Highway 149 north from Creede, CO

Going north is the easier direction as far as the climb. The there are two passes, Spring Creek Pass and Slumgullion Pass, but they are fairly near each other so it is mostly a climb up Spring Creek Pass, a little drop down the other side, then a climb the rest of the way of Slumgullion. Slumgullion is the higher of the two.
But the north side of Slumgullion Pass going down toward Lake City is very steep and twisting. Just make sure you keep your speed down, let your engine do most of the braking, and be careful to not overheat your brakes.

Are you a member of the Montana Owners Club forum?

I drove north to Lake City about 3 years ago.
Going up to Slumgullion Pass, had to slow down due to rough cracks in the pavement.
Going down hill to Lake City, used low gear.
Mostly 20 and 25 mph turns. No problems with tight turns.
Faster traffic will have no problems passing you.
Every once in awhile I had to touch the brakes a little.
Arrived in Lake City with no hot brakes.
My rig weighs about 19,000 lbs.

Watch for a sign for some water falls on the right, going towards Slumgullion Pass.
Easy pull off on paved road. Parking just off highway.
Very short walk to falls.
Good place to stop and stretch.
Pat

If you make the trip try and plan a stay at the Slumgullion Pass Campground at 11,323 feet in elevation it may be the highest Campground in the US.

Yes, I am a member of the Montana club forum.

navybanker wrote:
How difficult is the drive from Creede to highway 50 pulling a 37' fifth wheel? I see there are at least two passes around 11,000 feet. Thanks,

Did you buy that diesel to pull or to drive back and forth to work.

Jay Pat wrote:
I drove north to Lake City about 3 years ago.
Going up to Slumgullion Pass, had to slow down due to rough cracks in the pavement.
Going down hill to Lake City, used low gear.
Mostly 20 and 25 mph turns. No problems with tight turns.
Faster traffic will have no problems passing you.
Every once in awhile I had to touch the brakes a little.
Arrived in Lake City with no hot brakes.
My rig weighs about 19,000 lbs.

Watch for a sign for some water falls on the right, going towards Slumgullion Pass.
Easy pull off on paved road. Parking just off highway.
Very short walk to falls.
Good place to stop and stretch.
Pat

I did that trip in 1977 with a Chev 1/2 made it than and could make it today. Stayed in the middle of town in a nice little RV Park.

rv2go wrote:
If you make the trip try and plan a stay at the Slumgullion Pass Campground at 11,323 feet in elevation it may be the highest Campground in the US.

Slumgullion Pass CG was closed last year so may be closed this year, too.

We've been driving 149 for many years, even before it was paved from the intersection of the road out to Rio Grande Reservoir. BUT . . . have so far never towed our fifth-wheel over Slumgullion Pass. It is one of two routes we have "put off" until now. The other is the Million Dollar Highway out of Ouray toward Silverton. I am sure I could do both, but have always decided not to do so.

Creede is a favorite place for us. We first went there when we were backpacking into the Wemanuche Wilderness (though it was the Rio Grande Wilderness Area back then--name change because of a merger of two formerly separate wilderness areas.) After a week in the wilderness, we often took the road on into Lake City and Gunnison. It was pretty rough and rocky back then. Once we had a hole knocked in the muffler of our car on that road, which we had repaired in Gunnison. Now it is very nicely paved. Still a steep descent into Lake City and very tight curves.

My daughter and I climbed Uncompahgre Peak on an overnight hike out of Lake City. Great memories.

And I am still a member of the Montana Owners Club forum.

Take the previous posters advice, take you time, use good sense and you'll be fine. ( I presume you're talking about doing this in the summer. Winter is a whole new ball game.)