CO Hwy 550 - Montrose to Durango

I've only ridden from the top of Red Mountain Pass down into Ouray. Only got passed by a couple of cars on that flatter stretch near Ironton. Otherwise, I was doing the passing! Of course it's almost all downhill. I was on a mountain bike since it is in the mountains!

MPond wrote:

MPond wrote:


... I didn't even build the trip report for 2015...

Ok 2gypsies & Busskipper, you got me thinking about it, so I threw together a quick report...

Summer 2015 Trip Report - Arizona, Colorado & Utah

I just viewed it. . . awesome photos and memories, including the Million Dollar Hwy. :) Yep...a challenging bike lane, for sure!

Lauren wrote:
Ken and I are usually on the same page but not so much here.

I drive in my lane - rv or not. But if some car, rv or truck takes up even 1/3 of my lane coming against me I would rather bump off a guard rail than go down a few hundred or more feet.

And people drive that road, or any mountain road, that way - too busy gawking (or now text or talking) to pay full attention. Or white knuckling it as they are not mountain road comfortable.

We saw it all the time on Trail Ridge Road in Estes - same thing, different road. (Difference there was you did not go over and fall down all the distance and land with a bang, you got to roll all the way down!)

Hey, bottom line - whatever you are comfortable with.

Lauren look at Matt's bike lane in the 2015 trip - Plenty of room.

:B

Ken and I are usually on the same page but not so much here.

I drive in my lane - rv or not. But if some car, rv or truck takes up even 1/3 of my lane coming against me I would rather bump off a guard rail than go down a few hundred or more feet.

And people drive that road, or any mountain road, that way - too busy gawking (or now text or talking) to pay full attention. Or white knuckling it as they are not mountain road comfortable.

We saw it all the time on Trail Ridge Road in Estes - same thing, different road. (Difference there was you did not go over and fall down all the distance and land with a bang, you got to roll all the way down!)

Hey, bottom line - whatever you are comfortable with.

MPond wrote:


... I didn't even build the trip report for 2015...

Ok 2gypsies & Busskipper, you got me thinking about it, so I threw together a quick report...

Summer 2015 Trip Report - Arizona, Colorado & Utah

Busskipper wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? :)

He sure must be writing a lot of code - been really quiet the last year.

Never saw anything on last years trip.

Matt - keep us in the loop - we love your adventures!

Bill

LOL - you guys crack me up! Thanks for the encouragement - could use it lately.

We've been laying low lately - only a couple shorter trips that were repeats of previous adventures, so nothing interesting to report. I didn't even build the trip report web page for 2015 like I have in prior years.

I usually plan the longer summer trips 6-9 months in advance, but life got in the way this year, so 2016 is going to be another short trip, and staying local too... Mammoth, Tahoe, Yosemite, & Pismo Beach. No complaints, but will definitely get back to planning in the fall for a proper 2017 trip.

2gypsies wrote:
MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? :)

He sure must be writing a lot of code - been really quiet the last year.

Never saw anything on last years trip.

Matt - keep us in the loop - we love your adventures!

Bill

MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? :)

dapperdan wrote:
We are in the planning stages of a trip next spring, part of that trip is seeing 550, it's been on my wife's bucket list for a while now. We were as close as Montrose 10 years ago and hadn't heard of this route. Now we HAVE to see it. 4 years ago we were in Cortez and drove to Durango and took the train up to Silverton.

Thanks for the link to your pictures Busskipper I wasn't so sure taking our FW on this route was so smart but it really doesn't look that bad. We've been through similar roads before without guard rails. Your pictures remind me of Going to the Sun Road, we did that one twice! (not with the trailer)

Looking forward to this trip. In your opinion is late April early May too early to attempt this route?



Dan

Look at this or this for info as the date approaches will let you know what the area looks like - but most of the time, if not all of the time the best high 4X4 passes are not yet open so check with a local to see.

To go to this part of Heaven and not get off the main road to the double track trails is just not fair, so if I were you I'd do Utah then come over when the passes clear and the Wild Flowers start to bloom. you will not regret it.

Here is another good link to many of these great areas.

Having travel all over the country this is still one of the Wildest most Beautiful areas we have ever visited. IMHO you will not drive down any road and not see things that will just amaze you.

BOL with the plans,

Busskipper

We are in the planning stages of a trip next spring, part of that trip is seeing 550, it's been on my wife's bucket list for a while now. We were as close as Montrose 10 years ago and hadn't heard of this route. Now we HAVE to see it. 4 years ago we were in Cortez and drove to Durango and took the train up to Silverton.

Thanks for the link to your pictures Busskipper I wasn't so sure taking our FW on this route was so smart but it really doesn't look that bad. We've been through similar roads before without guard rails. Your pictures remind me of Going to the Sun Road, we did that one twice! (not with the trailer)

Looking forward to this trip. In your opinion is late April early May too early to attempt this route?

Dan