12th Annual Full Moon Drive
Sat, Aug 13
|Walmart, Lafayette, CO
Remember when our Colorado mountain roads were smooth, uncrowded getaways? Neither do we, but on Saturday, August 13 we can pretend. Don't miss this (almost) annual event to Alpine Visitor Center in RMNP. Bring warm clothes and hope for clear skies.
Time & Location
Aug 13, 2022, 3:15 PM – 10:00 PM
Walmart, Lafayette, CO, 745 N US Hwy 287, Lafayette, CO
About the Event
Update: The lovely South St. Vrain Canyon road (Colo. Hwy 7) from Lyons to Raymond has been closed much of the past year, as CDOT completes a project to repair damage from the 2013 flood. It's now open again, so its clean, freshly-paved road is just begging for a Miata drive. The road is still closed to bicycles until November, however, so there shouldn't be much distraction from bikers. So what better time to enjoy this gem of Colorado canyon drives up to a Lily Lake picnic, a sparkling wine toast, and then an (optional) moonlight climb up RMNP's Trail Ridge Road?
No need to RSVP, just show up at the 3:15 pm Lafayette gathering--details on all that below. We should be arriving at Lily Lake around 5:15-5:30 pm. We'll actually have route directions to hand out this year!
For our 'southside' members looking to avoid noisy interstates, consider taking Colo. Hwy 6 west from Golden to Hwy 119, to enjoy the 119 Peak to Peak Highway in its entirety, zooming north until the left at Hwy 7, to join us up at Lily Lake.
New this year is the nearby Seven Keys Inn dining option. Formerly the Baldpate Inn (Google 'seven keys to baldpate' for some backstory film trivia), it has an interesting food and cocktail menu, if you'd like to pass on the picnicking. (Phone and website shown below.)
With luck, any showers will be brief, and will open up the full green glory of our Colorado mountains. So pack up some snacks and warm stuff, and maybe an umbrella and lawn chair, and enjoy this special edition of the Peak to Peak Miata Club's Full Moon Drive!
Meet at 3:15 pm at the northern parking lot of Walmart in Lafayette – it's off the west side of Hwy 287, north of Baseline, south of Arapahoe (GPS address: 745 US 287, Lafayette, CO 80026). We will leave at 3:45 pm.
Details: Pack up your favorite picnic goodies, and we'll head up to a picnic area at lovely Lily Lake, on the Peak to Peak Hwy. Not into a picnic? Walk across the road to the Seven Keys Lodge (sevenkeyslodge.com, 970.586.5397, formerly the Baldpate Inn) to enjoy food and drink from their tasting menu.
Option: At dusk, we'll make our way to the Alpine Visitor Center on top of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park entrance fee should not be required, as we'll be entering after the entrance is unpersoned. After taking in the high-altitude vistas, we'll head home -- or on over the pass to Grand Lake, if you like -- under the light (we hope!) of the full moon.
RSVP: None required for the drive, just show up! For any additional information contact Rick Robinson (720-939-3733, email frroogle@gmail.com).