Hwy 34 CO- RMNP to Stagecoach S.P. (near Steamboat)

Thank you all for your recommendations- I appreciate the insights as I think about the routing!

Rick

Having lived in Estes I have never recommended Hwy 34 (Trail Ridge Road) thru RMNP for an RV due to all the mountain driving challenges (no guard rails, sharp/blind hairpin curves, etc. But it is the other drivers that create as many, if not more, of the challenges.

AZRick wrote:
Is this road suitable for a 34" MH and toad (June)? Some mapping programs want to go the long way around, not sure whether that speaks to the condition of Hwy 34, or just their programming.

Thanks!

Rick

Having done the circle, plus more just wandering in my Coach, we loved it -- and Stagecoach was a really neat park that we just stumbled into and would recommend -- when you look out across the lake you will see the remnants of and old failed Ski Resort, just imagine what it would look like if it did not fail.

So I guess what I'm saying is that both routes are good and my recommendation would be to do the loop and let us know what you liked.

BOL,

AZRick wrote:
Thunder Mountain,

thanks for the additional information. We are heading to Stagecoach S.P.

If not Poudre Canyon, what route would you suggest? I am new to driving with the toad, not uncomfortable but would rather not challenge myself until I am more "seasoned" :)

One of the mapping programs suggests going south on Hwy 36 thru Lyon/Boulder/Golden and then taking I-70 to Silverthorne and up thru Kremmling on US 40/131 to Stagecoach. This I-70 routing takes me thru the Eisenhower Tunnel IIRC, which it doable but preferably avoided.

Rick

This secondary map routing is doable, and it does take you through the Johnson/Eisenhower Tunnels unless you choose to take US 6 up and over Loveland Pass, but you'll likely have more traffic, more elevation gains and more travel time.

Poudre Canyon is gradual, and the traffic issues noted are more prevalent on the weekends, as Thunder Mountain noted. I've driven it many times during the week and once you get west of Rustic, there's little to no traffic, all the way to Walden and on to Muddy Pass. If you can time your travels to do it during the week, I still stand by my recommendation of Poudre Canyon versus other routes.

There is one additional alternative, however. You could go to Fort Collins and take US 287 north to Laramie Wy and from Laramie, take WY 230 down through Woods Landing and Foxpark. It becomes CO 127 at the state line, and CO 127 will intersect with CO 125 north of Walden, then go south into Walden and pick up CO 14 to Muddy Pass. This way, there are no passes at all until you get to Muddy Pass. There's some ups/downs on US 287 going up to Laramie, but certainly nothing as steep as any of the other routes mentioned in this thread.

Thunder Mountain,

thanks for the additional information. We are heading to Stagecoach S.P.

If not Poudre Canyon, what route would you suggest? I am new to driving with the toad, not uncomfortable but would rather not challenge myself until I am more "seasoned" :)

One of the mapping programs suggests going south on Hwy 36 thru Lyon/Boulder/Golden and then taking I-70 to Silverthorne and up thru Kremmling on US 40/131 to Stagecoach. This I-70 routing takes me thru the Eisenhower Tunnel IIRC, which it doable but preferably avoided.

Rick

Thom02099 wrote:

AZRick wrote:
Is this road suitable for a 34" MH and toad (June)? Some mapping programs want to go the long way around, not sure whether that speaks to the condition of Hwy 34, or just their programming.

Thanks!

Rick

I was just up there last weekend, stayed at Moraine Park in RMNP and did my usual pre-season exploring. The NPS had just opened Trail Ridge/US 34 from Many Parks Curve (about 8 miles up) to Rainbow Curve (about 12 miles up). However, that was before this past week and especially this past weekend; it's been raining/snowing for the past week and just this weekend/Mother's Day, areas up there got 2+ feet of snow. They are shooting for an opening date of May 22, but may be hard pressed to get it open by Memorial Day, depending on whether the snow cooperates.

That said...there WILL be snow up there in June, just a matter of how much. The road climbs to over 12000 feet and is frequently shelf road with no guardrails for much of the drive, particularly on the east side, from the Alpine Visitor's Center east. Once you get below Milner Pass on the west side, the driving, while twisty, is not near as dramatic.

Much depends on your comfort level and experience driving in high altitude on a narrow 2 lane road. While it's doable, it's not recommended unless you've had experience with such driving. Also remember that the weather is very changeable up there, especially early in the season, and one can frequently run into snow storms/blizzard conditions up there.

One of the recommended routes may have been to go up to Fort Collins and then take CO 14 west from Laporte up Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass, and down into North Park/Walden area, and then continue on CO 14 to Muddy Pass, where it joins up with US 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass before dropping down to Steamboat. This is an enjoyable alternative to taking Trail Ridge.

Thom's points well taken and as always spot on. Having driven TRR many times a year since 1969 and a 31 year resident of Estes Park from 1979 to 2010 with the last 7 years as an RV owner, I think I can give share some useful information.

Be advised that it can SNOW enough any day of the year to close Trail Ridge Road. Been there done that in June, July and August.

I used Trail Ridge Road as a quick escape route during the summer season driving either a car, fiver or MH. I was at the Beaver Meadows entrance before 8 a.m. on weekdays. The drive over at that time of day is usually pretty easy even with a 40' MH and toad. Yes, it is a two lane road rising to 12,283' with limited passing and turn out space and six sharp U turns on the west side. But it is very doable if you are comfortable with your rig. If you can drive rush hour in a major metro area, you can drive Trail Ridge Road. But, if you are a white knuckle mountain road driver, get to Estes Park from Loveland or Lyons. The latter is my preferred route.

Only comment on Thom's comments is not to do Pourde Canyon. I did it twice towing and hated the road and traffic, but both times in was a weekend run. That said, the drive over Muddy Creek Pass is beautiful and easy. Did it in a fiver on one of those runs. It is also more scenic than 34 to Granby and 40 to Steamboat via TRR.

Thom02099 wrote:

AZRick wrote:
Is this road suitable for a 34" MH and toad (June)? Some mapping programs want to go the long way around, not sure whether that speaks to the condition of Hwy 34, or just their programming.

Thanks!

Rick

I was just up there last weekend, stayed at Moraine Park in RMNP and did my usual pre-season exploring. The NPS had just opened Trail Ridge/US 34 from Many Parks Curve (about 8 miles up) to Rainbow Curve (about 12 miles up). However, that was before this past week and especially this past weekend; it's been raining/snowing for the past week and just this weekend/Mother's Day, areas up there got 2+ feet of snow. They are shooting for an opening date of May 22, but may be hard pressed to get it open by Memorial Day, depending on whether the snow cooperates.

That said...there WILL be snow up there in June, just a matter of how much. The road climbs to over 12000 feet and is frequently shelf road with no guardrails for much of the drive, particularly on the east side, from the Alpine Visitor's Center east. Once you get below Milner Pass on the west side, the driving, while twisty, is not near as dramatic.

Much depends on your comfort level and experience driving in high altitude on a narrow 2 lane road. While it's doable, it's not recommended unless you've had experience with such driving. Also remember that the weather is very changeable up there, especially early in the season, and one can frequently run into snow storms/blizzard conditions up there.

One of the recommended routes may have been to go up to Fort Collins and then take CO 14 west from Laporte up Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass, and down into North Park/Walden area, and then continue on CO 14 to Muddy Pass, where it joins up with US 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass before dropping down to Steamboat. This is an enjoyable alternative to taking Trail Ridge.

Thanks for that suggestion!

AZRick wrote:
Is this road suitable for a 34" MH and toad (June)? Some mapping programs want to go the long way around, not sure whether that speaks to the condition of Hwy 34, or just their programming.

Thanks!

Rick

I was just up there last weekend, stayed at Moraine Park in RMNP and did my usual pre-season exploring. The NPS had just opened Trail Ridge/US 34 from Many Parks Curve (about 8 miles up) to Rainbow Curve (about 12 miles up). However, that was before this past week and especially this past weekend; it's been raining/snowing for the past week and just this weekend/Mother's Day, areas up there got 2+ feet of snow. They are shooting for an opening date of May 22, but may be hard pressed to get it open by Memorial Day, depending on whether the snow cooperates.

That said...there WILL be snow up there in June, just a matter of how much. The road climbs to over 12000 feet and is frequently shelf road with no guardrails for much of the drive, particularly on the east side, from the Alpine Visitor's Center east. Once you get below Milner Pass on the west side, the driving, while twisty, is not near as dramatic.

Much depends on your comfort level and experience driving in high altitude on a narrow 2 lane road. While it's doable, it's not recommended unless you've had experience with such driving. Also remember that the weather is very changeable up there, especially early in the season, and one can frequently run into snow storms/blizzard conditions up there.

One of the recommended routes may have been to go up to Fort Collins and then take CO 14 west from Laporte up Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass, and down into North Park/Walden area, and then continue on CO 14 to Muddy Pass, where it joins up with US 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass before dropping down to Steamboat. This is an enjoyable alternative to taking Trail Ridge.

Personally I would not do it in my MH but with that said I would drive the toad separately as Trail Ridge is a 2 lane road narrow in some spots it is slow because of all the traffic