Golden to Gunnison Co

[smiledr]

Looking for a recommendation for the best route from Golden to Gunnison. We are 25 feet not towing anything. Also, any must stops on the way? Is their a length restriction for the south rim road at Black Canyon of Gunnison

[4runnerguy]

Thom02099 wrote:

Yup! Durango & Silverton Railroad is a must see. Multiple ways of doing it. I've always done the train up and back, but one can also take a bus back from Silverton if you don't want to re-trace your steps. I find much to see in both directions.

Also, Mesa Verde National Park , not too far from Durango and good for several days. One caveat...it's deceptively large so plan on several days to see what needs to be seen.

The train isn't running to Silverton this year. Only as far as Cascade. Interesting trip if you're into trains, but not being to go all the way to Silverton means missing some of the best scenery anywhere.

As for Mesa Verde, none of the Cliff Dwellings are open and the visitors center/museum are closed. You can drive the main road and see the cliff dwellings from some pull outs, but I wouldn't think you'd need more than a day.

[Thom02099]

smiledr wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. We went with Thom’s route and Monarch Pass. Thanks much for the tip of South Park City, the family enjoyed that. Next stop Durango and Hwy 550. Any more suggestions?

Yup! Durango & Silverton Railroad is a must see. Multiple ways of doing it. I've always done the train up and back, but one can also take a bus back from Silverton if you don't want to re-trace your steps. I find much to see in both directions.

Also, Mesa Verde National Park , not too far from Durango and good for several days. One caveat...it's deceptively large so plan on several days to see what needs to be seen.

[smiledr]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We went with Thom’s route and Monarch Pass. Thanks much for the tip of South Park City, the family enjoyed that. Next stop Durango and Hwy 550. Any more suggestions?

[Busskipper]

There you are - two of the Colorado Experts have given their sage advice - After reading just try to decide - ................- No Wrong Choices.

If you have the time, try them all, then report back.

If you are really Lucky try all these in the last 10 Days of September - the Aspen will sure reel you in to just Loving Colorado, and all the options it will offer.

Best Of Luck,

[southernsky]

following

[4runnerguy]

Comments on the recommended routes:

I-70 vs. US 285:

I-70 can be quite busy. Avoid leaving Denver any time after 4:00 p.m. and skip altogether Friday through Sunday. Tunnel is at 11,000'. Fremont Pass is at 11,300'. The climb from Copper Mountain to Fremont Pass has a passing lane virtually the whole way. Quite scenic, but you have to go over two significant passes.

US 285 can also be quite busy on weekends, but the traffic thins out after Bailey. Kenosha Pass is under 10000' and a much easier grade than the tunnel approach on I-70. Trout Creek Pass, just before Buena Vista, is almost imperceptible coming from the east.

You'll see more higher mountains on the I-70 route, but the scenery on US 285 isn't bad either. South Park is a huge intermontane basin best viewed from the top of Kenosha Pass.

Cottonwood Pass vs. Monarch Pass:

Cottonwood Pass is 800' higher (12,100') than Monarch. Far more switchbacks also. It is a bit shorter distance, but longer drive time.

Both passes have great views from the top. Traffic is easier to deal with on Monarch as there are fewer curves and more passing lanes. Also, as Cottonwood Pass was only recently paved all the way over the pass, it has become a very popular and busy route. I somewhat prefer the scenery from the top of Cottonwood Pass to Gunnison over that from the top of Monarch Pass into Gunnison.

No matter which route you select, one somewhat obscure stop worth taking is at Cimarron. Turn right where the sign says Train Exhibit/Morrow Point Dam. It's just over a mile drive (paved road) back to the dam. You'll essentially find yourself at the bottom of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison although further upstream than the NM. Kind of a different perspective. If you're into old narrow gauge railroad cars and engine, stop and poke around at the Visitors Center. I don't think they open the building anymore, but the outside exhibits are open. Nice CG there for an overnight. We've been there a number of times. Rarely fills, or if it does, it's not until the evening.

Yes, you can drive on the South Rim Road with your rig without issues.

[Busskipper]

smiledr wrote:
Looking for a recommendation for the best route from Golden to Gunnison. We are 25 feet not towing anything. Also, any must stops on the way? Is there a length restriction for the south rim road at Black Canyon of Gunnison

Thom is usually Spot on with his recommendations, but I'll venture at a much more scenic and IMHO Interesting Route.

Out of Golden head out RT 6 and follow Clear Creek to I-70 this is MY Welcome to Colorado Drive Tunnels shear walls of the Canyon and Clear Creek - on a good two lane road - Hard to Beat!

Now follow I-70 through the Tunnel to RT 91 to Leadville, Not a bad little drive that gets you to 10,000' in Leadville I-70 is easy enough and IMHO is actually pretty spectacular.

RT 91 to Leadville is not steep and is a pleasant Drive - when you arrive you have many options as to how to get to the Gunnison and Blue Mesa Reservoir - South on RT 24 past Twin Lakes - you could take an extra day or two and drive Independence Pass to Maroon Bells and Aspen returning to finish the drive to Gunnison.

Here's were it gets really hard to decide - Cottonwood Pass, newly paved that would allow you to get to Crested Butte then on down to Gunnison proper - or Monarch Pass on directly to Gunnison on RT 50.

So many choices........one thing for sure every choice will yield a good result, issue in most cases is just not enough time, to see and do it all.

MAP of Route through Crested Butte

MAP over Monarch Pass

There you go - then when you are tired and in a hurry to get back to Golden/Denver, take Thoms route Home, if that is Home. 🙂

Sorry Thom, as it is rare that I would disagree with your suggestions, it would just be down the list a bit for Me to go RT 285 while quicker and if on a weekend might even be faster, but just not enough of COLORADO for Me. - 🙂

JMHO,

edit - we did the north side in July and there were many RV's over 24' even saw a large class A so there should not be a problem with your 25'er.

[smiledr]

Thanks for the response

[Heisenberg]

At Buena Vista one can now go across a paved Cottonwood Pass and get to Taylor Res. and Gunnison. It is one of the finest drives in Colorado.

[ppine]

Colorado is one of the best states to wander around in and find your own special spots. Lots of public land to camp on and plenty of things to see everywhere.

Way too many people end up in places like Rocky Mountain NP, jammed in with thousands of other people. Have the courage to strike out on your own.

[Thom02099]

smiledr wrote:
Looking for a recommendation for the best route from Golden to Gunnison. We are 25 feet not towing anything. Also, any must stops on the way? Is their a length restriction for the south rim road at Black Canyon of Gunnison

Do you want scenic, or "get there"? If you want scenic, here's a suggestion.

From Golden take CO 470 southbound from I-70 to US 285 south. 285 will take you through the foothills suburbs and once you get to Pine Junction/Bailey area becomes more scenic. From Bailey you're in a valley and climb to Kenosha Pass at about 10000 feet, then drop down into South Park. Great photo up at the summit of Kenosha, there's a parking area to get some shots of the vast valley below.

US 285 continues across South Park and through Fairplay. There's South Park City in Fairplay COVID Info on SPC which is a great recreation of the old west in Colorado, and is, to me, worth a stop an a few hours.

US 285 continues on to Antero Junction where US 24 meets up. Continue on US 285/24 to Johnson Village. From there you can explore Buena Vista, and if you want a place to stop, there's multiple good camogrounds/RV parks in that area including the KOA at Johnson Village.That's actually a good place to set up a base and explore that region if you've got the time. Rent a Jeep and take some side trips up and over Cottonwood Pass and explore the Taylor Park area.

From Johnson Village go south on US 285 to US 50. You can explore Salida near by that junction. Then take US 50 west to Gunnison, which takes you up and over Monarch Pass. At the top of that pass is an aerial tram that takes you to a summit on the south side of the pass with amazing vistas of the mountains to the south.

At 25 feet, shouldn't have any problems with any of the suggestions and finding parking. Not aware of any length restrictions at Black Canyon, but you can check their site at Black Canyon of the Gunnison for more info.