Million Dollar Hwy

[Dick_641]

Setting at Mesa Verde campground tonight thinking of heading to Montrose tomorrow on million dollar hwy. Anyone know how the weather is an will I have any problems pulling a 40 ft. toy hauler with a 3500 Gmc diesel?

[mikestock]

Would not like the idea of towing a large trailer or driving a 40' plus motor home. A dually without trailer was bad enough.

Did the day trip from Durango and back. A little nerve racking because there are times you are dependent on the skills and emotions of people you meet and no place to escape, especially southbound.

Met a north bound 18 wheeler who let his trailer get off the pavement on the right shoulder. A little frightening, because I knew that if he over adjusted to get back on the pavement I had no place to go but straight down. I'm still here, so he did a good job.

[Oldtymeflyr]

Having been on the 550 many times, my thought is that it just isn't for a lot of people.

I have seen motorcycles going 15 mph just barely able to stay up right because of the fear. Motorhomes, well lets just say they don't like the edge and stay away from it forcing people in the oncoming lane to outside of their lane.

Then there are the near death experiences from stupidity, I have see more than one car forced off of the road because of, well stupidity, better than a head on to go into the ditch. Big rigs are a problem, horsepower is not the issue, its just that they cannot maintain the speed, although low in a curve and coming out of a curve they cannot accelerate like a car can. cars will stack up and then someone tries to make a pass.

Go early in the morning to enjoy it.

[tragusa3]

Glad you did it!

[2gypsies1]

Dick 641: Glad you enjoyed the drive. We always have and yes, it's a beautiful trip.

[Dick_641]

Well mad it yesterday what a beautiful trip, not one problem. Just north of Silverton they had closed one lane doing repairs about 1/4 mile, met a couple of semi's got passed by a lot of motorcycles. A lot of worry for nothing just took it nice an easy.

[BillMFl]

Haha there are folks afraid of driving I40 thru the Appalachians which are foot hills compared to 550. I have met tanker semi's coming the opposite way on 550 and no problem. The road itself is just fine. A drivers nerves might not be. If you are a confident driver you should have no problem. The passenger gets to enjoy the scenery a lot more.

[Allworth]

If you feel that it is necessary to ask, then you probably should not do it! Leave the trailer in Durango and day trip it.

[TexasShadow]

An alternate route that is also very scenic is using 145 out of Cortez up to Ridgeway.
You'll enjoy the million dollar highway much more if you drive it in your toad. 🙂

[Thom02099]

Likes to tow wrote:
Which direction is best or safer? I've heard it's not so scary going north.

Depends on which section you're talking about. There's more to it than just the stretch from Red Mountain Pass to Ouray. On that stretch, headed north you're going to be on the inside. But there's also the stretches around Molas Pass and Coal Bank Pass, where heading north you're going to be on the outside with drop offs and no guard rail.

It all depends on your comfort level in mountain driving and just as important, the comfort level of other drivers you will encounter.

[3oaks]

Likes to tow wrote:
Which direction is best or safer? I've heard it's not so scary going north.

The road itself is safe in both directions.

It's a possible inattentive driver heading south and crowding the center line, I was always concerned about. Heading north, up from Durango, is the most exhilarating. You are on the outside, with very little shoulder room, looking down.

[Likes_to_tow]

Which direction is best or safer? I've heard it's not so scary going north.

[tragusa3]

We did it with our smaller truck and smaller trailer. We also tow Appalachia on every local trip we take. With that said, I didn't think twice while on 550. It wasn't the least concern. You'll be significantly longer and heavier, but with a more capable truck too.

If you have "toys" in the toy hauler, I would definitely recommend stopping in Silverton/Ouray and explore some of the off-road trails.

[Janss]

Search "Million Dollar Highway" on youtube and you can see it from someone's dashcam.

[GailS]

We drove from Montrose to Durango on the Million Dollar Highway in a 22'Sprinter Class B motorhome. We would not feel comfortable driving that route in a 40' toy hauler.