Colorado State Highway 13, Rifle, CO to Baggs, WY

Craig, CO to Baggs is an easy state highway with a few gentle grades and very few curves. A little upgrade right at the CO/WY border, but completely flat from there into Baggs. Baggs is a tiny oil town without much to offer travelers. Not a very scenic route unless you like sagebrush and junipers, but no problem at all for your long rig.

And I agree with avoiding Railroad Avenue in Rifle at all costs. I try to do it even when I am not towing my trailer!

TexasShadow wrote:
there is a great little rest stop at Rifle, just across the bridge going north.. the Lion's Club sponsors it. Nice and quiet and good overnight spot.
we have used it several times on our way up to Meeker and highway 64.

The park is on the south side of the river, between the river and I-70 on the west side of the road. There is also a free dump station there except in winter. This is accessed via exit 90 (Rifle)

Coming from GJ, you might consider taking Exit 87 (West Rifle) which will take you to a bypass on CO 13 on the west side of Rifle. Definitely better than taking Railroad Ave. (the main drag) north through town with an RV. You can also access this bypass from exit 90 by going west (left) on US 6 (Centennial) just as you get to downtown Rifle.

Otherwise, just your normal two lane road. Avoids the I-70 hills, although definitely some ups and downs on I-80 too, just not as tall or long.

BTW... don't know if its still true, but, years ago, one of the largest herds of Mule deer(BIG Deer)in the country was just north of Rifle. Always deer wrecks along 13 there.

there is a great little rest stop at Rifle, just across the bridge going north.. the Lion's Club sponsors it. Nice and quiet and good overnight spot.
we have used it several times on our way up to Meeker and highway 64.

I have driven this road several times - some of the times with a 30' 5th wheel and had no problems. It has lots of curves (following the river), but it is a typical 2 lane road. You shouldn't have any problems.

Thank you for the replies. Very helpful

We took CO 13 from Meeker to Rifle last year. No problem except that there was construction going on at the time. I have no experience with the highway north of Meeker, as we were coming from the west.

Some beautiful scenery and some ups and downs but you are mostly going up. The grades are gentle generally and the curves are not sharp. I drove this last summer from Craig to Rifle and it should give you no problems. Craig is a good town to stop in if you need a overnight. For a lot of the drive you are following a river valley.