padredw wrote:
Howdy, neighbor,
Much good advice here, but there are some alternatives. Going to Salida/Buena Vista we always turn at Walsenburg and take CO 69 through Garner and Westcliffe. It is not the best road, but we have never had the least bit of difficulty driving it and it saves a lot of time compared with going on up to Pueblo. A fine point, we turn off the Cotapaxi cut-off rather than going on down to Texas Creek.
On your return trip from Ouray, you have the option to take CO 114 about 8 miles east of Gunnison and come down through Saguache. The pass is an easy one and you have a long easy downhill through the San Luis Valley. You can follow 160 back to Walsenburg, but we often go on by Taos and Santa Fe before heading back to East Texas (north of Longview).
I think I know all the campsites between East Texas and Buena Vista and will be glad to share if you have interest.
We go up to Paris and take US 82 west across North Texas. It is a very good road for the most part and saves all the congestion in or around DFW. You could take US 271 up through Gilmer and Mt. Pleasant all the way to Paris. Let me know if I can help further. If so send me a PM and I'll give you my email.
Good advice - I'll never disagree with someone with this much EXPERIENCE!
Enjoy the drive and all of Colorado.
Jahnellt wrote:
We're planning a trip from East Texas to Grand Lake Colorado, down to Gunnison, then Ouray and home. We have driven the million dollar highway before and don't want to tow our RV on it or anything similar. We plan to avoid it, but are looking for advice regarding similar roads to avoid on our trip.
Texas to Grand Lake - Pueblo - Salida - Leadville - Silverthorne - Kremmling - Grand Lake - if you follow these way points you will be driving on easy roads and have a great trip to Grand Lake.
Grand Lake to Gunnison - Kremmling - Silverthorne - Leadville - Salida - Gunnison - This back track will track you over the same route and allow you to enjoy the sights and scenery you came to Colorado for.
Gunnison to Ouray - Montrose to Ouray - Easy drive - Great drive.
Ouray to Texas - Just back track to Salida - Pueblo and Home.
This will be a great trip - Buena Vista and the Collegiates - Grand Lake and RMNP - Gunnison - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - Crested Butte - Crystal Mill - Gunnison Lake - Lake City and the 4X4 trails - Ouray and the shear Beauty of the San Juan's.
If you take the routing suggested you should have a nice easy drive with a minimum of difficult passes and challenges as you drive.
Best of Luck,
