Forum Discussion
- Parrothead_MikeExplorerOn our way from Santa Fe/Taos to the Grand Tetons in 2011 I fueled up in Durango and double checked the map. I had to make the decision to take 550 or the alternative. I actually had driven from Telluride to Silverton back in the 70's with a Chevy Vega, but I knew from reading this forum that pulling our former 5th wheel was going to be a totally different experience. I figured, what the heck, I'll probably never get this opportunity to drive it again so I went for it......and glad I did. I took it slow and easy and enjoyed the experience.
- R__WalterExplorerUS 550 is local to me. I've driven it many times. I'm kind of surprised to see it gather so many comments on an internet forum. I don't see what the big deal is.
- R__WalterExplorer
Love to drive in Colorado!
Got to be better than Maryland don't you think? - hotpepperkidExplorerI have never seen so many paranoid people. It's a mountain road. If I remember correctly it's 25 MPH most of the way between Ouray and Silverton. If you cant keep it between the white line and the center line at 25 MPH maybe you should not be driving anyway
- ThomasFourExplorer
MPond wrote:
LOL - these Hwy 550 discussions always crack me up!
There is no 1-size-fits-all answer, and anyone giving you an absolute DO IT or an absolute DON'T DO IT is missing the point.
Some people aren't comfortable driving an RV over these mountains, and others are. I fall into the latter category, and take my DP, car trailer and Jeep over the 550 every time we're in the area. Absolutely love that drive, and wouldn't miss it.
That being said, I'm quite comfortable with my rig and with mountain roads. And the first time I drove it, I took the Jeep over it first, during a day-trip to Animas Forks, so it wasn't an unknown for me.
Only you can decide what the right choice is for you.
But I do have to ask - why are people so concerned about the white line or no shoulder? Do you often drive on the shoulder or cross over the lines?
Well said! I have done 550 with our toy hauler several times (and the first time I ever drove it, I was pulling our RV). There are campgrounds full of RVs throughout that whole area. I was also cracking up by some of the comments here (most by people who never even tried it). 550 is VERY doable if you operating within the limits of your vehicle and driving abilities. And, it is some of the best scenery I've ever seen. I think you would be remiss in avoiding it. We stopped several times on 550 in our RV to have lunch, ride horseback, and just enjoy the beauty. What an experience. To be totally candid, I hardly used my brakes on 550 as the Allison transmission tow mode on my truck did most the work, and I took it slow and easy. I wish I could say the same about going over Teton Pass in Wyoming. Now that is one I would NEVER try again with a trailer! - riverssExplorerYou think that the worst is over and you have survived then wala!!! you round the turn going north coming from Silverton and there is the hairpin turn going into Ouray if you make this you are home free. flat land at last LOL
- MPondExplorer
joe b. wrote:
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Beautiful drive south out of Ouray, but not for everyone in an RV. If you have a tow, use it for your first trip and decide yourself or rent a Jeep in one of the local towns and use that. Lots of fun to get off road in that part of the world.
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This is the right answer to the question! Take the opportunity to do it without the RV first, and decide for yourself. - joe_b_Explorer IIDuring the years I lived in Ouray, I was a volunteer on the Ouray County ambulance and hauled numerous patients off of Red Mountain. One bicycle rider was coming down from the top, north bound when he decided to pass a car. His front end on the bike went into a death wobble and dumped his body on the pavement. The car stopped to help and called in for help. The car driver told me he was doing at least 55mph when the bike tried to pass him. The bike rider had a broken leg, arm and probably deposited a pound of skin on the pavement.
Then I was also a deputy sheriff and a deputy coroner for the county. In those roles I helped remove the remains of several people from vehicle wrecks on Red Mountain, both car passenger and OTR truck drivers. Some of those truck drivers are no more prepared for that road than some of the flatland car drivers, usually men. Women tend to be smart enough to recognize their driving limitations, based upon their experience and training.
One night just north of Ouray, I was on patrol duty and spotted a loaded 18 wheeler south bound on Hwy 550. Let him get to about the hot springs pool area and lite him up with my overhead lights. He told me he was headed to Durango, first trip for him over Red Mountain pass. So I asked for his trip sheet and sure enough his dispatcher hadn't routed him over Red. So I gave him the option of calling his dispatcher to get permission to go over Red or we could do a safety check on his truck, which shouldn't take over 5 or 6 hours to do. He chose to call his dispatcher. I was about 8 ft away from him and could hear the dispatcher screaming at the driver, he wasn't pleased at all. Then the driver's boss got on and he screamed for awhile and told the driver if he tried to drive over Red Mountain pass, he was fired.
This all got the driver's attention. I had found out he only had a gas station road map in his truck cab. Had forgotten his brief case with his truckers atlas, etc. Anyways I showed him which block and helped him get headed back north to Grand Junction to get on I 70. Many of the trucks running the pass are specially equipted with auto chains, built in sanders and well trained drivers that drive the route weekly, weather permitting.
I have been run off the road by truckers that were white knuckling it straddling the center line before on 550. Not fun. Sure, most people make it across safely but some don't. Many times these people only got one "opps" and they were goners.
Ouray, as of today, April 16, has a winter storm warning out for the area, including Silverton, Telluride, ect and the forecast is for an accumulation of between 12 and 24 inches of snow by tonight, with wind gusts up to 45 mph. March and April are the two months of heavy snow fall that I remember. And it takes a while to melt in the high country. Ouray is at about 7,000 ft of altitude.
Beautiful drive south out of Ouray, but not for everyone in an RV. If you have a tow, use it for your first trip and decide yourself or rent a Jeep in one of the local towns and use that. Lots of fun to get off road in that part of the world.
A sign put up by Colorado DOT at the south edge of Ouray, looking south on Hwy 550. - KavoomExplorerRest of the idiots... love it... if I am the only variable in the equation, I can control that. Others in multiplicity, not so much. It's the unknown that will get you every time. And with my family, nah...
- Thunder_MountaiExplorer II
Thom02099 wrote:
kalynzoo wrote:
DO NOT DO IT! It is a lovely beautiful scenic drive in a car. The Million Dollar highway has many small turnouts, viewpoints, and a huge memorial to those who have lost their lives building and maintain the road. It was once featured in the TV show "Most Dangerous Roads". Sharp turns (you can check your own tail-lights) steep drops, traffic rushing to get home or work, and steep grades. My knuckles still hurt from holding the steering wheel, and that was some 20 years ago. Take an extra day, go all the way around down Highway 25 and across. Then take the lovely drive to Silverton and Quaray in the car.
JMHO
^^^^^ This.
You'll get responses that it's no big deal, done it lots of times no problem, yada yada. These are generally drivers who've done it (or similar) more than once -- it's ain't their first roadeo (pun intended). However, there's a very good reason that it's continually featured as a "Most Dangerous Road". Not just what was mentioned above, but also consider that there are commercial vehicles/semis that drive this route and they will be frequently coming from the opposite direction. Flatlanders white knuckling the drive will be hugging/crossing the centre line, also coming at you. Many of these drivers are in over their heads as far as knowing what to do on a steep shelf road with no guardrails, no shoulders, and steep drop offs. Many of us have been driving Colorado mountain roads for decades, and some of us know what roads to seek an alternative if pulling a trailer or driving a motor home. This is one of them. I'll always recommend an alternative to this road for someone who's never driven it.
As always Thom's response is well stated. I'm a 35+ year Colorado mountain driver. I would do 550 on an empty road but not with the rest of the idiots on the road.
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