Jim,
Your thoughts on this...
https://goo.gl/maps/xfkyp76yPNw
Edited:
https://goo.gl/maps/y3AjqbvwGJ221) Mount Evans. The way it's on your route, it's optional. I promoted it (and do recommend it), though if you're not committed, always your option to exclude it. There is an entrance fee:
http://www.mountevans.com/MountEvansCom/Mount-Evans-PlanningAccessFees.HTML2) Hard-Pack soil is on your list - therefore I added a small-ish side jaunt from Rollinsville to the Eastern Portal of the Moffat Railroad Tunnel and back. The google map has an oddity in that it won't cross the last bridge, so the road goes another mile west to a parking area with pit toilets and a nice view of the tunnel. How long you stay, if you even go, up to you. The ride from Rollinsville to the tunnel is hard-pack, in a valley with a rolling stream and dual track rail (some nice scenery).
3a) Estes Park. Your original route fully scoots up the eastern side, which is fine. If you wish a tad bit of scenery without (hopefully) hitting any crazy traffic, I re-routed the "other" road which takes you by the Stanley Hotel (the route I typically take).
3b) Northeast of Estes Park, I moved the map route point up by The Overlook Ranch (before you drop down the switchbacks). If you're so inclined, that route is nicer run in the opposite direction. Coming up from Glen Haven, rolling up through the switchbacks, you pop over the rise at The Overlook Ranch and pop into a grand vista. Your call if you'd just stop at the pass and look back or roll down the first switchback and U-turn for the presentation of the view.
Glen Haven: The valley Glen Haven sits in was hit hard by the September 2014 floods. From Glen Haven to Drake, as of this summer (I've not been that route in several months) was 1/2 torn up with heavy "move a mountainside" construction [with traffic shut-down waits while earth movers worked]. The eastern half (towards Drake) was still asphalt. I could scout it out next spring before your trip, if you wished.
A couple bits of (controversial) news you could consider when you drive east on CO-14 east then turn north on US-287... Dams... There is desire to place a dam at the mouth of CO-14's valley to store all of that nice water of the Cache La Poudre. That dam - fat chance it'd happen as CO-14 is a scenic byway in a national forest boundary, but, where your map shows the turn to the north on US-287 and has a bend in the road a mile north, a large dam is being discussed at that point. The straight-to-the-north section of US-287 would be under water. I can see that dam happening in 10 to 30 years. US-287 would be re-routed on the eastern side of the hogback east of the current route. So, if you travel that section of road (noticing the faint, old railroad bed on the eastern side of the highway, between you and the hogback), imagine what that would be like filled with water.
Where you exit US-287 to head east to I-25, the first 5 miles or so is hard-pack. No concern in the dry, in the wet, you might re-route by turning right at the CO-14 / US-287 intersection to get to I-25.
Should your day get late to get to Cheyenne, door's open in FoCo.
Food: Rollinsville Stage Stop - "southeast corner" of the main intersection in Rollinsville. There is a general store (small) you'd pass to get to the bar/saloon/stage stop bar/restaurant (we're talking original buildings [that's my story and I'm stick'n to it])
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stage+Stop/@39.916808,-105.5023748,355m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xa4a9e69f23255b2d!6m1!1e1CO-14 - The Mishawaka - Band / amphitheater with bar & bar food on the banks of the scenic Cache La Poudre. If hungry, stop, get a spot on the deck outside or an inside spot overlooking the river.
http://www.themishawaka.com/Street View
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6873258,-105.3656705,3a,75y,13.91h,82.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZhPz1piL00FwiFsEpJBNEw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656On the re-route through Estes, there are some fast food spots - MD, TacoHell/KFC, Subway
If you'd wish trip pix for the routes listed, say you're interested, as I should have most of them (the scenic stuff) on my site that I could post URL's.
