Ouray To Moab
Was planning on just going up to the interstate and back down but Google says to take the 145, 46, 191 route to save 50+ miles and a bunch of time. Welllll, Google may not be pulling 15K lbs of 5th...
Forum Discussion
I assume you've driven the section of CO 62 west of Ridgway to Placerville where one turns south to Telluride (6.5% grade on the east side).
Beyond that, there's about a 15 mile section west of Paradox which a is pretty good grunt of a climb. Some grades up to 9%. But heading from Ouray to Moab means you'll be going up rather than down that section -- more grunt but not a braking issue. Not a particularly fast section anyway, as there are curves with pretty low recommended speeds on them. Pulling this route may not save you much time, but it will save 50 miles. Not much exposure along this route (not another Million Dollar Highway!).
That being said, it is a pretty drive without much traffic. Most of the traffic will be other RV's and a few oil-field semi's. You go through some farm land along the river bottom and then climb through layers and layers of rock as you head into Utah.
Think of it this way, part of the distance you save is the very desolate drive from Delta to Grand Junction. Another part of that 50 mile savings is that boring drive from the UT/CO border to the US 191 turnoff. The route you asked about a least takes you through some different scenery.
Beyond that, there's about a 15 mile section west of Paradox which a is pretty good grunt of a climb. Some grades up to 9%. But heading from Ouray to Moab means you'll be going up rather than down that section -- more grunt but not a braking issue. Not a particularly fast section anyway, as there are curves with pretty low recommended speeds on them. Pulling this route may not save you much time, but it will save 50 miles. Not much exposure along this route (not another Million Dollar Highway!).
That being said, it is a pretty drive without much traffic. Most of the traffic will be other RV's and a few oil-field semi's. You go through some farm land along the river bottom and then climb through layers and layers of rock as you head into Utah.
Think of it this way, part of the distance you save is the very desolate drive from Delta to Grand Junction. Another part of that 50 mile savings is that boring drive from the UT/CO border to the US 191 turnoff. The route you asked about a least takes you through some different scenery.
