TommyKnocker Brewpub. Yum.
Westbound from there on I-70 to Copper is about 40 miles. This route is less than 2 hours to Copper from I-70 / C470 on the west side of Denver.
is from the SW side of town, not far from Route #1.
From C470, go to the SW corner of town and exit Kipling. Go S, then immediately W on W Ute Ave. Around the corner and down the hill you meetup with Deer Creek Canyon Rd, so take it up the hill. Stay DCCR until the intersection of Turkey Creek Rd. At the Firehouse intersection, go left and continue up the hill until you reach Hwy 285. Go westbound, just to the shopping area and look for the turnoff to CO73. Take it, then almost immediately jog left onto Shadown Mountain Drive which will take you to Evergreen. Follow Shadow Mtn as it becomes Black Mountain then Brook Forest. You will come to CO73 again, then go left, then left again on CO74, Evergreen Parkway. Past Evergreen Lake, up the hill to Buchanan Ponds, left of Squaw Pass (CO103) and you again are on the WESTERN DRAGON. Stay 31 miles to Mt. Evans, then 15 miles more downhill to Idaho Springs. Have some wings at the TKB then westbound on I-70 to Copper.
