"Pikes Peak or Bust" Overnight to Colorado Springs

TTHOG "PIKES PEAK OR BUST" OVERNIGHT RIDE

Colorado Springs, Colorado

July 19-21, 2024

Lead Road Captain: Bill "Hardrock" Maier

Rear Road Captain: Chris "Hoovey" Thatcher

HOTEL INFORMATION:

The Academy Hotel 8110 N. Academy Blvd. (719) 598-5770

20 rooms reserved (10 King beds/10 Queen beds).

Group name: Turquoise Trail Harley Club.

Rate: $135.00 + tax. 

**Reservation cutoff date: 6/19/24 ** (We must have 10 rooms reserved before 6/19/24 or we will lose the group rate.)

Hotel amenities: Indoor pool. Breakfast buffet (made to order omelets & waffle bar). free cancellations 24 hours prior to check in.

***Falcon Bar & Grill onsite***

Some nearby restaurants (within 10-15 min walk): Lazy Dog Restaurant/Bar, Saltgrass Steak House, Cracker Barrel, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Pike Peek taproom. 

Harley Ride Planner Link

We have a beautiful 390-mile ride planned. After our 8:00am departure from Thunderbird Harley-Davidson, we will ride 82 miles to the Phillips 66 (1308 N Paseo De Onate) in Espanola to meet with the Wicked West Harley-Davidson group at 9:15am. Heading North on 285, we’ll ride past San Antonio Mountain to our next gas stop at the Loaf and Jug in Alamosa (116 miles). We’ll continue North on 285 for 80 miles, where we’ll turn East on Hwy 50 at the entrance of the Collegiate Peaks Byway in Poncha Springs.  Next gas stop is the Loaf and Jug in Salida.   By then we'll be hungry, so we will take a lunch break at Boathouse Cantina overlooking the Arkansas River. We’ll ride 58 miles along the Arkansas River Canyon then onto Skyline Drive to the Conoco Alta in Canon City. There will be an option to bypass Skyline Dive for members not interested. We'll finish with a 54-mile ride to the Academy Hotel.

***On Saturday July 20, you have the option to join a guided ride up to the top of Pikes Peak.  See below for the link to obtain your timed tickets.  Choose the 8-10am time slot.***

Things to see and do:

Garden of the Gods Nature Center (9 miles from hotel): Open 9-5. Free admission. gardenofgods.com  

The towering and breathtaking red rock formations of the Garden of the Gods Park come alive when you visit the FREE Park, Visitor and Nature Center and explore the geology of this amazing 1,341 acre regional park and National Natural Landmark.

How did Garden Of the Gods get it's name? in August 1859, two surveyors who helped to set up Colorado City explored the site. One of the surveyors, Melancton S. Beach suggested it would be a "capital place for a beer garden". His companion, the young Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock formations, exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why, it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble and drink beer. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.

Manitou Springs & Cliff Dwellings (12 miles from hotel) Shopping and restaurants in town. Cliff Dwellings: Open 9-5, admission: $12.00 www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.com

North Pole/Santa’s Workshop (22 miles from hotel to park entrance).  North Pole Gift Shop/amusement park: Open 9:30-4. Entrance fee: $32.00 per person. (gift shop is free) www.northpolecolorado.com  In 1955, 25 acres of land on the South Slope of Pikes Peak was dedicated to Santa’s Workshop. Designed by former Walt Disney artist, Arto Monaco, the village was constructed of 12 alpine buildings including a home for Mr and Mrs Claus, three workshops, a blacksmith shop, gate house, reindeer barn, souvenir shop, show house and Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. The North Pole has expanded since then, but the pure joy of Christmas has remained intact for 66 years.

Pikes Peak entrance fee: $15.00 per person. www.pikes-peak.com  Tickets and Timed Entry Permits | City of Colorado Springs  ***Guided Ride on July 20 Choose 8-10am time slot.***

Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center  5 miles after entering the Pikes Peak Toll Road, the Crystal Creek Reservoir is a stunning 136-acre lake in the North Slope Recreation Area around the Pike National Forest. Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center is a worthy stop for those traveling up to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Renaissance Festival in Larkspur (25 miles from hotel): Fully immersive village. Sat-Sun 10:30-6:30. Tickets: $26.00 per person. www.coloradorenaissance.com

Historic Old Colorado Springs (10 miles from hotel): shopping/dining

Cripple Creek Run Take Highway 24 west of Colorado Springs to Divide, then turn left on CO-67. A beautiful 55 mile cruise from the Hotel.  In its early years Cripple Creek was known for its gold, with over 500 mines churning out more than 22 million ounces of gold over two decades.