Lake Como Road with an Adventure Motorcycle

[wildschut]

Hello, I searched the forum and didn’t find any posts about this topic. I’ve watched several videos about Lake Como Road and I’m thinking I want to try to take my adventure motorcycle all the way to the top. Blanca, little Bear, and Ellingwood are a few of my last 14ers to climb. Probably have to push it over Jaws i ii and iii. Has anyone ever seen a motorcycle or dirt-bike at the top of lake como Trailhead? It will be a 4 hour drive so I am praying it is not a waste… Thank you in advance …

[greenschist]

I've never been on Lake Como Road, but after driving a 2wd truck for years I'm also in the habit of watching videos of rough roads to see if they were worth attempting. I found this video from 9 years ago, with an insightful comment from the uploader 3 months ago:

Rode it twice now up to the waterfall. It's funny, the obstacles that are hard for four-wheel drives are easy on the bike, but the things that are easy in the four-wheel drive are hard when Riding a bike. It's just so rough and long, without letting up, no matter what kind of vehicle you use it literally beats the life out of you. I remember getting to the bottom and thinking why in the world did I ever do that LOL... But that's what makes great memories right?

I've also never climbed Ellingwood but I have hiked the approach for the North Ridge route from Zapata Falls (for nearby 13ers Twin Peaks). That trailhead is paved 2wd and the hike and basin are very pretty. You could always try your luck with Como and if it doesn't work out, head to Zapata Falls instead. And if summiting from that route is too much, Twin Peaks are also a great backup option with an incredible view of the Blanca group.

[HPIvelocity97]

Short answer is "No", but only been up there once. For what it's worth, went up there in an ATV a few years ago and I'm guessing the rocks would make it mostly miserable for a 2 wheel machine. They're loose, just about everywhere, and come in all sorts of annoying sizes. We actually broke one tire off the bead before Jaws 1, so ended up bailing at the nearest flat spot and camped there. This wasn't my first rodeo on an ATV either. Put many miles on ATVs hunting or riding other mountain passes over the years, so either bad luck or this road really does suck that much...or a little of both.

Anyway, we only did Blanca the following day knowing that after the hike we'd still have the fun of dealing with the tire

I'd recommend just riding until it's too annoying or something breaks (hope you don't have that fun) and then camping in close proximity or hiking up to the lake from where you bail. If you make it to the lake with your bike, that's a bonus. If not, you will still be wayyy ahead of where you'd be starting otherwise.

Nevertheless, I'm a glutton for punishment. I'll be up there for round II this coming Sun-Mon with my son. We'll be on an ATV again and planning to knock out Ellingwood.

Hope this is moderately useful!

[greenonion]

Hello, I searched the forum and didn’t find any posts about this topic. I’ve watched several videos about Lake Como Road and I’m thinking I want to try to take my adventure motorcycle all the way to the top. Blanca, little Bear, and Ellingwood are a few of my last 14ers to climb. Probably have to push it over Jaws i ii and iii. Has anyone ever seen a motorcycle or dirt-bike at the top of lake como Trailhead? It will be a 4 hour drive so I am praying it is not a waste… Thank you in advance …

Do you value your adventure motorcycle (plus assuming it’s a bit loaded up)? And do you have real skills on very tricky, weirdly and extreme rocky terrain?

If yes and yes, then maybe. If yes and no, then no.

If no and yes, go for it. But please be safe as you can, stay on the “road”, and don’t go beyond lake Como

[nsaladin]

and don’t go beyond lake Como

If he made it to Lake Como, he can make it beyond it on the road. The road doesn’t end at the lake.

[two lunches]

this sounds like a crappy day. the baby heads would be so irritating on a bike, fine. but that steep section right after would flat out break my spirit. there are for sure some parts above that which could be better on two wheels than in a truck/SUV, but i can't imagine making it up to the lake on a bike in a good mood...

if you started this thread with "It will be a 4 hour drive so I am praying it is not a waste," i don't think an adventure bike is the move for this approach.

[ultimategully]

I have seen multiple people on dirt bikes make it to the lake on more than one occasion. I have always hiked in so I don't have experience doing this myself. I don't know what skill level you need to ride this road on two wheels, but if you are experienced I would say go for it. Others have done it.

[interloper]

You do occasionally see dirt bikes up at Como / Blue Lake, but I can't imagine trying to get a full-size adventure bike up there. I've driven part of the road on my Yamaha XT-250 and it flat-out sucked. Made it to the old sign post after the baby-head section before I said screw it. I wasn't intending to drive all the way to the lake that day, either. Keep in mind, my bike weighs less than 300 pounds, too. The bikes I've seen up there probably weighed at least 50 pounds less than mine. I can't imagine how much worse it would be with a 400-500 pound bike. Even if you drive all the way to the top, you'd be so worn out that hiking anything after that would be miserable.

If you manage to do it, take some pictures or videos and share them with us. Would love to see that, haha.

[daway8]

I've been up that road multiple times - seen plenty of ATVs and lifted Jeeps and such (plus heard of one person allegedly somehow getting a stock 4Runner up to the lake?!?) but don't recall clearly if I've noted dirt bikes or such.

Not saying it couldn't be done but it would definitely put the "adventure" into "adventure motorcycle" (either that, or knock the adventure out of it, lol).

Those peaks are day-trippable from the 2WD lot, albeit most ordinary people would consider that a pretty big day. If you want all 3 in one trip then it's probably more reasonable to camp at Lake Como, unless you're going to do the Little Bear - Blanca Traverse, but that's a long, spicy, highly exposed class 5 ridge and it's probably been iced over by the recent storm so not something you want to try unless you already have a lot of experience with something like that.

There are multiple pull-offs and camping spots down low on the road so one option is strap a tent and sleeping bag on your bike and go as far as you can tolerate (those baby head rocks right at the start are really annoying...)

[greenonion]

and don’t go beyond lake Como

If he made it to Lake Como, he can make it beyond it on the road. The road doesn’t end at the lake.

Couldn't remember where the road ends. Was thinking at Como or not much further, and then it's just a dirt bike potentially tearing up terrain. My bad if wrong.

[interloper]

and don’t go beyond lake Como

If he made it to Lake Como, he can make it beyond it on the road. The road doesn’t end at the lake.

Couldn't remember where the road ends. Was thinking at Como or not much further, and then it's just a dirt bike potentially tearing up terrain. My bad if wrong.

The road ends at Blue Lake near the waterfall and motorized vehicles are still allowed up to that point. There's a proposed wilderness boundary adjustment for the Sangres that would change, this, though. Not sure where that legislation / proposal is currently at.

[two lunches]

I've driven part of the road on my Yamaha XT-250 and it flat-out sucked. Made it to the old sign post after the baby-head section before I said screw it... Even if you drive all the way to the top, you'd be so worn out that hiking anything after that would be miserable.

i feel validated, but OP is probably not loving this response. pretty sure it's the right one, though.