Quietest/Loneliest Route to Indian Creek, coming from CO

In your opinion, what's the quietest, loneliest, most desolate way to get to Indian Creek coming from the East? Say I'm starting in CO from Durango or Gunnison.

I want to meet up with my ladyfriend, but I want to ride a bicycle there. I'm trying to suss out a route that's very light on traffic. It doesn't have to be too direct, but it's gotta be somewhat realistic to do.

Yeah, it's a silly stupid idea, and I could probably find a ride, but I love riding bikes. The distance isn't something I'm worried about. I'm just very unfamiliar with the lay of the land.

Are you worried about smelling bad when you see her?

She'll be a few days into climbing in the area, so if anything, we'll be complementary!

strava heatmap is your friend for finding routes.

labs.strava.com/heatmap/#11…

it isn't perfect but if you zoom in and look around it is helpful. I have found several long distance amazing remote bike routes this way.

Great idea, Daniel. I'll have to study that. Strava's route builder is also pretty friggin' amazing - much better than the tools I've used in the past.

If you don't care how direct the route is, from Gunnison go towards Junction, then take a left and head up Unaweep, then follow that to the Paradox Valley, then to the Creek. Very cool terrain, most of it desert, that you will go through.

Go up and over the Abajo's coming from Bluff or Blanding.

Greg G wrote:Go up and over the Abajo's coming from Bluff or Blanding.

I'll keep it in mind - I do like routes that are not flat!

What type of snowpack would there be on those during Creeksgiving? That may be a limiting factor.

Although I've certainly done cycling tours this time of year, I haven't done so in such high country. (Think Belgium; The Netherlands)

That's the crucial time of year where there could be a bunch of snow or non at all. I had a buddy who did the traverse from the creek to blanding a few years back, and got waylaid by a snow storm halfway through. So don't do it if the weather's fucked.