Mholzap wrote:
We are taking a trip to Ridgway next week. We have a few extra days and are thinking about taking a side trip on the way back home to Texas via Rifle Gap. We have never traveled I 70 from Grand Junction to Denver- how are the mountain passes along this stretch?
It's not difficult; RVs and commercial truck traffic do it all the time.
From GJ heading east will be a goodly uphill climb, albeit rather gradual at first, until you get to Vail. East of Vail is Vail Pass at ~11000 ft. Again, not a difficult climb, just have to use your gears appropriately, both on the climb as well as the descent to Summit County.
In Summit County (Frisco/Dillon area) you'll start the 11ish mile climb to the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels. It is a climb to remember. Not difficult, just long. There's 3 lanes climbing and there will be a lot of slow truck traffic. Use your gears accordingly.
At the top of the Tunnels, you'll drop down to Bakerville and Georgetown. Another long descent where your gears will be your friend. Once you get down, it's fairly flat until you get to Idaho Springs, where you'll do the long Floyd Hill climb. Flattens out a bit once you get up top until you get to the descent to Denver. There are signs warning about the grade and descent and runaway truck ramps as well.
It's up and down and up and down....and up and down. You're in the Rockies, after all! That said, it really isn't a hard drive, since it's an interstate and IIRC, the maximum grade is 7%. It's frequently 3 lanes so you can get around slower semi traffic. Just remember to use your gears wisely and you should be fine!
