Durango to Ouray

[GoHorns]

Planning to spend a week in Ouray, Co. this summer.... coming from Texas via Durango.

Pulling a 26' bumper tow with a Dodge 1500 4x4.

I've pulled through plenty of mountains before... just not this route.

Should I re-route?

[hotpepperkid]

Parrothead Mike wrote:
I pulled our old 5th wheel from Durango to Ouray (and beyond) a few years ago. I had read about it on this forum, but when I got to Durango and had to make the final decision I opted for Hwy 550. I figured that I'd never get the opportunity to do it again and I wanted to take the challenge. I'm glad I did it and while it wasn't scary it was beautiful. Just be sure the brakes on your tow vehicle and/or trailer are in top shape. Use the exhaust brake if you have it.

I went down that mountain from Red Mt Pass to Ouray in first gear and never touched the brakes until I got to those switch backs at the bottom near Ouray. I maintained the 25 MPH speed limit all the way down

[Parrothead_Mike]

I pulled our old 5th wheel from Durango to Ouray (and beyond) a few years ago. I had read about it on this forum, but when I got to Durango and had to make the final decision I opted for Hwy 550. I figured that I'd never get the opportunity to do it again and I wanted to take the challenge. I'm glad I did it and while it wasn't scary it was beautiful. Just be sure the brakes on your tow vehicle and/or trailer are in top shape. Use the exhaust brake if you have it.

[campigloo]

Driving 550 is very doable IMO.
But what a shame to ruin what is one of the most gorgeous rides in this country. I highly recommend taking the pleasant, scenic stress free 145 route. Drop the trailer at the campground, turn around a drive it solo. Take your time, pull off the road frequently and enjoy a beautiful and fascinating road trip.

[Samsonsworld]

Last time in the area, we stayed at Lake Vallecito and drove into Durango, Silverton and Ouray. Was a really nice area.

[seagrace]

Sorry, apparently I'm not allowed to post relevant content.

[ppine]

All conversation will cease when Flatlanders drive the roads in SW Colorado.

[hotpepperkid]

seagrace wrote:
Take your time, the road is fine. Pay attention, pull out to let faster drivers by and enjoy the drive. It's not as bad as people make it out to be.

Exactly, OMG there is no guard rail. News flash there is no guard rail on 98% of the highways in the US. If you need bumpers at the edge of the road to keep you on the road turn in your drivers lic

[fanrgs]

If the OP doesn't already have campground reservations, you might want to take a look at the US50/550 section of my blog HERE.

Incidentally, I have driven US 550 more times than I can remember in 55 years of living and working throughout Colorado and I still use CO 62/145 when I tow my 5th wheel from Ridgway to Durango. But part of that is because I just love the scenery around Dallas Divide, Telluride, and Trout Lake. For me, the Telluride box canyon and Bridal Veil Falls is more spectacular than anything along US 550. But that is strictly my preference!

[patperry2766]

287/I-40 to Vega TX
385/87 to Raton NM
I-25 to Farista CO
69/50 to Montrose

[rollexx]

We pulled our 32ft Fiver from Ouray to Durango over this route last summer with no problems.
The only scary part is about a 100 yard section where it is very narrow, rock wall on one side and straight down on the other with no guard rail. Other than that it was smooth sailing.

[AlabamaTraveler]

Try to work into your travel plans the train ride from Durango to Silverton. This is worth spending one day in the area.

[one_strange_tex]

I pulled a tandem axle pop up trailer over that road several years ago. It is very scenic but somewhat challenging. Snow was still present in shaded areas at the summit of the passes in early June. My daughters, being raised in Southeast Texas, got a big kick out of that. Cliff hugging roads with sharp drop offs and no guard rails. When we drove by, they were in the processes of retrieving a car which had gone over the side and down the mountainside quite a ways. Be sure to use your gears rather than brakes on downslopes. I did throughout the passage, but got over anxious and used the brakes as we came down the last section of road into Ouray. I could smell my brakes after we parked in town.

I would not attempt it with the larger fifth wheel we have now.

By the way, as I understand it, the "Million Dollar Highway" nomer refers to the cost of the highway and not the precious metals in the rocks they had to excavate.

[CharlesinGA]

Co worker toured the Rockies a couple of years ago. Has a Dodge 3500 quad cab long bed dully with a 30 ft Avion travel trailer. He was working his way south to Durango from Gunnison Reservoir and Montrose and was just north of Ridgeway when he blew a trailer tire. After changing it, he elected to take the long way, via state rt 62/145/141 US 491/160 to Durango, rather than risk a flat on that stretch of highway south of Ouray.

If you want to "drive" it go to Google maps and select street view and cruise down it.

He got a new Carlisle Radial Trail HD installed in Durango (tire came highly recommended by the Discount Tire Store as being trouble free despite Carslile's bad reputation) When he got home he later inspected the three remaining Goodyears (all about three years old) and found knots or blisters on two of them, so they all got changed out for matching Carslile Radial Trail HD's.

He had already driven up Mt Evans and his wife was scared to death, so there was no sense pushing thing by taking 550 to Durango.

Charles

[2gypsies1]

Your post said you want to go from Durango to Ouray so it's either 550 or 145. Both are extremely scenic and 145 is easier if you're not used to mountain driving. We've done both often with our 40' motorhome. We really enjoy staying in Silverton and riding the trails.