Kanab, UT >>>> Manitou Springs, CO

We have taken 114 many times, but only when we are heading south (or southeast), not to avoid Monarch. I consider Monarch a routine, but major, pass in Colorado. Have made it many times both ways towing our 34' fifth-wheel.

We were traveling from Montrose to Manitou Springs. I considered your 114 alternate, but it was a lot of extra miles & I became confident we could do Monarch.

Our tundra/trailer does not have much range, and after separate trips to Utah & Co, I found that availability of gas ( that I could maneuver to) to be a much more pressing issue than climbs/descents

Thanks everyone! Sorry I haven't responded sooner but we haven't had wifi or cell till tonight.

We decided to leave Kanab a day early to see Capitol Reef. We must have had our brave shoes on as we went Scenic Hwy 12 from Bryce to Torrey. What a beautiful drive my wife said. I spent most of it looking at the road. . The drive was good, the truck went slow and steady and we arrived safe.
We really enjoyed Capitol Reef and Fruita, UT. We ate pies at the farm house, hiked up to the arch and had a wonderful stay at Wonderland RV Park.

Today we traveled hwy 24 to I-70 and then hwy 50 from Grand Junction to Gunnison. We plan to explore some tomorrow and drive up to Crested Butte.

We will head towards Monarch Pass Monday........ OR ........

The guy at the fly shop suggested taking hwy 114 south to Saguache and then hwy 258 north to Salida. He said this was less strain on the truck and a good alternative. I'm not sure. Anyone try that route?

Lots of good ideas so far - only comments I have are forget 4 Corners. But, at this point it would appear you have made a decision and done something, leaving yesterday.

Montrose is a very nice little town. The KOA there is the nicest I've seen. We set up base camp there summer 2015 and made day trips to Ouray and Black Canyon of the Gunnison (must see!!)

We pulled a 7700 lb trailer over Monarch Pass on that trip with our Tundra. Worried about it for months before the trip, but going up really wasn't a problem. Going down was actually harder --- first gear is too slow and 2nd is too fast. NO ONE is in a hurry to go down the hill - we were in a long line of 18 wheelers, motor homes, and trailers and everyone was using their head and just crawling down the 9% grade.

There are plenty of passing lanes going up (east-bound), and the speed limit is 45 for most of it due to the curves. Plus, several HUGE pull-offs available as you go up. Assuming your truck is in good mechanical condition, I think you will be fine, just take your time.

flguppie wrote:
We are currently in Kanab on our bucket list tour out west. We went to Bryce and Zion while here and enjoyed every minute. We are pulling a 26' tt (5900LB-wet) with our 2010 5.4L 2010 F150 and it has done great (so far).

Anyway, we are leaving Friday for Manitou Springs, CO. We have 3 days to make the trip. Our original thought was to take 89 up to I-70 then over to Grand Junction and then down to 50 ....to Gunnison and over to Salida and on to Manitou Springs.

Are there better routes and things we need to see? We are skipping Moab & Arches due to crowds, road construction there and lack of a place to stay. I drove a little bit of hwy 12 today after going to Bryce. That was beautiful. How's the rest of 12 going east?

DW mentioned seeing 4-corners and Monument Valley. That would put us on a southern route but need to head up somewhere.... but don't want to get the tt and older truck into a mountain nightmare.

Any travel route suggestions? Should we stay with our original plan?

What was decided?

We have done Monarch several times with a 35' fiver, but always with a diesel TV. It may be a challenge with a 150 gasser. Take your time and don't let the fools rush you.

You would be downhill on the steep (East) side. Low gear and be prepared to pull off and let the breaks rest while you take pictures of some of the most spectacular mountains in the country.

A really fine little Mexican restaurant in Gunnison. On the North edge of town; beyond the City Market on the left. Sorry, the name escapes me.

A

flguppie wrote:
We are currently in Kanab on our bucket list tour out west. We went to Bryce and Zion while here and enjoyed every minute. We are pulling a 26' tt (5900LB-wet) with our 2010 5.4L 2010 F150 and it has done great (so far).

Anyway, we are leaving Friday for Manitou Springs, CO. We have 3 days to make the trip. Our original thought was to take 89 up to I-70 then over to Grand Junction and then down to 50 ....to Gunnison and over to Salida and on to Manitou Springs.

Are there better routes and things we need to see? We are skipping Moab & Arches due to crowds, road construction there and lack of a place to stay. I drove a little bit of hwy 12 today after going to Bryce. That was beautiful. How's the rest of 12 going east?

DW mentioned seeing 4-corners and Monument Valley. That would put us on a southern route but need to head up somewhere.... but don't want to get the tt and older truck into a mountain nightmare.

Any travel route suggestions? Should we stay with our original plan?

Will not try to do more than give you an Old Man's insight;

Drive through Moab - (Passport America Utah option for Moab ) There are many places to stay and for $17 not too much.

At least drive around/through Arches - then out of Moab of Rt 128 along the Colorado River then back up to I-70.

RT 128 Is My favorite Drive in Utah (Ranks in the top anywhere) - and to not see the Arch - even if from afar is not fair to your Passengers (JMHO)

Any way to squeeze out a few more days???????? Please............ just sooooooo much to see and do on this route.

Will assume you said YES and will give you more than just a few options;

Colorado Monument just outside Grand Junction - worth the effort, especially as you head south into the Mountains.

Ouray is the Destination - But Ridgway State Park is just fun for the Kids - Ouray is the Swiss Alps of Colorado.

Silverton is Heaven - will suggest the drive here in just the TV as it can intimidate some.

Hikes/4X4 Trails/Mountains/Lakes just a Vacation Paradise (Telluride - Trout Lake - Dunton - Lake City - Alpine Loop................)

After a frantic day or so here then Up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Gunnison to Crested Butte - Then on to Salida - short hop to Buena Vista - The Collegiates - Maybe Independence Pass (Little snow) - RT 82 into Aspen/Maroon Bells (TV only, restricted route) - Back, more hikes and Beaver Dams, gravel roads just beautiful, wild spaces - white Water Rafting - to miss this is just not fair.

Sure hope you have found a way to make the Days longer and the Trip Better so as to at least see this and schedule it all for the Next trip - Once you see it it's hard to not want to just come back .... Again and Again.

MAP of the ADVENTURE

Sure hope you are able to Create a few more days - as IMHO this is some of the Best in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!

Best of Luck,

Edit note; Steal time from Manitou Springs, (Sorry this is just not, IMHO, nearly as Good or Rewarding as the areas you will have driven through, to get here)

Food - Quincy's and K's are worth the effort.

flguppie wrote:


Anyway, we are leaving Friday for Manitou Springs, CO. We have 3 days to make the trip. Our original thought was to take 89 up to I-70 then over to Grand Junction and then down to 50 ....to Gunnison and over to Salida and on to Manitou Springs.

Great route with a variety of places to stop if you so desire. You could detour down to Ouray and take in the hot springs there or walk around the downtown area. You'll also be going by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, which is a spectacle. One of the best views in the area is at the top of Monarch Pass, where there's an aerial tram that takes you to the summit on the south side, for a vista that's hard to equal. And then dropping down into the Arkansas Valley area of Salida to Leadville...lots to see and do there, and the views of the Collegiate Range are magnificent. Lots of hiking and 4wheeling if you're into that, trophy fishing if you're into that. Just the tip of the iceberg.
And when you get to Manitou Springs, if you haven't got it on your list, visiting downtown is always cool and there's the incline railway to the top of Pike's Peak.

The route over Gunnison and down into Salida is over Monarch Pass. We towed our 32' TT with our F250 V10 6.8L and it was a challenge down the other side. We would not hesitate with our diesel now and our heavier FW because we have tow/haul mode, but with the gasser, we didn't. This was the most challenging for us, and we've been all over the places you mentioned towing with our gasser - Hwy 12 all from Capitol Reef to Bryce. No problems heading to Monument Valley and around that area.

Since you mentioned the Four Corners area and Salida - somewhere in between is Ouray. There is a steep and winding pass between Ouray and Silverton. We towed to Ouray, parked our rig at a KOA there, toured with just our TV up over the million dollar highway to Silverton, Four Corners, Mesa Verde, then back to Ouray. We returned the same route towing as we towed in, in order to avoid towing over that pass south of Ouray.