Moraine Park RMNP to Aspen

EnzoColorado wrote:

Busskipper wrote:


Not one to argue with Thom - as he really does know Colorado - But ....... you are a local also - if you are comfortable in the mountains, go for it. BUT....think about going before 10 in the Morning, the earlier the better to beat the Traffic, just makes it a little easier, and if you are a little slow fewer people will be upset if they are behind you.

Before this forum, I'd drive all through the back Roads of Colorado and Loved it. Then I found out there were all these places I was supposed to be wary of, Sorry but in my Ten's of thousands of Miles in Colorado, the only spot I'd be nervous would be if I were in my Coach driving a couple sections of Independence Pass - that does get Narrow - but it is Restricted, so .......

Let me add a little side trip on the way to Aspen. After you go by Breck and Silverthorne on I-70, look at getting off on exit 195 to RT 91 to Leadville - Nice lunch stop, then Take RT 24 to Red Cliff and Minturn. Will take you right by Camp Hale - Red Cliff has a great Lunch Spot and the Green Bridge is worth the drive by itself. Then on to Minturn and Back on to I-70 - Be sure to slide off before you get to the springs to just stare at the Colorado River - Exit 121 - Never miss this.

You need to make the stop so as to get ready to drive through Glenwood Springs to get on the Highway to Aspen RT 82.

Be sure to catch the Bells..........

Best of Luck,

The furthest I have taken the rig from to Ridgway State Park from Colorado Springs through La Veta and Monarch Pass. It wasn't an issue for me. Our friends are from east coast and have done two RV trips so they have some experience. The crowd worry me more than the road so we'll see during the week when we're camped there then make a decision on route.

Good choice. :-)

Busskipper wrote:


Not one to argue with Thom - as he really does know Colorado - But ....... you are a local also - if you are comfortable in the mountains, go for it. BUT....think about going before 10 in the Morning, the earlier the better to beat the Traffic, just makes it a little easier, and if you are a little slow fewer people will be upset if they are behind you.

Before this forum, I'd drive all through the back Roads of Colorado and Loved it. Then I found out there were all these places I was supposed to be wary of, Sorry but in my Ten's of thousands of Miles in Colorado, the only spot I'd be nervous would be if I were in my Coach driving a couple sections of Independence Pass - that does get Narrow - but it is Restricted, so .......

Let me add a little side trip on the way to Aspen. After you go by Breck and Silverthorne on I-70, look at getting off on exit 195 to RT 91 to Leadville - Nice lunch stop, then Take RT 24 to Red Cliff and Minturn. Will take you right by Camp Hale - Red Cliff has a great Lunch Spot and the Green Bridge is worth the drive by itself. Then on to Minturn and Back on to I-70 - Be sure to slide off before you get to the springs to just stare at the Colorado River - Exit 121 - Never miss this.

You need to make the stop so as to get ready to drive through Glenwood Springs to get on the Highway to Aspen RT 82.

Be sure to catch the Bells..........

Best of Luck,

The furthest I have taken the rig from to Ridgway State Park from Colorado Springs through La Veta and Monarch Pass. It wasn't an issue for me. Our friends are from east coast and have done two RV trips so they have some experience. The crowd worry me more than the road so we'll see during the week when we're camped there then make a decision on route.

Thom02099 wrote:
OP, do you have a reservation in RMNP at Moraine? All the loops are reservation now. B Loop used to be walk in, but no longer. Got my first trip up there planned in May to Moraine and July to Glacier Basin.

Yes we do have sites reserved for our trip.

OP, do you have a reservation in RMNP at Moraine? All the loops are reservation now. B Loop used to be walk in, but no longer. Got my first trip up there planned in May to Moraine and July to Glacier Basin.

Thom02099 wrote:

EnzoColorado wrote:
We will be driving from Moraine Park campground in Rocky Mountain National Park to Difficult Campground near Aspen on Wednesday of last week in June this year. Google maps suggested taking Trail Ridge Road (hwy 34) across the RMNP to Granby, then hwy 40 west to Kremmlin. From Kremmlin, the route follows Trough Road along the Upper Colorado River then turn left on Hwy 131 south to I-70 then west on I-70 and south on hwy 82.

I haven't seen Trail Ridge road since I was a teenager. How doable is that road in towing a TT? I recently towed a 15 ft raft trailer from Kremmlin to Rancho Del Rio on Trough road and remembered it was easy wide smooth dirt road. We'll have some friends following us in a 27 ft Class C rental as well. Any feed back of this route will be highly appreciated, or suggestion on alternate routes.

Yes. Alernate Route.

When leaving Moraine Park CG, as you exit from Beaver Meadows, go to the first stop light and make a right. This is Mary's Lake Road. Go up the hill and around Mary's Lake, past the Lodge. The road will intersect with CO 7. Make a right. This puts you on the Peak to Peak Highway. Take CO 7 up to Meeker Park and Allenspark. South of Allenspark, CO 72 intersects. Make a right, you're still on the Peak to Peak. Take CO 72 all the way to Nederland, where you'll pick up CO 119, which will take you to the Black Hawk/Central City area. You can take CO 119 down to US 6 and then head west to I-70 west, or at Black Hawk, go up through town and pick up the Central City Parkway, which also goes to I-70 west.

Full disclosure. The first part of this journey, on CO 7, the road is a bit rough, as it was damaged by flooding in 2013 and has yet to be repaired. Not rough as impassible, but some spots that are rough. But, it's a good drive, especially when you get on CO 72.

Trail Ridge Road is doable, and is "doneable" by folks. However, it's a challenge, and unless your companion travellers have mountain driving experience, it could be a bit intimidating. Heck, I drive it every season, multiple times a season, and have done so for nearly 40 years, and there are still places that I'm really not comfortable with.

Trail Ridge Road is a high elevation road that tops out over 12000 feet. Approximately 12 miles of the road is above tree line in the tundra. There are significant drop offs, no shoulders, no guard rails and the road, even though it's to US highway specs, is still narrow. It's not as much YOUR driving skill as it is others who are coming at you in the opposite direction that can make this an imposing drive. During the season, it's a zoo up there, even during the week, with lots of traffic, folks stopping whenever/wherever they want, people hugging the center line (and frequently crossing it coming at you), and generally a crowded experience. 4.5million folks go up there every year recently, and the bulk of that is June through October, with June/July/August usually accounting for nearly a million each month. Like I said, doable. But fully informed makes for a better driving experience for you and your companion travellers.

Not one to argue with Thom - as he really does know Colorado - But ....... you are a local also - if you are comfortable in the mountains, go for it. BUT....think about going before 10 in the Morning, the earlier the better to beat the Traffic, just makes it a little easier, and if you are a little slow fewer people will be upset if they are behind you.

Before this forum, I'd drive all through the back Roads of Colorado and Loved it. Then I found out there were all these places I was supposed to be wary of, Sorry but in my Ten's of thousands of Miles in Colorado, the only spot I'd be nervous would be if I were in my Coach driving a couple sections of Independence Pass - that does get Narrow - but it is Restricted, so .......

Let me add a little side trip on the way to Aspen. After you go by Breck and Silverthorne on I-70, look at getting off on exit 195 to RT 91 to Leadville - Nice lunch stop, then Take RT 24 to Red Cliff and Minturn. Will take you right by Camp Hale - Red Cliff has a great Lunch Spot and the Green Bridge is worth the drive by itself. Then on to Minturn and Back on to I-70 - Be sure to slide off before you get to the springs to just stare at the Colorado River - Exit 121 - Never miss this.

You need to make the stop so as to get ready to drive through Glenwood Springs to get on the Highway to Aspen RT 82.

Be sure to catch the Bells..........

Best of Luck,

Thom02099 wrote:


Trail Ridge Road is a high elevation road that tops out over 12000 feet. Approximately 12 miles of the road is above tree line in the tundra. There are significant drop offs, no shoulders, no guard rails and the road, even though it's to US highway specs, is still narrow. It's not as much YOUR driving skill as it is others who are coming at you in the opposite direction that can make this an imposing drive. During the season, it's a zoo up there, even during the week, with lots of traffic, folks stopping whenever/wherever they want, people hugging the center line (and frequently crossing it coming at you), and generally a crowded experience. 4.5million folks go up there every year recently, and the bulk of that is June through October, with June/July/August usually accounting for nearly a million each month. Like I said, doable. But fully informed makes for a better driving experience for you and your companion travellers.

Really appreciate the feed back on Trail Ridge Road. We do plan to drive up and down that road during our stay in RMNP so it is not like we will miss seeing it if we use your suggestion, good idea!

EnzoColorado wrote:
We will be driving from Moraine Park campground in Rocky Mountain National Park to Difficult Campground near Aspen on Wednesday of last week in June this year. Google maps suggested taking Trail Ridge Road (hwy 34) across the RMNP to Granby, then hwy 40 west to Kremmlin. From Kremmlin, the route follows Trough Road along the Upper Colorado River then turn left on Hwy 131 south to I-70 then west on I-70 and south on hwy 82.

I haven't seen Trail Ridge road since I was a teenager. How doable is that road in towing a TT? I recently towed a 15 ft raft trailer from Kremmlin to Rancho Del Rio on Trough road and remembered it was easy wide smooth dirt road. We'll have some friends following us in a 27 ft Class C rental as well. Any feed back of this route will be highly appreciated, or suggestion on alternate routes.

Yes. Alernate Route.

When leaving Moraine Park CG, as you exit from Beaver Meadows, go to the first stop light and make a right. This is Mary's Lake Road. Go up the hill and around Mary's Lake, past the Lodge. The road will intersect with CO 7. Make a right. This puts you on the Peak to Peak Highway. Take CO 7 up to Meeker Park and Allenspark. South of Allenspark, CO 72 intersects. Make a right, you're still on the Peak to Peak. Take CO 72 all the way to Nederland, where you'll pick up CO 119, which will take you to the Black Hawk/Central City area. You can take CO 119 down to US 6 and then head west to I-70 west, or at Black Hawk, go up through town and pick up the Central City Parkway, which also goes to I-70 west.

Full disclosure. The first part of this journey, on CO 7, the road is a bit rough, as it was damaged by flooding in 2013 and has yet to be repaired. Not rough as impassible, but some spots that are rough. But, it's a good drive, especially when you get on CO 72.

Trail Ridge Road is doable, and is "doneable" by folks. However, it's a challenge, and unless your companion travellers have mountain driving experience, it could be a bit intimidating. Heck, I drive it every season, multiple times a season, and have done so for nearly 40 years, and there are still places that I'm really not comfortable with.

Trail Ridge Road is a high elevation road that tops out over 12000 feet. Approximately 12 miles of the road is above tree line in the tundra. There are significant drop offs, no shoulders, no guard rails and the road, even though it's to US highway specs, is still narrow. It's not as much YOUR driving skill as it is others who are coming at you in the opposite direction that can make this an imposing drive. During the season, it's a zoo up there, even during the week, with lots of traffic, folks stopping whenever/wherever they want, people hugging the center line (and frequently crossing it coming at you), and generally a crowded experience. 4.5million folks go up there every year recently, and the bulk of that is June through October, with June/July/August usually accounting for nearly a million each month. Like I said, doable. But fully informed makes for a better driving experience for you and your companion travellers.