Grand Lake, CO to Montrose, CO
Best route to take to Montrose from Grand Lake, CO with Fifth?
Forum Discussion
Two options. Both start by taking US 40 to Kremmling the south on CO 9 to Silverthorne where you catch I-70 west.
a) Take exit 195 and CO 91 to Leadville, then south to Poncha Springs where you'll catch US 50 west. Fremont Pass is high, but you start up high at Silverthorne. There's a passing lane for much of the climb to the pass so people can easily get by. Monarch Pass is also high but also with passing lanes. There is some construction on the pass, but only weekdays. Haven't been that way since the construction started so don't know how much there is. This route is mountain views almost the whole way.
b) Instead of exiting, continue on I-70 to Grand Junction and head south on US 50 from there. One big pass: Vail Pass. Downhill on the west side has sections at 7%. Once you get past Glenwood Springs, you'll enter into areas with more mesas on both sides of the highway. Past Grand Junction, you're in desert at that point with little vegetation. Biggest issue right now is single lane traffic on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. 40 MPH. Can get very backed up at the wrong time of day. The canyon is one of the most scenic sections of interstate in the country, however. This route is probably easier and quicker than going through Leadville and over Monarch Pass.
If it were me, I'd probably go the Monarch Pass route but that's because we get to drive I-70 all the time. (And feel incredibly lucky. When we get home from travels east of us, the last section of highway we drive is Glenwood Canyon).
a) Take exit 195 and CO 91 to Leadville, then south to Poncha Springs where you'll catch US 50 west. Fremont Pass is high, but you start up high at Silverthorne. There's a passing lane for much of the climb to the pass so people can easily get by. Monarch Pass is also high but also with passing lanes. There is some construction on the pass, but only weekdays. Haven't been that way since the construction started so don't know how much there is. This route is mountain views almost the whole way.
b) Instead of exiting, continue on I-70 to Grand Junction and head south on US 50 from there. One big pass: Vail Pass. Downhill on the west side has sections at 7%. Once you get past Glenwood Springs, you'll enter into areas with more mesas on both sides of the highway. Past Grand Junction, you're in desert at that point with little vegetation. Biggest issue right now is single lane traffic on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. 40 MPH. Can get very backed up at the wrong time of day. The canyon is one of the most scenic sections of interstate in the country, however. This route is probably easier and quicker than going through Leadville and over Monarch Pass.
If it were me, I'd probably go the Monarch Pass route but that's because we get to drive I-70 all the time. (And feel incredibly lucky. When we get home from travels east of us, the last section of highway we drive is Glenwood Canyon).
