Gunnison to Ouray to Durango CO

[Flapper]

Considering traveling through this area, towing my 30' fifth. My edition of "The Mountain Directory" makes it sound a bit tough to navigate. While not very experienced in mountain driving, I've done a little. Most notably Hwy 14 (not 14A!) through the Bighorns, and some over the coast ranges in CA. Nothing more than 6% grades before, unless it was a very brief section of slightly more...

For those familiar with the route, how "white knuckle and red hot brakes" will this be? (Yeah, I use engine braking, but with 10-15 mph hairpins....)

[MPond]

brirene wrote:
I would suggest you spend a night or two at Ridgway SP or one of the parks in Ouray and drive it without towing. You'll know pretty quickly whether you want to tow over it or not. If you decide not to, you can easily go over to 145 from Ridgway, which is a bit tamer. All depends what you're comfortable with. A great area with lots to see and do.

This is always the best answer. The experience going over 550 is different for everyone - some are comfortable towing over it, and others aren't.

I fall into the camp where I take my DP & toad over it every time I'm there, and I never get tired of the amazing views. But I'm also quite comfortable and experienced with mountain driving.

Bottom line: only you can determine if you will be comfortable going over a pass like this, based on your own experience and your rig's capabilities. If you have the time, run it first without the rig and decide for yourself.

[kohai]

I just drove this 2 weeks ago. Reading on this forum, I almost talked myself out of it but I'm really glad we drove it. I have a 35' fifth wheel and a diesel gmc 2500hd.

My thoughts:
- Yes, there are drop offs with no shoulder. BUT, the speed in those sections is 10 mph. You are going really slow. The hairpin turns are 10 mph - 15 mph. Again, the posted speeds match the conditions really well.

- People will poo poo the road, but they determine that based on their vehicles, their trailers, and their experience. I would not want to do it with an undersized truck but a good setup works just fine. My diesel truck did very well. You determine yourself if your setup will do it.

- Engine brakes are good, down shifting is good. Pulling over to let people pass is good. Experience on windy roads is good.

- It is beautiful!

- We drove it on a Sunday afternoon and traffic was light.

- There was a fugitive in the area when we got to Silverton. 🙂 Really, they had a flashing sign not to pick up hitchhikers. They caught him later that day.

[Lauren]

X2 on 2gypsies - stay at the KOA in Ouray and drive over to To Hell U Ride.

[RedRocket204]

4runnerguy wrote:

RedRocket204 wrote:
As mentioned, the alternate route that goes through Telluride is also very scenic and should be driven too. Check out Telluride too as you can ride the gondola for free between different parts of Telluride.

But be advised that taking large RV's into Telluride itself can be quite daunting. If you do decide to take the spur into town, take the first right at the roundabout. In 2-3 blocks on your right is a parking lot for RV's.

Per the specifics yes, and good catch. I suppose I was mentioning it in the sense of the general Telluride area. 🙂

But yes, I would not desire navigating Telluride with a RV attached.

[Thom02099]

Flapper wrote:
Thanks to all for the information! While I'm not terrified of mountain driving, I think it may be a better plan to take an alternative route to Durango, stay there a few days, and drive the Million Dollar Highway in just the tow vehicle.

Smart move. One thing that is seldom mentioned in the nearly weekly discussions about this drive is that there are actually 3 passes one has to go over. Heading from Ouray to Silverton to Durango, the first pass is Red Mountain Pass, and that's the one that, in this direction is a shelf road for a goodly way to the top, with drop offs in the hundreds of feet.

The next two passes, Molas and Coal Bank, aren't as difficult, and most of the way headed south you are on inside/mountain side of the road. However, there is a shelf road portion on the northbound side, and that's where you'll get a lot of white knuckle drivers, in a variety of vehicles, who never ever come to forums such as this, and will be crowding the center stripe big time.

Something you can do (anyone can, who seeks advice on this roadway), is go to YouTube and input "Million Dollar Highway" or "US 550" and you can see some impressive vids showing the drive in real time, from various perspectives. Doing it in a toad is more enjoyable for all, particularly the driver, IMHO.

[edm3rd]

tragusa3 wrote:
Old-Biscuit, I get the picture you're painting, but shouldn't properly adjusted brakes on the trailer keep all that from happening? The trailer stops the trailer...the truck stops the truck.

Your theory is correct on flat ground. Gravity and long downhill grades are a different story. Ideally, travel downgrade in low enough gear where no braking is required (saving them for an emergency). Follow previous poster's suggestion on using brakes intermittently to slow down and shift to a lower gear until you reach the "sweet spot" of no brake application required.

Very first trip to Colorado in 1980, camped half way up the westbound grade at Monarch Pass at a small USFS campground. About 10pm that night heard an eighteen wheeler with horn "tied down" and flames off of brakes headed toward the emergency ramp eastbound. Have respected mountain grades every since.

[2gypsies1]

Why not tour Telluride and leave your RV in Ouray? It's a very pleasant drive. Also, take the chairlift ride. Bring LOTS of money if you plan to do the gift shops. 🙂

[RAS43]

4runnerguy wrote:

RedRocket204 wrote:
As mentioned, the alternate route that goes through Telluride is also very scenic and should be driven too. Check out Telluride too as you can ride the gondola for free between different parts of Telluride.

But be advised that taking large RV's into Telluride itself can be quite daunting. If you do decide to take the spur into town, take the first right at the roundabout. In 2-3 blocks on your right is a parking lot for RV's.

X2 The alternate route, CO145, does not actually go through Telluride. A spur road does.

[4runnerguy]

RedRocket204 wrote:
As mentioned, the alternate route that goes through Telluride is also very scenic and should be driven too. Check out Telluride too as you can ride the gondola for free between different parts of Telluride.

But be advised that taking large RV's into Telluride itself can be quite daunting. If you do decide to take the spur into town, take the first right at the roundabout. In 2-3 blocks on your right is a parking lot for RV's.

[RedRocket204]

As mentioned, the alternate route that goes through Telluride is also very scenic and should be driven too. Check out Telluride too as you can ride the gondola for free between different parts of Telluride.

As you already pointed out, once in Durango or Ouray, just drive the Million Dollar Hwy in your TV for the experience. Stop at the turn-out for the waterfall and check it out. Both drives are must-do even if you separately do the Durango/Silverton railroad.

[Flapper]

Thanks to all for the information! While I'm not terrified of mountain driving, I think it may be a better plan to take an alternative route to Durango, stay there a few days, and drive the Million Dollar Highway in just the tow vehicle.

[BillMFl]

The drive on 550 is a must see trip. Driver has to pay close attention to the road. Passenger gets a wonderful view. Got to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. When in Durango take the train ride to Silver City. Its a hoot and the Animas River canyon is beautiful. And Mesa Verde is a short trip from Durango. Ken and Sue's is my favorite eatery in Durango.

[4runnerguy]

Yeah, when you say not very experienced in mountain driving, I'd take the route around through Telluride and over Lizard Head Pass. Lots of RV's and semis do the US 550 route through Silverton, but mountain driving experience is the key.

[Dr_Quick]

If you have Google Earth, you might try this. Go to Ouray and follow 550 highway to Silverton, then to Durango. You can see the layout of the road, and get some pictures too.
I have driven the road from Montrose to Silverton in my truck, and it is an extreme road.