SW Colorado travel question -

[okgc]

We are looking at a September trip to visit primarily three National Parks and the four corners. We have yet to add Gunnison National Park, Mesa Verde and Great Sand Dunes to our life lists.

Map looks like we could stay on national highways by heading south from I70 on US-50 to Gunnison and then south on US-550 to Durango area.
US-160 then looks to be a decent East West road to travel to Mesa Verde and Four Corners. US-160 also goes east toward Great Sand Dunes NP.

We usually try to keep it simple with our MH routes and put a bunch of miles touring with our HHR.

Suggestions and or comments on this route.

[paulj]

The one time I drove into Telluride (from Moab) I was intending to camp at the town park. But everything was full with a festival - something like Blue and Brews. So I just drove to the east end of town to get a good view of the switchbacks coming down the mountain, and then back to the highway, and south a bit, and took a FS road up to Alta Lakes - this was in a sportute, a 2 man tent size 'RV'. Remnants of a tropical storm passed through, so we had a wet and windy night, along with a nice rainbow over the cliff. Some B&B attendees had a much wetter night, coming up from town in the middle of the night only to find their tents blown over.

My plan was to drive some of the easier jeep trails. On a previous trip I'd taken a pickup from Silverton to Ouray via Animas Forks. But with the rain I decided it was wiser to stick with paved roads, so looped around to Ouray, Silverton via 550 and Durango, spending the next night in Cortez (and back into Utah).

[JanTx]

As a former Coloradoan, I have been over most all those roads and as for me, I usually avoid the 'touristy' towns,, ie,, Telluride,,, where all the richies have homes and hang out,, Oprah,, Kevin Costner,, et al,,,but I MUST recommend the Gunnison area and the camping between G and up toward Almont is superb. There are nf campgrounds all along the road/river that are delightful,that is unless you are of the type that have to have full hookups. The end of the paved road,,,Taylor Lake,, is a great little fishing spot where you can rent a small motorboat, or canoe,, etc.. very uncrowded and cool. course after school starts lots of places have cleared out save for us retired travelers so all is good. Just saying

[JanTx]

As a former Coloradoan, I have been over most all those roads and as for me, I usually avoid the 'touristy' towns,, ie,, Telluride,,, where all the richies have homes and hang out,, Oprah,, Kevin Costner,, et al,,,but I MUST recommend the Gunnison area and the camping between G and up toward Almont is superb. There are nf campgrounds all along the road/river that are delightful,that is unless you are of the type that have to have full hookups. The end of the paved road,,,Taylor Lake,, is a great little fishing spot where you can rent a small motorboat, or canoe,, etc.. very uncrowded and cool. course after school starts lots of places have cleared out save for us retired travelers so all is good. Just saying

[padredw]

I am a newcomer to this forum, so this post may be too late. Anyway, it's worth a try. I agree that your decision NOT to tow from Ouray to Silverton is a wise one--one that I made myself less than a month ago.

BUT . . . if you are planning to turn at Ridgeway, I would strongly suggest that you drive on down into Ouray before making at turn. It is well worth a visit. We stayed there in July at the Ouray RV Park, right on the river, but there are several possibilities, including a state park at Ridgeway. If you could make an overnight in Ridgeway, you could drive in to Ouray for a visit. Not that there is any problem with towing into Ouray from the North--absolutely no problem. The problem is will towing in or out to the South on 550.

[Lauren]

We will be going back - once again - to that area this fall. We stay at the KOA in Montrose for the Black Canyon and will be staying at Mesa Verde RV Park for the first time - have friends who have been there and recommend it. We have atayed at Alpen Rose in Durango, the KOA in Cortez and Priest Gulch - all are very nice but Priest Gulch is pretty much in the middle of no where. It is was north of Dolores - about 40% the way to To Hell U Ride - so maybe close to 30 miles to Mesa Verde (it is 19 miles from Dolores to Mesa Verde). Have also heard that Dolores River RV park is nice but no personal experience.

[sgrizzle]

Riverside RV was great! We stayed there for four days last summer next to the river. It was so peaceful! Our kids and dog loved it!

[campigloo]

We went through that area in 09 and stayed at Durango Riverside RV. Really nice owners/managers that kept the place real nice. It had easy in/out level spots and close to Durango. I highly recommend the train ride from Durango to Silverton. If you go, the enclosed cars offer a coal dust free environment. That day, a couple of little boys showed us two moons! LOL

[enblethen]

We stayed a two locations.
Elk Creek Campground in the Curecanti National Rec Area . This campground has hook ups and dump station. This is farther east on the Blue Mesa Reservoir.
The other was at Black Canyon Gunnnison National Park south entrance. Campground had electric. Fair road climbing into canyon rim.

[okgc]

One more request. Any suggestions / recommendations for camping closer to Black Canyon - Gunnison National Park.

Thanks

[littlemo]

There is a beautiful RV Park in Dolores, CO. The Dolores River runs through the middle of it. It is about 15 miles north of Mesa Verde

Priest Gulch RV park

We only stayed one night here since we were on our way home. I would like to go back and stay longer.

The drive to Telluride is really nice too.

Soak in the mineral pools in Ouray at dusk. It is like you're in a bowl surrounded by mountains.

Ride the train from Durango to Silverton

[paulj]

Players killed in N.M. car crash

Other than being the same highway number, this crash has nothing to do with the Colorado drive. The crash was in New Mexico, 80 miles north of Albuquerque, 130 miles south of Durango. This is a relatively flat and straight 4 lane highway. It was single car roll over, at night, a long drive. And those who died were not wearing seat belts, and were thrown from the car.

[okgc]

East on 160, I heard Mesa Verde RV Resort is also quite nice. Looks like Alpine Rose and Mesa Verde RV are only about 40 miles apart.

Above a couple posters said we should avoid Colorado US-550 with MH and now I see that 3 football players died traveling Utah US-550 last night.

[jtovosr]

Alpine Rose Campground in Durango, use this as your base camp & drive your car to Silverton, Telluride & Ouray.

[okgc]

Thanks to everyone. We will take the advise and skip Ridgway to Durango with the MH. That stretch of road was my biggest question mark.

Also thanks for the "other spots" not to miss. We plan to be in the area for 2-3 weeks so I will look these up.

RVParkReviews certainly shows a bunch of campgrounds to choose from in Colorado. Anyone have favorites we can fit into on our route?