Colorado Springs to Breckenridge
Hello. We are making a 2 week run up to Colorado on Saturday. I was contemplating taking a different route from Colorado Springs to Breckenridge. In the past I have taken the interstate Route via ...
Forum Discussion
cgaskins wrote:
I have done I70 just fine. I have not done Independence Pass, Slumgullion Pass or the Million Dollar Highway. We were in Durango last summer and elected not to make that drive on the Million Dollar Highway. I went the long way around to Montrose from Durango taking Colorado 145 over Lizard Head Pass dropping in near Telluride - that was a heck of descent!! How does this compare to Colorado 145?
I'm not sure if you're meaning CO 145. Max grade on CO 145 is only 4.1%. As a comparison, the grade down into Silverthorne is 7% for 7 miles on I-70. The grade on CO 9 down into Breck is 8%. However, I think that although CO 9 is steeper, it is no more difficult than I-70. Coming down off the pass you'll need to stay in lower gears through those first few switchbacks off the top. You'll be going slow at the top anyway, so just stay slow.
