Heading out West again for 2016

[Grizz-506]

Looking for some information or suggestions from someone that has pulled a 5er across the Million Dollar Highway (Rt 550) in Colorado. I have seen pictures of it but can't seem to find any information on the % of grade the hills are. I'm not to worried to much about the curves. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[hotpepperkid]

jamway wrote:
We did Hwy 12 in Utah before we joined this forum so didn't know we were supposed to be scared so we were not.

We then drove the 550 Hwy and were disappointed because we were not scared at all. Almost all the folks on those two roads acted like they had many active BRAIN CELLS so no problems.

Tell me I have to drive through the D-F-W- area and I am scared to death every time.

We did 12 in Utah a bunch of years and my wife was behind the wheel (her turn to drive)I keep asking she wanted me to drive but she said she was OK. I didn't have the mountain directory to scare the **** out of me. We did US 550 but I drove, not a big deal. Yea there were a few tight turns and no guard rail in some places. Just pay attention and stick to the speed limit. First time was from Durango to Montrose and I went down the hill for Red Mt pass in first gear at 25mph (which is the speed limit) and never touched the brakes until we got to the S turns just before Ouray

[jalichty]

hitchikerman, It certainly would be easier to come in from the north entrance than going over Sylvan Pass out of Cody, however, it might take you a little longer to get where you want in the Park. If you are parking at Fishing Bridge you have to go quite a ways through the Park from the north entrance to get there while you drop right down to the Fishing Bridge area off of Sylvan Pass.

[Veebyes]

Done it both ways with a 30'C. Easy. Easier than Alaska's TOW & California's hwy1 N of San Fransisco, most of that done with 34' 5er.

If the big trucks can do it, so can you.

[zb39]

hitchikerman wrote:
We plan on making the trip to Yellowstone in June-July and was wondering if it would easier to take 90 up though Montana instead of going straight across via though Cody

I have gone this route many times in 40' DP pulling a toad. NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

Enjoy the drive it is very scenic.

[IdaD]

High mountain roads with big dropoffs are a dime a dozen in the intermountain west. They're no harder to drive on than any other road, although the consequences of being inattentive can be substantial.

[jamway]

We did Hwy 12 in Utah before we joined this forum so didn't know we were supposed to be scared so we were not.

We then drove the 550 Hwy and were disappointed because we were not scared at all. Almost all the folks on those two roads acted like they had many active BRAIN CELLS so no problems.

Tell me I have to drive through the D-F-W- area and I am scared to death every time.

[ReneeG]

Grizz-506 wrote:
Looking for some information or suggestions from someone that has pulled a 5er across the Million Dollar Highway (Rt 550) in Colorado. I have seen pictures of it but can't seem to find any information on the % of grade the hills are. I'm not to worried to much about the curves. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you haven't seen it, here's a Youtube on Ouray to Silverton. You'll notice I this video, a lot of trucks.

[ReneeG]

agesilaus wrote:
Thousands of RVs make that drive every year, so it isn't that dangerous. But it has what rock climbers call exposure, you feel like it is dangerous. Mainly because you can see too much for some people. Especially if you are not used to that sort of road. 7% grade is just about standard on mountain roads and Hwy 12 in Utah has a 15% grade section and thousands of RVs make that trip every year.

If you feel nervous about driving a road like that, then don't. You might do something silly out of inexperience.

I was inoculated at an early age. We lived in Tucson and my father used to take us to Nogales and other spots like Tombstone. And that road was a rail-less and very steep road. You could see a number of crushed vehicles littering the slope.

I doubt that road exists anymore.

Comparing Utah Hwy 12 with 550 is like comparing apples and oranges. We've been on both and 550 is to be respected, as they all are actually. I'm not saying you aren't respecting it but it is definitely not for the newby mountain pass driver or one who is afraid of such drives. Being afraid can lead to costly mistakes. For us, it's one of those passes that if there's an alternate, we take it. We live in Idaho and go over passes frequently just for weekend camping, but we also play it safe too. When we go from our home to the Jackson, Wyoming area, we drive up through Alpine Junction, going around Teton Pass. Why? Because there's another viable route that would make our driving must more enjoyable.

[Mote]

Grizz-506 wrote:
Thanks for the information.Not to worried about hairpin turns and and drop off's, mostly the grade. Took Rt 14 from north of Sheridan to Cody, WY last year. It got pretty harry around Shell.Lost my brakes due to over heating, lucky there just happened to be a pull-off there. I will pick up a copy of the Mountain Directory (West).
Thanks again for the info, Happy Trails.

We took that same route to Cody last September. That was crazy steep and curvy. At least it was for this Hoosier who is used to flat land. It was a pretty drive thou. Our brakes were pretty hot at times going down even thou I had the transmission in first and was trying to limit brake use.

[padredw]

Thousands of RVs make that drive every year, so it isn't that dangerous. But it has what rock climbers call exposure, you feel like it is dangerous. Mainly because you can see too much for some people. Especially if you are not used to that sort of road. 7% grade is just about standard on mountain roads and Hwy 12 in Utah has a 15% grade section and thousands of RVs make that trip every year.

It's mostly in the head! It's funny how differently we perceive things. In all these years traveling the mountain West, I've never felt comfortable towing our fifth-wheel between Silverton and Ouray, though I have driven that route many times.

By contrast, I had no hesitation whatsoever about Utah 12, and have recommended it many times as one of the best drives in America--and my experiece was towing a 34' fifth-wheel. It was a delightful experience and I felt totally confident.

Now for the confession: my wife insists she will stay in Ouray if I set out to drive the Million Dollar Highway with our fifth-wheel. I think that's the real reason I haven't yet tried it.

[hitchikerman]

We plan on making the trip to Yellowstone in June-July and was wondering if it would easier to take 90 up though Montana instead of going straight across via though Cody

[Searching_Ut]

These forums are of great insight in learning the differences in how people perceive danger/risk in different situations. Roads like the million dollar highway have never bothered me, and in my years of off road driving I've encountered truly exposed routes, and situations and always thought they were just fun and exciting. On the other hand, put me in LA, NYC, Chicago etc traffic while towing and I'm all white knuckled and thinking I'm a goner any moment, while it appears many worried about roads like the one discussed here have no concerns at all about driving through the scary cities they drive through in route.

[agesilaus]

Thousands of RVs make that drive every year, so it isn't that dangerous. But it has what rock climbers call exposure, you feel like it is dangerous. Mainly because you can see too much for some people. Especially if you are not used to that sort of road. 7% grade is just about standard on mountain roads and Hwy 12 in Utah has a 15% grade section and thousands of RVs make that trip every year.

If you feel nervous about driving a road like that, then don't. You might do something silly out of inexperience.

I was inoculated at an early age. We lived in Tucson and my father used to take us to Nogales and other spots like Tombstone. And that road was a rail-less and very steep road. You could see a number of crushed vehicles littering the slope.

I doubt that road exists anymore.

[ReneeG]

i'm looking in the Mountain Directory West - for 550 south of Ouray and Silverton is Red Mountain Pass - It states, "motorhome and RV drivers may want to take this road but should be advised to use caution. The northbound descent from Red Mountain Pass into Ouray has numerous sharp curves, steep grade, and in many places almost no shoulder at all before the edge of the mountain. The northbound descent from the summit of Red Mountain Pass toward Ouray is listed by the Colorado Dept. of Highway at 7% and more. The descent begins with a 25 mph speed limit. During the first 3 1/2 miles there are at least ten hairpin turns with the speed limits of 10 and 15 mph. the speed limit then goes to 40 mph with curves and then to 55 mph with curves. The grade eases and you think the hill is over but it's not. After about 2 1/2 miles the lesser grade there is a truck warning sign and the speed limit goes back to 25 mph. The next 5 1/2 miles are back to about 7% grade with constant 10, 15, and 20 mph hairpin turns. There are two tunnels, one is very tight and there is no room to swing wide because of vertical rock walls or vertical drops. The grade and hairpin turns continue all the way into Ouray, 12 1/2 miles down from the summit. " This is just part of what's in the book. Based on this. we traveled south to Ouray, left our RV at the KOA there and took our TV into Silverton and various areas south for sightseeing.