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Monument Valley + San Juan 5-Day Loop

A five-day motorcycle loop from Gillette to Glenwood Springs, Monument Valley, Forrest Gump Point, Durango, the Million Dollar Highway, Ouray, Loveland, and back home.
5 Days
~1,900 Miles
Type: Multi-Day
Area: WY / CO / UT / AZ
Main Events: Monument Valley + US‑550

Static Overview Map

Color-coded daily route overview. Towns are placed roughly where they belong geographically. Use the Google Maps buttons for actual navigation.

WYOMING • COLORADO • UTAH • ARIZONA LOOP WYOMING COLORADO UTAH / AZ Gillette Douglas Laramie Walden Steamboat Glenwood Springs Grand Junction Grand Mesa Montrose Cortez Monument Valley Forrest Gump Point Durango Silverton Red Mountain Pass Ouray Salida Fairplay Loveland Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Approximate static map, not for navigation

Scenic Roads / Main Sections

Road / SectionWhy it matters
CO‑14 / WY approachGillette → Laramie → Walden access leg
CO‑131Steamboat / Toponas / State Bridge scenic riding
I‑70 / Glenwood CanyonGlenwood Canyon approach and canyon views
Grand Mesa Scenic BywayAlpine lakes and mesa views above Grand Junction / Montrose area
US‑163Monument Valley and Forrest Gump Point
US‑550Durango → Silverton → Red Mountain Pass → Ouray
US‑285 / South ParkSalida / Fairplay northbound return

Day 1 — Gillette to Glenwood Springs

~452 mi
Overnight: Glenwood Springs, CO

Route: Gillette → Douglas → Laramie → Walden → Steamboat Springs → Toponas → State Bridge → Glenwood Springs

Highlights
  • North Park / Walden
  • Steamboat Springs
  • CO‑131 / State Bridge
  • Glenwood Canyon
  • Optional Glenwood Hot Springs
Fuel / Reset
Douglas, Laramie, Walden, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs
Ride note
Big first day. The payoff is getting you deep into Colorado and ending with a soak option in Glenwood.

Day 2 — Glenwood Springs to Monument Valley

~450–500 mi
Overnight: Monument Valley / The View area

Route: Glenwood Springs → Rifle → Grand Junction → Grand Mesa → Montrose → Cortez → Monument Valley

Highlights
  • Grand Mesa Scenic Byway
  • Montrose
  • Cortez
  • Monument Valley arrival
  • The View Hotel area
Fuel / Reset
Glenwood Springs, Rifle/Grand Junction, Montrose, Cortez, Kayenta/Monument Valley area
Ride note
Long desert-and-mountain transition day. Cortez is the last big services stop before the Monument Valley push.

Day 3 — Monument Sunrise to Ouray

~300–340 mi
Overnight: Ouray, CO

Route: Monument Valley → Forrest Gump Point → Mexican Hat → Cortez → Durango → Silverton → Red Mountain Pass → Ouray

Highlights
  • Monument Valley sunrise
  • Forrest Gump Point
  • Durango
  • Silverton
  • Million Dollar Highway
  • Red Mountain Pass
  • Ouray
Fuel / Reset
Mexican Hat/Bluff area if needed, Cortez, Durango, Silverton/Ouray
Ride note
This is the main event day: iconic desert sunrise in the morning and the San Juans/Million Dollar Highway in the afternoon.

Day 4 — Ouray to Loveland

~360–420 mi
Overnight: Loveland, CO

Route: Ouray → Ridgway → Montrose → Salida → Fairplay → Loveland

Highlights
  • Ouray morning
  • Montrose
  • Salida riverwalk/lunch
  • Fairplay / South Park
  • Front Range finish
Fuel / Reset
Ouray/Montrose, Salida, Fairplay, Loveland
Ride note
A scenic but practical repositioning day north. Salida makes a good lunch and reset stop.

Day 5 — Loveland to Gillette

~330–370 mi
Overnight: Home

Route: Loveland → Laramie → Douglas → Gillette

Highlights
  • Load bike / truck option
  • Laramie
  • Douglas
  • Wyoming return home
Fuel / Reset
Loveland, Laramie, Douglas, Gillette
Ride note
Simple return leg. This day is intentionally straightforward after four heavy scenic days.
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