CO Hwy 550 - Montrose to Durango
How is this route? According to the trip planner it looks like all mountain driving to me. Anybody familiar with this route? Would you recommend using it with a 34' travel trailer in tow?
Forum Discussion
kalynzoo wrote:
DO NOT DO IT! It is a lovely beautiful scenic drive in a car. The Million Dollar highway has many small turnouts, viewpoints, and a huge memorial to those who have lost their lives building and maintain the road. It was once featured in the TV show "Most Dangerous Roads". Sharp turns (you can check your own tail-lights) steep drops, traffic rushing to get home or work, and steep grades. My knuckles still hurt from holding the steering wheel, and that was some 20 years ago. Take an extra day, go all the way around down Highway 25 and across. Then take the lovely drive to Silverton and Quaray in the car.
JMHO
^^^^^ This.
You'll get responses that it's no big deal, done it lots of times no problem, yada yada. These are generally drivers who've done it (or similar) more than once -- it's ain't their first roadeo (pun intended). However, there's a very good reason that it's continually featured as a "Most Dangerous Road". Not just what was mentioned above, but also consider that there are commercial vehicles/semis that drive this route and they will be frequently coming from the opposite direction. Flatlanders white knuckling the drive will be hugging/crossing the centre line, also coming at you. Many of these drivers are in over their heads as far as knowing what to do on a steep shelf road with no guardrails, no shoulders, and steep drop offs. Many of us have been driving Colorado mountain roads for decades, and some of us know what roads to seek an alternative if pulling a trailer or driving a motor home. This is one of them. I'll always recommend an alternative to this road for someone who's never driven it.
