Steep Grades Colorado Springs to Moab
Hey all, Visiting a friend in Colorado Springs then headed to Moab area. Looking for route suggestions that avoid switchbacks, steep grades, and bad roads. We leave in 3 weeks. It's not that my ...
Forum Discussion
Thom02099 wrote:2gypsies wrote:
Even I-70 has extremely steep grades from Denver west. I'd recommend I-25 to CO 50 to Grand Junction. You'll have Monarch Pass which is a steep downhill but it's not narrow and it's over with fast. :) Absolutely gorgeous drive and lots to stop for along the way.
You could also take NM 550 just north of Albuquerque to NM 64 to AZ160 or at Shiprock, NM pick up 491 north to Cortez then 491 to UT 191 north.
These suggestions. Monarch Pass is not a difficult pass by Colorado standards, as there's climb lanes going westbound. There's no steep drop offs, no lack of guard rails either.
A fear of heights is not to be marginalized. Kudos to you for taking ownership of your fear and still looking for ways to travel while minimizing any risk. I think that, if you follow 2gypsies suggestion, you'll look back on it and say "that wasn't so bad after all".
By the way, we passed through Loveland on our way to Yellowstone in 2012. A fantastic looking place. Wife always said if we move, it'll be there!
