I've been searching to find peoples favorite driving roads, with minimal luck. So I figgured I would start a thread where we can name the roads that we love to lay some rubber (and maby bend the rules a bit), just so it can all be in one spot. You can also rate roads with smileys like I did (please keep that to a max of 5).

I live in Denver, Colorado and here are my top 5 in my area:

(1) Four Mile Canyon drive, Located off of Boulder canyon (US119), 7 miles of twisties gradual-ish hill climb. Verry minimal traffic not much if ever a police presance.

(2) Magnolia Road, still located off of Boulder canyon (US119), around 6 miles of amasing twisties, VERRY steep sections and steeper switchbacks, maby seen the FUZZ once in 10 years of using this road as my test track.

(3) Sugarloaf Road, off of Boulder canyon 10 miles of good twistys, more traffic than the other two.

(4) US 119 (Boulder canyon +), it itself is good for a nice drive, if you take the entire road you leave Boulder and end up in Golden it measures about 70 miles on your odometer, Central City/ Blackhawk is a good place to stop for some gambling and lunch. Patrolled regularly by the boys in blue.

(5) Squal pass road, its a long trip taking you from Idaho Springs (I-70) past MT. Evans (the highest paved road in north america), and back down into Evergreen. LOTS of curves/switchbacks/inclines it can be a great waste of an afternoon or even funner when the sun goes down, if you dare to do it. Dailey police encounters, less often at night.

Keep them coming, everyone has their favorites, why not share.

 

In the US: US 1 - Mill Valley to Point Reyes...

There has been a motorcycle ride on that route every Sunday Morning since 1957. I did it for a year in '87-'88.

In OZ: The Great Ocean Road from Geelong to Port Campbell.

This one I did (on a motorcycle) every Sunday for a year in '80-'81.

This morning I am doing my little local loop, which is nice but does not compare to those classics. It is Hampton Beach to Portsmouth up the New Hampshire coastline.

 

What would be really nice if NAM would set it up so that the routes could be organized by states and people could upload gpx files. That way if one is planning a trip they could take the "mini" path! Hmmm...maybe people could also add suggestions for good places to eat or stay along those routes.

Matter of fact, perhaps Mini USA should do this and every two months offer a publication titled something like..."Let's Motor" where people could contribute articles. I'd bet it would be a great money maker for them as they could sell advertising for hotels/motels, restaurants, Mini dealers, etc. The advertisers could even offer coupons for special rates for mini owners. Gosh, the possibilities are endless!

Oh, one other thing, owners of those "other" cars might just hide a copy under their seat so they can secretly read it too.

 

^^+1 ^^ Agreed to all! It might not be practical but, neither are most of us.

MBU, you live in the big CO., What are your favorite canyons to carve? Theres gotta be atleast 1 that stands out in your mind.

 

DICKS GARAGE R53, I live on the western slope so there are lots of roads to go on. One of my favorites is from Whitewater to Gateway via Unaweep Canyon. John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, has a car museum in Gateway that is well worth seeing. http://www.gatewayautomuseum.com/ Then continue on to Naturita, Norwood, and Telluride. This route is a paved two lane twisty road that takes one thru some of the most spectacular red rock canyons and views of Colorado's most jagged mountains. It's a great ride, especially in autumn when the trees and shrubs are in full color! The other great thing about this route is that you'll encounter very little traffic!

 

Route 237 from Sperryville to Madison, VA.
Scaggs Creek Road from Lake Sonoma to "the bridge"

Personally I would avoid Rte 1 from Mill Valley to Point Reyes on Weekends after 8 AM.

 

Not my personal list (except for the Midland Trail in WV oh how I miss driving that)

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20080710/free/430934359

http://www.midlandtrail.com/

On the Midland Trail there used to be a restaurant names "The last place the ete" If I remember correctly but it is gone... I almost put my Motorcycle over the hill about a mile prior trying to pass someone and stop for some coffee and food... okay it was a bathroom break I really needed, but either way it was a very fun drive.

The best part of the drive is between Charleston and Lewisburg.

 

Excellent idea!

I'll have to rack my brains to see what I can come up with.

This site is also a pretty good reference: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/

 

The Catskill area around Cobleskill is a blast to drive. There's lots to see in the area too - Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame and Bethel, NY - home of Woodstock.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...6,1.757813&z=9


Here's two in Ohio - I've run both in my Pontiac Solstice but Rt. 555 is a MINI favorite.

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/5-yFbZOyAc2aeMxxHF

and

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-0jdd_eZjuuz1


If you're ever in South Dakota, drive 16A, from Keystone. 36 miles of twisties and tunnels.
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/sd_us16a.html

 

Almost anywhere is the mountains of Colorado, but one of my favorites and those coming to MITM will see is Berthoud Pass. It has over 2,000 ft. in elevation changes lots of twisties and some fantastic scenery. Rising to over 11,000 ft. at the top where one can get out and admire where your going and where you've been. Its beautiful.

 

I love the 17 to the 35/Bear Creek Rd to the 236 and up the 9 and back down the 35 back to the 17 towards Santa Cruz.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rl...ed=0CBwQ8gEwAA

 

The Blueridge Parkway by far is my favorite. Then there's Skyline Drive. My ultimate trip is in the plans now........Route 66!!!!

 

I would have to agree with this, as I have done the laguna beach all the way up to Fort Bragg 4 times, round trip, once on a harley, once on a Ninja once with a Mustang GT convertable, and once with a 996. I need to find a place that rents Mini's out there.

 

Utah is filled with MINI roads. Two of the best for scenery are the Nebo Loop and the Alpine Loop, another is the Mirror Lake Highway. But to test your driving skill try State Hwys. 65 and 69 the East Canyon Road. It will wear you out and if a little over the limit get you gasping with fear...20 mph hairpins one after another, uphill and downhill, no highway patrol but the chance of a sheriff's car on a rescue mission. Pedal to the medal I-80 east up Parleys Canyon for fast bends or west to Nevada, best taken with a V1 in the window.

 

I just drove the Blueridge before July 4th. I agree! Fantastic. Drove over 60 miles of the parkway in VA and didn't see a single other car! I was on the road on a Thursday early evening. I can't imagine this wonderful route is always so lightly traveled. A magical trip.

 

Great idea for a thread! I'm prepping for a cross-country trip in early fall and would love to find as many of these MINI-made roads as possible to try to integrate into my plans. Blue Ridge Parkway is on tap for next spring. Rt. 66 is a possibility for this fall. Looks like I'll have to check out some of the other suggestions here too! Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

 

Isn't that Route 231..Sperryville to Madison? Actually the better part is the Madison to Gordonsville........
Philip

 

Highway 12 in Utah from Torrey to Bryce Canyon.

 

I would have to third this one, I've been on this one in a Mustang and a Prius (both high performance vehicles) but not yet in the MC! I'll probably wait until leaf watching season is over and give it a try once the tourists go home.

 

For all the Colorado people: anybody ever tried US 550 south of Montrose?
I have gone this route as far as Ourey (think I spelled it right) in my buddies Jeep to do some 4Wheelin, and was thinking how fun it would be in the MINI. There are some great views of the steepest mountians in Colorado, most of which are over the 14,000 foot mark at the peaks, lots of wildlife, campgrounds, and even some great "small" resort type hotels. Ridgeway CO. has a great little known hot spring, and Telluride is somewhat close.

 

Hwy 49 in CA is a great road. Our club just did a run on part of it a couple weeks ago, 23 cars showed up But for pure beauty, it would be hard to beat the drive I did yesterday, drove around Lake Tahoe here in CA and Nevada

 

****
As you live in Colorado, there are tons of great driving roads! Upper and Lower Turkey Creek road off 285 outside of Denver, The Big Thompson Canyon from Estes Park back to Longmont. Anything along the Lariat Trail or Peak to Peak Highway etc.

Each year at the Colorado English Motoring Conclave we have a tour on Saturday that takes a different route each year. I have a blast writing them and looking for fun roads to take.

http://www.thecoloradoconclave.com

 

It's over before you know it, but I love Rte 6 between Peekskill and Bear Mountain bridge in upstate NY. Unfortunately there's usually too much traffic to drive it properly, but very early morning you can often have it to yourself.

 

Hi folks

I would recommend you check this out
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/
great resource for scenery, twisties and more

 

Oops, nevermind....