SW Colorado travel question -

Players killed in N.M. car crash

Other than being the same highway number, this crash has nothing to do with the Colorado drive. The crash was in New Mexico, 80 miles north of Albuquerque, 130 miles south of Durango. This is a relatively flat and straight 4 lane highway. It was single car roll over, at night, a long drive. And those who died were not wearing seat belts, and were thrown from the car.

East on 160, I heard Mesa Verde RV Resort is also quite nice. Looks like Alpine Rose and Mesa Verde RV are only about 40 miles apart.

Above a couple posters said we should avoid Colorado US-550 with MH and now I see that 3 football players died traveling Utah US-550 last night.

Alpine Rose Campground in Durango, use this as your base camp & drive your car to Silverton, Telluride & Ouray.

Thanks to everyone. We will take the advise and skip Ridgway to Durango with the MH. That stretch of road was my biggest question mark.

Also thanks for the "other spots" not to miss. We plan to be in the area for 2-3 weeks so I will look these up.

RVParkReviews certainly shows a bunch of campgrounds to choose from in Colorado. Anyone have favorites we can fit into on our route?

Acombo shot of one of our trips in September:


Along with a link to Stan Parker's shots of the West - Stan Parker Photos

Hope you have as much fun as we have had.

BOL,

Busskipper

Fall colors above Telluride (note zigzags of Black Bear Rd) (mid Sept).

okgc wrote:
We are looking at a September trip to visit primarily three National Parks and the four corners. We have yet to add Gunnison National Park, Mesa Verde and Great Sand Dunes to our life lists.

Map looks like we could stay on national highways by heading south from I70 on US-50 to Gunnison and then south on US-550 to Durango area.
US-160 then looks to be a decent East West road to travel to Mesa Verde and Four Corners. US-160 also goes east toward Great Sand Dunes NP.

We usually try to keep it simple with our MH routes and put a bunch of miles touring with our HHR.

Suggestions and or comments on this route.

Not sure I really understand what you are after but here goes, First off September is a long month, so what time do you have planned for the trip? If you have not set the time yet let me make the suggestion that you try to be in these Mountains for the last week of September, the Aspen will be changing and I cannot think of a better time to be driving over the mountain passes or visiting Southwest Colorado.

The one place that will have the least color will be Great Sand Dunes NP so you might catch that first and save the best part of the trip for the mountains, when the color is full. After catching the GSDNP head across 160 to Mesa Verde this will get the warmer areas out of the way and then for the last week of September head up 145 through Lizard Head Pass and Telluride to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Now once you have checked these three off your list we can get into the mountains. Ouray and Silverton will be on fire with color the Yellow Aspen are just unbelievable from the 21st on(sometimes a little latter but for the most part the last seven days of September are it.

Now I know you came to see the three NP's but trust me if you can time it right and catch these Aspen you will never forget it. Spots to try to catch - Lake City - Crested Butte - Maroon Bells - Independence Pass (only in the Toad)- Leadville - Berthoud Pass - and Trail Ridge.

They may not be in exact order but to catch these areas or for that matter just a couple of these while knocking three NP's off your list will make this an unforgettable trip, Making sure you catch as many as possible while driving back to Michigan.

This is how we would do it.

BOL,

How about this loop:
I70 or US50 to Gunnison.
US550 to Ouray - check out rest of the drive to Silverton in car
CO62, 145 via Telluride and Lizard Head to Cortez
4 corners, Hovenweap NM, Mesa via car
US160 east via Durango etc.

US 550, (the Million Dollar Highway in 10 minutes) is a frequent discussion here. A beautiful not to be missed drive. But in an RV? Some say "no problem". Some say "no way". I would only say do it if you are very comfortable with mountainous driving and your rig is in very good condition for it.
It is a steep, narrow, winding highway without shoulders and guardrails. And it is a long way down the sides into the valleys and canyons below as you can see from the video in the link above, although the video really does not do it justice. Three passes, one over 11,000 ft, one over 10,900 ft.
You can turn west at Ridgeway (just north of Ouray) on US 62 to CO 145, the south to Cortez, and then over to Durango to miss that worst part.
US 160 on the other hand is an RV pipeline across southern Colorado. There is a constant RV flow both ways all during the prime travel months. Wolf Creek Pass east bound from Pagosa Springs is a pretty good pull but it is a very good highway with two lanes going all the way up so you can take it easy in the right lane and let traffic pass in the left lane.

In general your route is good. You don't mention your previous experience driving up/down mountains, so you should be aware of Red Mountain Pass on 550 between Ouray & Silverton. Its steep, twisting, deep drop offs, and no guard rail. Many folks are scared by it and choose to leave 550 at Ridgway on 62 to 145 to Cortez & then 160. That bypass would work good if you start at 4 corners and then make your way east.
Personally, I take my motorhome & toad up & down Red Mtn Pass at least twice a year with no issue, but I've been driving the Colorado Mtns for 30 yrs.
Coming east on 160 you'll also go up & down Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and my home in South Fork. Its much tamer than Red Mtn Pass, but still a long steep climb & descent.
Mid Sept is usually prime season for our fall leaf colors.

PS: Since you're driving right near it, you should include the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, a seldom visited but very impressive canyon.