Yampa River, Elkhead Reservoir & Stagecoach Reservoir State Parks - Northwest CO
July 25 - 27, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #7-9
After a slight haitus being distracted by the new camper, I got back to my mission of touring Colorado’s state parks by motorcycle. I’ve also been itching to try out my new Tenkara rod, so I planned a quick trip to northeast Colorado to fish a few smaller rivers known for fly fishing, using Yampa River State Park as home base.
Early Saturday morning, I stopped at Elkhead Reservoir to test out the new rod and unfortunately I ended up locking my fishing gear in my top case along with the key to the top case... So after a failed stop at the locksmith and local powersports dealer, fishing was no longer the plan.
Instead, I shifted gears and spent the day riding dirt roads around the area. I rode all around Elkhead Reservoir in the morning (and hiked a bit on the western shore while testing my rod), then rode Twentymile Road (CR-27) through Oak Creek to Stagecoach Reservoir and continued past the reservoir on CR-14 and CR-18. Later in the day, I headed south from Craig and took CO-317 east to the Dunckley Pass Overlook, and returned via CR-8, RCR-132, and RCR-19 to Phippsburg, then back through Oak Creek and CR-27 back to my camp on the Yampa River.
No fish, but plenty of good riding (and I scoped out a bunch of fishing spots for next trip). I'll have to go back to the area anyway for a few more state parks.
Blue Mesa and Eleven Mile Reservoirs - Central CO
July 13 - 20, 2025
After Metallica, Phish, Primus, Suddle Puddle and Jammy Pac shows in the first two weeks of July, I decided to take a relaxing remote work camper trip to do some more kayaking and fishing.
I spent the first half of the week (Sunday - Thursday) at Elk Creek Campground on Blue Mesa Reservoir. There was a wildfire just past the reservoir so the west half of the lake was closed to boating activity to allow for aircraft to pickup buckets of water to fight the fires. Not much luck fishing, but I did catch a nice size brown trout. *There are over 20 crawfish in the close-up water picture!*
The second half of the week (Thursday - Sunday) I went to Lazy Boy Campground on the south shore of Eleven Mile Reservoir. Again not much luck fishing, except one big rainbow trout.
Lake Pueblo State Park - Pueblo, CO
June 18 - 22, 2025
Since I was off work for Juneteenth, I decided to take another trip with the camper to do some kayak fishing on Pueblo Reservoir.
I went down Wednesday evening after work, spent 6 hours on the lake Thursday, worked remotely on Friday, and then spent another 6 hours on the lake Saturday.
I caught a ton of different varieties of bass plus a few nice walleye.
Zach & Steph Visit - Boulder/Denver, CO
June 13 - 15, 2025
Not really a trip for me, but Zach & Steph came out to vist to come to a Suddle Puddle show and we did some hiking, biking, and kayaking/paddle boarding.
Saturday we went up to Boulder to hike the First and Second Flatirons Loop. Lots of people as expected but some cool views.
Sunday before the show, we went down to Lake Chatfield to kayak and paddle board, then we rented E-bikes and rode across the dam and back.
O'Haver Lake, Navajo Lake and Big Meadows Reservoir - Southern CO
June 1 - 8, 2025
I took the new camper out for its maiden voyage and explored some fresh territory, camping and kayaking at three different Colorado lakes. My first stop was a quick overnight stay at O’Haver Lake Campground near Poncha Springs, CO on my way south and west.
From Monday through Thursday, I set up camp at Navajo Lake State Park, located on Southern Ute Reservation land south of Pagosa Springs, CO, right on the border of New Mexico.
On Thursday, I moved to Big Meadows Reservoir, in the mountains between Pagosa Springs and South Fork, Colorado (right near Wolf Creek Ski Area). I spent Friday and Saturday out on the water for a few hours each day, reeling in a solid haul of rainbow and brook trout.
Video Highlights
Bought some new equipment! (Longmont, CO)
May 28, 2025
This is a rare post that is NOT a trip, but I felt it was an important update for future trips. I decided to get myself a camper trailer.
After doing some research, I ended up going with a brand new Keystone Coleman 13B. It's got a full kitchen and bathroom, plus AC and an electric fireplace.
In addition to the full size bed in the front, there were bunks too but I took those out for now to put in my desk area so I can work remote.
18 Road/North Fruita Desert - Fruita, CO
May 20 - 22, 2025
Mid-week biking and camping trip out to one of my favorite places, 18 Road. Did a full tour of all the main trails in the 45 hours I was there.
Joe's Ridge / MoeJoe on Tuesday, PBJ (Pumps, Bumps, and Jumps), PBR (Pumps, Bumps, and Rollers) and Kessel Run on Wednesday, and Zippity Do Da on Thursday morning
before starting my drive back home to Denver.
Video Highlights
St. Vrain State Park - Longmont, CO
May 3, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #6
Day trip on the motorcycle to do some fishing. Fished Bald Eagle Pond and Coot Pond, no luck.
Lake Pueblo and Lahtrop State Parks - Pueblo/Walsenburg, CO
April 11 - 13, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #4-5
April 2025 motorcycle camping trip to Lake Pueblo State Park in Pueblo, CO and Lathrop State Park in Walsenburg, CO.
New Mexico Family Vacation - Albuquerque/Sante Fe, NM
March 19 - 24, 2025
Spring 2025 family vacation to Sante Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico.
We rented a house outside of Sante Fe, but made a few day trips down to Albuquerque.
In the Albuquerque area we went to the Petroglyph National Monument, Sandia Peak Tramway, and Rio Grande Nature Center State Park,
and in the Sante Fe area we went to Bandelier National Monument, Pichacho Peak, and Hyde Memorial State Park.
Video Highlights
Barr Lake State Park - Brighton, CO
March 16, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #3
Day trip on the motorcycle to go hiking at Barr Lake State Park.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park - Franktown, CO
March 9, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #2
Day trip on the motorcycle to go hiking at Cottonwood Canyon State Park.
Roxborough State Park - Roxborough Park, CO
February 28, 2025
CO State Parks Motorcycle Tour #1
Day trip on the motorcycle to go hiking at Roxborough State Park.