texas to colorado

[shadoow]

we'll be making a trip from Granbury, TX (a little SW of Fort Worth) to South Fork, Co. Am interested in any suggestions on roads/routes. We'll be towing a 5th wheel pulled by a diesel truck.

[edm3rd]

BB_TX wrote:
We go to South Fork every summer pulling a 5er. Similar to above except from 287 we take I-40 to Vega (west of Amarillo) and take US 385 north toward Dalhart. I think a little easier as you do not have to get thru Amarillo except on the interstate and you miss going thru Dumas.
Two passes. Ration Pass is not bad. A little tug the last mile or so near the top.
La Veta Pass west of Walsenburg is a little harder but really not too bad.
If you prefer to skip the passes you can stay on I-40 until you can cut up to Santa Fe and on up to Alamosa. A little farther but not much.

I also strongly recommend taking Vega (I-40 x-36) to Dalhart. NO fighting Amarillo city streets and traffic. NO slow drive thru Dumas.
Virtually no traffic Vega to Dalhart, and I seem to remember 3 lanes in a few hilly sections. Fuel up in Amarillo for lower prices. Distance is about 232 miles Amarillo-Vega-Raton, versus 218 miles via 285/Dumas. Well worth the 14 miles difference.

[shadoow]

DesertHawk wrote:

By the way, Shadoow. Being originally from the Valley (RGV), I would think your location wouldn't be South Texas. Seems much more North Texas too me. Ha!

Good catch. I had forgotten to update when we moved a couple of yrs. ago. All is fixed now.

[DesertHawk]

Oh, Yes. Down from Alamosa on US 285. The Cumbres Toltec Steam Train at Antonito is a neat one. Heron Lake State Park, Chama, Train Photos

Trains go from Antonito & from Chama. Last year we did a 1/2 way trip from Chama. Years ago we did a full trip from Antonito. Price of the ticket includes a very large lunch at the halfway point.

:h By the way, Shadoow. Being originally from the Valley (RGV), I would think your location wouldn't be South Texas. Seems much more North Texas too me. Ha!

I looked up Granbury. From there, it seems I would work my way to Weatherford & TX 171 to US 281 to W/Falls, then US 287 west.

[shadoow]

many thanx all for the great suggestions. With all the info you folks provided our trip planning should be pretty easy; just the way i like it!!

[kgarrett9999]

I live in Weatherford and I like going through Santa Fe and then up to Pagosa Springs. From there South Fork is a short drive but you do have to contend with Wolf Creek Pass.

I've always done the trip in my SUV without a TT. This year will be my first time to pull a TT through Colorado, but I bought a new tow vehicle for the job.

North of Santa Fe are several casinos that would make a good overnight spot. I've always made it all the way into Pagosa Springs with plenty of time to spare, but like I said, I've never done the trip towing anything.

[TyroneandGladys]

I agree with Desert Hawk having lived in Southern Oklahoma and Amarillo and going to Southern Colorado many times. I would add two suggestions of places to stay and things to see Palo Duro Canyon State Park and instead of continuing North on I25 from Trinidad to Walsenburg take Highway 12 the Highway of Legends Camp at either Trinidad Lake State Park Or my choice Monument Lake.

[dan-nickie]

Seems that the route was covered well by DesertHawk.
As a fellow DFW'er, I say get to Colorado any way you can.
We went last year and plan on it every summer now to escape the heat.
Unfortunately, a new grandchild kept is from going this summer and we are dreading the hot months coming up.

[BB_TX]

We go to South Fork every summer pulling a 5er. Similar to above except from 287 we take I-40 to Vega (west of Amarillo) and take US 385 north toward Dalhart. I think a little easier as you do not have to get thru Amarillo except on the interstate and you miss going thru Dumas.
Two passes. Ration Pass is not bad. A little tug the last mile or so near the top.
La Veta Pass west of Walsenburg is a little harder but really not too bad.
If you prefer to skip the passes you can stay on I-40 until you can cut up to Santa Fe and on up to Alamosa. A little farther but not much.

[DesertHawk]

I believe I would take US 287 (Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Dumas) to US 87 (Dalhart, Clayton, Raton) to I-25 N to US 160 (Walsenburg, Alamosa, Monte Vista).

Enroute Sites & Sights:

Could take a detour, somewhat Southwest of Quanah: Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway would make a neat place to check out. One I would like to see.

Ditto, Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah sounds pretty cool. But not much of a detour for it.

Dumas City Park north of Amarillo. Or the Amarillo Welcome Center

More overnighting along US 287 between Dallas/Fort Worth Area to Amarillo.

In New Mexico. Between Clayton & Raton is the Capulin Volcano Nat'l Mon't.
A Neat Place. ------ But no Camping

Near Clayton, Clayton Lake State Park. Never been to it, however.

Sugarite Canyon State Park by Raton is a neat area.

On return trip, one could drop down to Sante Fe via US 285 S from Alamosa.

Lot of neat things to see & do in the Santa Fe Area in New Mexico

Using US 285 S from Santa Fe (off I-25) will take one to I-40 E, then back to Amarillo & US 287.

I-25 N (Just East of Santa Fe) just pasted the US 285 exit, in the Glorieta Pass & Pecos Area: Civil War Battlefield and Pecos Nat'l Historic Park, the remains of an Indian pueblo.

Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, NM, Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path.

Near Santa Rosa just Off I-40, Santa Rosa Lake State Park would be another nice place to overnight. Never been there myself.