CO Hwy 550 - Montrose to Durango

[Dave5143]

How is this route? According to the trip planner it looks like all mountain driving to me. Anybody familiar with this route? Would you recommend using it with a 34' travel trailer in tow?

[MPond]

MPond wrote:


... I didn't even build the trip report for 2015...

Ok 2gypsies & Busskipper, you got me thinking about it, so I threw together a quick report...

Summer 2015 Trip Report - Arizona, Colorado & Utah

[MPond]

Busskipper wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? 🙂

He sure must be writing a lot of code - been really quiet the last year.

Never saw anything on last years trip.

Matt - keep us in the loop - we love your adventures!

Bill

LOL - you guys crack me up! Thanks for the encouragement - could use it lately.

We've been laying low lately - only a couple shorter trips that were repeats of previous adventures, so nothing interesting to report. I didn't even build the trip report web page for 2015 like I have in prior years.

I usually plan the longer summer trips 6-9 months in advance, but life got in the way this year, so 2016 is going to be another short trip, and staying local too... Mammoth, Tahoe, Yosemite, & Pismo Beach. No complaints, but will definitely get back to planning in the fall for a proper 2017 trip.

[Busskipper]

2gypsies wrote:
MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? 🙂

He sure must be writing a lot of code - been really quiet the last year.

Never saw anything on last years trip.

Matt - keep us in the loop - we love your adventures!

Bill

[2gypsies1]

MPond: Where is your next big trip taking you? 🙂

[Busskipper]

dapperdan wrote:
We are in the planning stages of a trip next spring, part of that trip is seeing 550, it's been on my wife's bucket list for a while now. We were as close as Montrose 10 years ago and hadn't heard of this route. Now we HAVE to see it. 4 years ago we were in Cortez and drove to Durango and took the train up to Silverton.

Thanks for the link to your pictures Busskipper I wasn't so sure taking our FW on this route was so smart but it really doesn't look that bad. We've been through similar roads before without guard rails. Your pictures remind me of Going to the Sun Road, we did that one twice! (not with the trailer)

Looking forward to this trip. In your opinion is late April early May too early to attempt this route?



Dan

Look at this or this for info as the date approaches will let you know what the area looks like - but most of the time, if not all of the time the best high 4X4 passes are not yet open so check with a local to see.

To go to this part of Heaven and not get off the main road to the double track trails is just not fair, so if I were you I'd do Utah then come over when the passes clear and the Wild Flowers start to bloom. you will not regret it.

Here is another good link to many of these great areas.

Having travel all over the country this is still one of the Wildest most Beautiful areas we have ever visited. IMHO you will not drive down any road and not see things that will just amaze you.

BOL with the plans,

Busskipper

[dapperdan]

We are in the planning stages of a trip next spring, part of that trip is seeing 550, it's been on my wife's bucket list for a while now. We were as close as Montrose 10 years ago and hadn't heard of this route. Now we HAVE to see it. 4 years ago we were in Cortez and drove to Durango and took the train up to Silverton.

Thanks for the link to your pictures Busskipper I wasn't so sure taking our FW on this route was so smart but it really doesn't look that bad. We've been through similar roads before without guard rails. Your pictures remind me of Going to the Sun Road, we did that one twice! (not with the trailer)

Looking forward to this trip. In your opinion is late April early May too early to attempt this route?

Dan

[Veebyes]

Big trucks & tour buses do it every day. Did it with a large class C. No issues. Just a few places that are cliff hangers for the passenger side.

[4runnerguy]

MPond wrote:
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?

Or use the guardrail as a bumper to push you back onto the road?

Some years ago I actually got out and measured the width of US 550 in the canyon above Ouray. It was actually a few feet wider there than it was north of Ouray. (Some of those sections have been widens since.)

As is always noted, it depends on your experience. That doesn't mean taking I-70 over Vail Pass, but rather on some of our two lane windy passes. Many thousands of RV's travel that section of US 550 every year, some with long 5'ers with a trailer of ATV's behind that! So I guess what I'm saying it that it's physically possible to do it. Do you have the intestinal fortitude?

[MPond]

Busskipper wrote:
...

Rt 145 is another Beautiful Colorado Drive. Just much more relaxing and still filled with sights.

Enjoy your Adventure,

Yes - Rt 145 is a beautiful route as well, and much easier than 550... If you're not comfortable with 550, this is a very good alternate.

[MPond]

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?

[Busskipper]

Dave5143 wrote:
I had heard of the Million Dollar Highway but I hadn't realized that I had accidentally stumbled upon it in my planning.

I think I'll take a pass and bypass it.

I still have the heebie-jeebies over the Going to the Sun road at Glacier NP. Seeing those big red buses coming around the curve on my side of the road makes me nervous.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Back in the day you could drive it - we did GTTSR in a 26' GMC
Palm Beach Great drive and will never forget it - but do remember the DW did make a comment that she was glad we were on the inside - until I said you know we have to come back, to get home!

There are some great drives in the USA but just because they are there doesn't mean you should drive them if you are not comfortable - Rt 145 is another Beautiful Colorado Drive. Just much more relaxing and still filled with sights.

Enjoy your Adventure,

[Dave5143]

I had heard of the Million Dollar Highway but I hadn't realized that I had accidentally stumbled upon it in my planning.

I think I'll take a pass and bypass it.

I still have the heebie-jeebies over the Going to the Sun road at Glacier NP. Seeing those big red buses coming around the curve on my side of the road makes me nervous.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[Lauren]

This has been discussed on here many times. I also lived in CO and I have driven it many times then and since. I am an experienced mountain driver. Last Fall we stayed in Ouray and I drove it a few times and they were working on it. The construction cones were right at the edge - much of the white line gone as well - and you wondered just how strong it was with them cutting away on the side!

That being said, I would NEVER drive it with an RV!

Set aside the sheer dropoffs with little to no shoulder and no guard rails, the wild card it the other driver - coming against you taking his half out of the middle.

Thom and I usually are on here to say our piece. Some others always say the other. Most will agree with Thom and I.

[padredw]

So far, I'm with BB_TX. I have been over that road a good many times, but have decided not to tow my fifth-wheel over it. I've always managed to come into Ouray from Montrose, and Durango from Pagosa Springs.

I have also not towed over Slumgullion Pass down into Lake City, but I think this would be easier to do than 550 into or out of Ouray.

I think I've been over most other passes in Colorado with my fifth-wheel.

I have no doubt I could manage both 550 and 149 (Slumgullion Pass) but these are two I'd just as soon "pass"

[BB_TX]

A beautiful, not to be missed, drive. Many tow over it. I would not. Narrow winding highway. No guard rails. Three high passes between Ouray and Silverton.

Million Dollar Highway