Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO without using Hwy 550?

[4advtr]

Wondering if anyone has driven the route from Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO? I know from experience to avoid Highway 550, AKA the Million Dollar Highway. Not sure if it even has the clearance and I don't have the balls to drive it with this rig anyway. That dropoff outside of Ouray is by far the scariest thing I've ever seen with a paved road. Keep in mind I've four wheeled some of Colorado's scariest shelf roads. Big difference in driving 2 MPH 12" from a 500' dropoff and driving it at 35-50 MPH with a Redwood in tow!

Thinking I'll have to loop around through Cortez and up 141 through Gateway to get to Grand Junction. Pluses are I've never been to Cortez and in Gateway there's a killer secret Auto Museum owned by the owner or founder of the Discovery Channel.

Thoughts and advice?

[fanrgs]

DesertHawk wrote:
Take US 160 east to Mancos, take a right on CO 145 to Telluride & on to CO 62 westward bound to Ridgway & US 550, south to Grand Junction.

I agree completely. CO 145 is one of the most scenic roads in Colorado--Dolores, Rico, Lizard Head Pass, Telluride, and the San Miguel River valley are not to be missed. You can visit one of the best Anasazi museums in the nation in Dolores, fish in Trout Lake, photograph Bridal Veil Falls, ride the gondola, and tour the Ames Power Plant (the world's first AC hydroelectric plant, designed by Nikola Tesla) in Telluride, and continue on CO 145 to Naturita and Gateway.

The Gateway Auto Museum isn't really much of a secret, just in a very out-of-the-way location. It's located there to try to attract more tourists to the golf resort built around it. Both of my car clubs have gone all the way over there from Denver for a visit.

[dkreuzen]

DesertHawk wrote:
Take US 160 east to Mancos, take a right on CO 145 to Telluride & on to CO 62 westward bound to Ridgway & US 550, south to Grand Junction.

Yep, that's the route to take. I have done both and while I didn't have any issues on 550 with the RV I did encounter Semi's on it when driving the Jeep around. The Semis would have been a serious problem if I was in the RV.

[Heisenberg]

Yes 550 had a massive rock slide near the end of the Alpine Loop on the Ouray end. It was closed during the day and was alternating one-way in the evening and night time. The road was sluffed off west side and cyclone fence type nets were up on the east side with obvious damage from falling rock. I read that the rock was still unstable above 550 and the work going on was removing the unstable rock. The demolition was going during the daylight hours. Road repair will not begin until the rock quits coming down. Getting our Jeep back to Durango we noticed the traffic was nil.

[Captain_Happy]

Keep this in mind. when I as up there in Durango last month the road between Silerton and Ouray was closed due to road rebuilding work going on. Seems like half the road slide down the mountain side, I was told.

[4advtr]

Size of our 5th wheel is also a lot of my concern. The trailers basically 42' long and every bit of 13' 6" tall. I know there's some tight tunnels on the way north to Ouray, just don't recall how much clearance they have.

I've driven down 10% grades so that's not too big a worry. I only drive fast in the flats, twisty roads and ascents/descents I'm like a Sunday driver with nowhere to be!

[rexlion]

I agree with DesertHawk; the route past Telluride should be fine for a larger rig.

[DesertHawk]

Take US 160 east to Mancos, take a right on CO 145 to Telluride & on to CO 62 westward bound to Ridgway & US 550, south to Grand Junction.

[Vette_Racer]

550 isn't a problem if you forget the 35-50 and think more about the 15-35 MPH. Use the exhaust brake, keep the gears down to second, and ease it down in the really steep stuff, don't use the brakes except now and then to make the switchbacks. I towed down from Silverton with my 38FT HH weighing 16k pulled by my Chevy weighing in at 13k GVW, 29k combined and never warmed up the brakes. It's just all in how you do it, even had time to enjoy the scenery "some".

[MaNewk]

I'm not going on these roads right now, but will be very happy to review these comments in October when I head west and north. Thanks for all you guys who are keepin' it real!

[Old-Biscuit]

Route 141 is a windy 2 lane road that goes thru canyons, follows the river and basically makes a big 'S'.

Great motorcycle riding.

I would tow my 5th wheel on it...but I LIKE driving secondary/backroads. Even enjoyed 550 several times NB/SB

[4advtr]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
YEP.........if not up to driving 550
Then 160 over to Cortez
491 to Monticello
191 to I-70 (W)

If you don't like 550 taking 141 isn't better

In what way is 141 not better? Is it just the grade or is it a shelf road highway (2 lane) with no guard rails where you drop to your death on blind corners... BTW, read sarcasm into that last sentence. I've driven 550 in a car, it was kind of spooky. Especially watching the semi's negotiate it.

[Helimech]

How about 145 from Cortez to Grand Junction?

I'm thinking of taking that route soon, Heard it's better than 550

[Old-Biscuit]

YEP.........if not up to driving 550
Then 160 over to Cortez
491 to Monticello
191 to I-70 (W)

If you don't like 550 taking 141 isn't better