Colorado hwy 24 from Leadville to I-70

krepas wrote:
I am heading west towards Dinosaur Nat Park over Memorial week. I have an older class C RV and will be pulling a motorcycle behind. I have had brake issues in the past and am trying to avoid the steep and long downhill passes like the Eisenhower tunnel and Vail Passes on I70. I am thinking of taking Hwy 24 through Leadville over to I70. I have never been past Leadville towards I70. Does anyone know if there are any long and steep downhill passes?

Leadville is at 10,000' so you will be going Down from there. so where are you coming and how long do you have hard to give advice with little or no information.

But think about it - if you go up you will need to come down. and if it is steep one direction going up then when you come home it will then be steep going down.

Just no getting around it - unless you take I-25 north to I-80, and even then you will need to get through the mountains.

:S

BOL,

115 to 50 would not be the right direction. I am going to Dinosaur Nat. Park

I do gear down to 1st, but it is a 1989 Ford chassis with just a 3 speed tranny. It still picks up speed. The trailer does not have brakes.

krepas wrote:
I am heading west towards Dinosaur Nat Park over Memorial week. I have an older class C RV and will be pulling a motorcycle behind. I have had brake issues in the past and am trying to avoid the steep and long downhill passes like the Eisenhower tunnel and Vail Passes on I70. I am thinking of taking Hwy 24 through Leadville over to I70. I have never been past Leadville towards I70. Does anyone know if there are any long and steep downhill passes?

If you take a look at 4runnerguy's post directly above yours, the answer is there. It's a long downhill with some switchbacks. He also suggested an alternative.

Gsyling Have you considered 115 South to 50 staying on 50 to Grand Junction?

To Krepas 2 things are you gearing down or are you just using your brakes and second does the motorcycle trailer have brakes?

I am heading west towards Dinosaur Nat Park over Memorial week. I have an older class C RV and will be pulling a motorcycle behind. I have had brake issues in the past and am trying to avoid the steep and long downhill passes like the Eisenhower tunnel and Vail Passes on I70. I am thinking of taking Hwy 24 through Leadville over to I70. I have never been past Leadville towards I70. Does anyone know if there are any long and steep downhill passes?

Weather should be good. It's not much of a climb from Leadville to Tennessee Pass. It's a long drop to I-70 with a few switchbacks just past the summit and a couple more just before Minturn. Pretty drive. Probably the biggest hassle right now is I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, where repairs are ongoing after a rock fall a few weeks ago. Down to one lane each direction. Just came through there this evening and there wasn't much slowing. It was after 4:00 p.m., so they may have quit for the day. I don't know how much work is done on weekends. No issues for your rig through there, just potential slowing.

As noted, another option is US 50, where Monarch Pass is your only big climb.

gsyling wrote:
I am leaving on a trip from Colorado Springs to Moab tomorrow. Thought I would take CO-24 through Leadville to I-70 to miss spring break traffic out of Denver. Bumper to bumper with ski'ers.
I've been on CO-24 to Twin Lakes but never further north than that. I will be pulling a 32' fifth wheel with a F-250 Super Duty. Can anyone tell me what the drive is like between Leadville and I-70? In the winter? Should I be safe an go through Denver to I-70?

Weather is your biggest issue!

Look here to see live pictures. We can give all the advise in the world but if it's a white out, it will be a challenge.

If the weather is good it is a Beautiful drive that is always on my list.

BOL,

Been over it in Oct. in a 34' Class'A' pulling a TOAD. Was going south from
I-70. Its a good, 'Secondary' road & does go over the pass about 10,000 Ft. We had some rain & sleet. Was worried about frozen black ice but lucked out. If snowy, it won't get plowed 1st. being a 'Secondary' road.

We have done the trip several times in the fall. Nice, winding road, and I don't remember a lot of steep inclines.

You will pass by the old Camp Hale where the 10th Mountain Division trained during WWII.

Your other option would be to drop down to Canyon City, and go across Hwy 50. That isn't a bad drive either, and you would again miss the ski traffic.