Road information
Is it safe to trailer down 550 from Montrose to Durango Colorado? 12,000 lb 5th wheel, ford F350
Forum Discussion
You would not have to take the I-25 to bypass this section of US 550. Which would take you to Pueblo to reach the 25. Then down to catch US 160 W to Durango. A mere 496 mi, 9 hours 1 min. to drive.
Drive to Ridgway take CO 62 W to CO 145 S toward Telluride; Then follow the 145 to CO-184 E to US-160 E to Durango. About a 150 miles from Ridgway to Durango.
(One could keep on the CO 145 S to the Cortez Area & the US 160 E & this would take you by Mesa Verde along the way. CO 184 could bypass Mesa Verde.
However, the Drive from Ridgway to Durango via Silverton on the Million Dollar Highway is very doable & a fun drive & is only 81 miles. I'd agree with:
Except the part about the "constant downhill from Montrose to Durango". From Montrose to almost Silverton (if not Silverton), it will be mainly uphill, then it is mostly downhill to Durango. IMHO.
You got to climb up the mountain before you get to come down. But there are at least two pretty good ups & downs getting to Silverton. If my memory is correct. We drove it in 2010.
The Uncompahgre Gorge is one of the good downs one must climb up to so one can then descent down into; so you can then climb back out of in order to continue on down the mountain. Seems there is another dip one must do as well, before you get to just drive downhill.
US 550 from Montrose to Durango: Very nice drive, very steep & somewhat curvy in places after Quray. Have used it a few times. The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton.
Video Just Cruisin' - Uncompahgre Gorge
Just remember speed is the enemy, do not get into having to ride your breaks, use lower gears, do not let the rig get going too fast. Keep calm. Be happy. Enjoy. Take it S L O W.
Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound after Lizard Head Pass.
http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/camping
I've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ Ditto
We camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.
Montrose Elevation: 5806 feet, Ridgway elevation 6,985 feet, Ouray Elevation, 7,792 ft, Silverton Elevation 9,308 ft & Durango is 6,512 feet.
Drive to Ridgway take CO 62 W to CO 145 S toward Telluride; Then follow the 145 to CO-184 E to US-160 E to Durango. About a 150 miles from Ridgway to Durango.
(One could keep on the CO 145 S to the Cortez Area & the US 160 E & this would take you by Mesa Verde along the way. CO 184 could bypass Mesa Verde.
However, the Drive from Ridgway to Durango via Silverton on the Million Dollar Highway is very doable & a fun drive & is only 81 miles. I'd agree with:
2Gypsies wrote:
Some folks will tell you definitely 'no'. However, there's no definite yes or no. It all depends if you've had some mountain driving experience and how comfortable you are about it. You'll have a constant downhill from Montrose to Durango. How do you feel about your brakes? Do you have an exhaust brake? It's a gorgeous drive and many RVers and semi trucks do it so yes, it can be done.
Except the part about the "constant downhill from Montrose to Durango". From Montrose to almost Silverton (if not Silverton), it will be mainly uphill, then it is mostly downhill to Durango. IMHO.
You got to climb up the mountain before you get to come down. But there are at least two pretty good ups & downs getting to Silverton. If my memory is correct. We drove it in 2010.
The Uncompahgre Gorge is one of the good downs one must climb up to so one can then descent down into; so you can then climb back out of in order to continue on down the mountain. Seems there is another dip one must do as well, before you get to just drive downhill.
US 550 from Montrose to Durango: Very nice drive, very steep & somewhat curvy in places after Quray. Have used it a few times. The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton.
Video Just Cruisin' - Uncompahgre Gorge
Just remember speed is the enemy, do not get into having to ride your breaks, use lower gears, do not let the rig get going too fast. Keep calm. Be happy. Enjoy. Take it S L O W.
Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound after Lizard Head Pass.
http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/camping
I've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ Ditto
We camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.
Montrose Elevation: 5806 feet, Ridgway elevation 6,985 feet, Ouray Elevation, 7,792 ft, Silverton Elevation 9,308 ft & Durango is 6,512 feet.
