Central TX to Lake City CO

[jhlee]

We are planning a trip to Lake City, CO, from Central Texas. Is there a route that you like best. We have camped locally with a 37 ft 5th wheeler for a couple of years, but never made trips to the mountains. I have heard that the descent into Lake City is a bit harry from south 149. Also is the option from north 149 out of Gunnison.

[padredw]

Drive to Santa Fe then north on highway 285. The highway will merge west with Highway 160 past Alamosa then goes north again. At Saguache, take highway 114. This is a winding but beautiful road. A couple of hills but nothing too severe. Even I can drive it. It ill lead you to Highway 50 and into Gunnison, always worth a stop. Then you will travel west on highway 50 and swing to Lake City south on highway 149.

Yes, indeed, this is a good route. We take it when we wish to stop by Santa Fe on the way back from Colorado. 114 is a long gradual climb up to the pass from Saguache. The beautiful and winding part is coming down from the pass toward Gunnison.

This might be an even better route than the one I suggested earlier (via Gardner and Westcliffe,) but I have never found Monarch to be a difficult pass. It is a serious pass, but there are enough lanes to allow passing at appropriate places.

EDIT to add. We usually enjoy staying at the summit of Raton Pass at the Cedar Rail Campground. There are several good places to stay in Gunnison if you wish to stop by there.

[GizmosMom]

If you do want to avoid any steep mountain passes you could take this, my "chicken" route:

Drive to Santa Fe then north on highway 285. The highway will merge west with Highway 160 past Alamosa then goes north again. At Saguache, take highway 114. This is a winding but beautiful road. A couple of hills but nothing too severe. Even I can drive it. It ill lead you to Highway 50 and into Gunnison, always worth a stop. Then you will travel west on highway 50 and swing to Lake City south on highway 149.

Looking at a map you will see that you will travel a bit out of your way but your knuckles will not be white. You will also get to see part of the Blue Mesa Reservoir and Gunnison.

[Weldon]

We were there many years ago and it was a great trip. We made the trip in a 1988 ford, that had a 6.0 diesel motor with a standard transmission. Our trailer was a 24' Holiday Travel trailer and we did have some problems with going up the mountains. Coming down was not bad due to the type of tranny.
As we walked around the area that first evening I was surprised to see so many Texas vehicles there.
Have a great trip!

[jhlee]

Thanks so far. Will be in a 2006 Duramax so no exhaust brake, looks to be about $1500 installed, towing a 37 foot 5th wheel. Planning on taking 3 days to get there from Central Texas so no rush just looking for the least amount of stress.

[Allworth]

It is doable from either end. From Gunnison is probably easier on the driver (and the brakes) since there are no real passes once you turn off at Blue Mesa Lake. Beautiful country.

We have towed it both ways with 13K on the back and prefer the North approach. Then again, we are usually coming from Grand Junction. Keep in mind that you have to come over some serious passes to get TO Gunnison, so it is sorta pay-your-money; take-your choice.

[padredw]

Or you can get on Colorado 69 at Walsenburg and go all the way through Gardner and Westcliffe to US 50 and go over Monarch Pass to Gunnison. That is the way we always go. Then, of course, take CO 149 to Lake City. Towing over Slumgullion Pass, especially coming down into Lake City depends on experience and confidence.

[BB_TX]

At well over 11,000' Slumgullion Pass is a high pass. And the north side is said to have up 9% grade ("the steepest grade of any continuously paved road in Colorado"). And numerous sharp turns and switchbacks.

The south side is not nearly as steep and twisting and will not present too much challenge to tow up it. They were repaving the road up the south side last summer so it should be in good shape.

Have driven it several times, but not towed it. But I would rather tow from south to north than vice versa. Just take your time and watch your speed going down and you should be ok. Let the truck do the work, especially if you have exhaust brake. Above all, take care to not overheat the brakes.

From TX you can take I-25 thru Raton to Walsenburg and west on US 160. Two more passes that way, Raton Pass (not bad at all) and La Veta Pass west of Walsenburg (a bit of a climb, especially west bound). Or you can go over to Santa Fe and take US 285 north to Alamosa. No passes that way.

[Jay_Pat]

My first long road trip, went to Lake City.
Took the southern entrance thru Creede.
Going down from Slumgullion Pass, used 1st gear.
1st hear held most of the way with a little minor braking.
That stretch of road is very curvy with most turns at 20 or 25 mph.
No problem!
Also, no problems of anyone coming up behind you as you are going slow and there are plenty of places for a car to jump around you.
My rig weighs right at 19,000lbs.
When I was there, there was a nice place to see moose back up on the mtn.
Ask around.
Pat