What was “in” for years is on a downhill run and a new venue holds the potential to be the go-to venue. Demo rides at the Harley shop along with a beer garden and a few vendors. Pretty neat ─ have a quick brewski while waiting your turn to test ride a brand new 2015 model. Ignacio‘s only attraction is a casino of mediocre quality and since they barred vending in town, the fairground is used as a campground with limited vending. Plus, there is a gate fee. It seemed to me like there was less action this year than last year. In my opinion, the annual Sunday parade in Durango was unremarkable.
Anybody who is familiar with long-time biker bar, The Hideaway in Cave Creek, Arizona, will want to visit their new bar The Hideaway on CR501 at Vallecito Lake up in the mountains at about 7400-feet above sea level, a few miles outside Durango. As the story goes, the Mercedes dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona, fell in love with the Vallecito Lake area years ago and now there is a Cave Creek Hideaway spinoff outside of Durango. I predict that in years to come thus will be the go to place during Durango’s Labor Day Weekend Rally. Take CR240 to CR501 out of Durango or US 160 to Bayfield and then north on CR501.
The real attraction is the magnificent mountain roads to the north and west of Durango. Telluride is the Aspen of the area with star residents, Rodeo Drive-type shops and legal pot shops for anyone over the age of 18. The mountain roads around Durango are among the best motorcycle roads in the United States. They far surpass some of the other highly-touted areas. I think that if you ride them you’ll agree.
You can visit the highest altitude Harley T-shirt shop in the country in Silverton, Colorado, if that’s your thing. Another great ride over Wolf Creek Pass on US160 to the turnoff for Creede, Colorado, which is the headwaters of the Rio Grande and a nice little town.