Best route from Durango to Colorado Springs. 160?

You're traveling in the West - very hard to avoid those beautiful areas. :) Just take it slow and try not to drive on the weekends. You'll do just fine.

Is it just me or is that climb east on 80 out of Salt Lake City a doozy? Other passes I have not enjoyed: The drop out of the Bitterroots on the way to Salmon, ID and the drop out of Donner pass on the way to Reno -- narrow, winding and so much racing traffic. Then at the bottom, just as you're recouping -- a stoplight! Nothing but tail lights. Oy...that was not fun.

Thanks so much, All! I do love trains so the alternate might be the best way for me to go. Sounds like it's an easier crossing from east to west so maybe I'll take 160 on the way back. I have not yet upgraded my transmission cooler and usually have to pull over a few times on the way up the really big passes (I do have gauges on the chip display) but it's just not fun. And I'm so heavy I slow everyone down. Then again I probably won't be doing people any favors on the 2 lane roads further south. I have a big back window and should invest in huge banner to string up inside the window with "fun facts" to keep the people behind me entertained.

cannesdo wrote:
I'm thinking it might be easiest to go south to 64 in New Mexico, then cut up 17, which is a climb but doesn't look nearly as steep. Has anyone taken 17 or both 17 and 160 who can compare? 160 looks like a hard slog.

This could be a viable alternative to you. Taking US 64 out of Pagosa Springs is not a difficult drive with that size rig, and you could stop in Chama for some sightseeing and pics of the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad if you're interested in that sort of thing.

The drive up 17 from Chama has 2 passes to cross (Cumbres Pass - a great sightseeing chance there to see the train at one of it's high points, and La Manga Pass) but neither of them are particularly difficult; lots of RV/Trailer traffic on this route, handle it with ease. The drop down on the NE side is also not difficult and you'll get down in a valley and then it's a real easy drive down thru Mogote and on in to Antonito. There's a few campgrounds in the Mogote area, and IIRC, there's one at the base of the drop down into the valley from coming down from La Manga Pass; just can't remember the name of it off hand. Those could be some good areas to stop if you're so inclined. In Antonito, you can also view the trains for the Cumbres & Toltec, since that's the eastern terminus.

ETA: As far as any comparison between the 2 routes (160 vs 64/17), personally, I find your alternative route (64/17) more scenic, for some of the reasons I noted above. It is not scenic if one has to focus attention more intensely on driving over a pass that one is not familiar with. While Wolf Creek is a main E/W thoroughfare for RV/trailer travel, that can also be daunting, with all the traffic AND the truck traffic that uses that route as well. There's more to a pass than just the climb/descent. If you're more comfortable with the alternative route you found, I say "go for it and enjoy your trip!"

Hwy 160 east to I25 is the faster/easier route. Wolf Creek pass is high but has wide/double lanes and then La Veta pass is a very easy climb. I have no doubt you can go North on 550 but it is more difficult and slow because of multiple passes within a few miles of one another and narrow lanes on sharp switchbacks.

Read this thread about Wolf Creek Pass on Hwy 160. It may be of help to you.
Wolf Creek Pass

I'm thinking it might be easiest to go south to 64 in New Mexico, then cut up 17, which is a climb but doesn't look nearly as steep. Has anyone taken 17 or both 17 and 160 who can compare? 160 looks like a hard slog.

I live in and work out of it full-time and only move a few times a year.

I'm in the slow lane with the trucks but I don't mind.

US 160 E

I tow a 34' 14K fiver.....done the route north to Montrose and then East and have done the East route (160)