Route from San Diego to Durango?

I'm cool with 5 mile grunts at a steep grade but when they turn into 15 and 20 min slogs to the top I stop having fun. I was just taking ground views on the road up Wolf Creek from the west and it was just steepness that never stopped. But your average ups and downs -- I'm fine with that.

2gypsies wrote:
Cannesdo: In your other post you're concerned about driving CO 160 to Colorado Springs from Durango.

Some of the above highways mentioned in this post could possibly give you some serious thinking to do.

You might consider getting the 'Mountain Directory' for a mile by mile read on some of the mentioned highways. Then you'll know what to expect.

Mountain Directory

Been looking for something like that -- thanks! Are you comparing the cut-off road from Phoenix through Payson (Peyson?) with Wolf Creek pass? I don't mind long uphill grades as long as they're not 6.8's. I've taken on a lot of passes, I just don't enjoy them. Too worried about the truck temps. But I love driving and am good on narrow roads.

In NE Arizona you could take US163 to Mexican Hat, a side trip on UT261 to see the Goosenecks, possibly Moki Dugway (switch backs up a rim), Valley of the Gods (dirt). Continue east on UT162.

At Aneth take Ismay Trading Post Rd (IR5066) NE. This is paved and viewable on GM Streetview. In Colorado this becomes County G, which meets US461 just south of Cortez (just north of its airport). Along the way look for turn offs to Hovenweep NM, and stop for Canyon of the Ancients NM (Sand Canyon Trailhead). This section is secondary paved roads, with minor ups and downs and curves, but no mountains.

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/co/nm/canm/CANM_Documents.Par.55459.File.dat/Canyons_of_the_Ancients_Transportation.pdf

http://www.nps.gov/hove/planyourvisit/upload/HovenweepMap.pdf

Cannesdo: In your other post you're concerned about driving CO 160 to Colorado Springs from Durango.

Some of the above highways mentioned in this post could possibly give you some serious thinking to do.

You might consider getting the 'Mountain Directory' for a mile by mile read on some of the mentioned highways. Then you'll know what to expect.

Mountain Directory

Lots of choices! Flagstaff area is beautiful. Sedona is a fantastic side trip but 89 north of Sedona to Flagstaff is not recommended for RV's.

Really depends on how many days you wish to take on what route you have time for.

87 thru Payson to 260 is a very scenic drive. Payson to Heber is forested, many small trout lakes in the area. Views along the Mogollon Rim are great!

If time permits you can continue on 260 thru Show Low, Lakeside, Pinetop, McNary and into Springville & Eager before heading north. A stop at Greer for a night or two is well worth it.

These highways are all good roads easily traveled by RV although you will have some long grades as you'll be climbing from desert to forest.

cannesdo wrote:
I'd be interested in some interesting back roads. Anything neat to see on the way that's a little off the beaten path? These are roads I've driven before (east to Yuma, then Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, 4 corners (although wouldn't mind going through there again).

I like abandoned places, old hotel signs, history, science...

In northern Arizona, instead of cutting up to the 4Corners area, you could take US 64 east into New Mexico, going through Ship Rock (an impressive sight!) and on into Farmington. In the Farmington/Bloomfield/Aztec area there's Anasazi ruins sites to visit, if that interests you. From Aztec, you could take US 550 up into Colorado, through Bondad and on in to Durango.

Ooh, it's pretty out there. I think someone told me about Peyson. Been wanting to see it. Looks like a beautiful ride in the country. And I love ghost towns.

I have done none of that -- thanks!!

At Phoenix, you could take Hwy 87, then 260, 277, 377 to Holbrook. You could go east on I-40 from Holbrook (or from Flagstaff if you go that way), stop at Two Guns (http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/twoguns.html) and look around, then Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. Drive to Hwy 191 and go north. Stop at Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado and Canyon de Chelly in Chinle.

If you go to Flagstaff and north on 89 to 160, have you seen the dinosaur tracks near Tuba City? How about Page/Lake Powell and Monument Valley (both detours off 160)?