Going from ft garland to cortez. With 37 ft mh and 12 ft trailer. Is this a good rte

US 160 is a fine road with one major and a couple of minor passes between Ft. Garland and Cortez. The road is a US highway and is the major east west road between I-40 and I-70. On Wolf Creek Pass, the roadway is four or three lanes, depending on your direction. (The other passes are not a big deal, mainly a couple of miles long with climbing lanes in each direction.) The main thing us locals know is that you pay absolute attention to the speed limits, especially in a motorhome, and you use your gearing and exhaust/engine brake on the descents. I usually count the number of times I need to tap my brake on the descent of Wolf Creek (and by that I mean just for a second to get the speed back down under 45 mph). I try to keep it under ten times for the whole descent. A trucker went over the cliff at the next to last westbound switchback the other day because his brakes had overheated. He passed on two runaway truck ramps. It cost him his life.

East of Pagosa Springs, there is a fairly steep down hill coming from the east. Down shift in to lower gears. Take care of your brakes!Otherwise good two lane highway.

US 160 is a virtual pipeline for RVs and trucks across southern CO. Wolf Creek Pass is much steeper on the west side than the east side. So the direction you will be going you will have the easier climb, but the steeper downhill side. But there are two lanes going down the west side so you can stay right going as slow as you want without holding up traffic. Beautiful drive. Enjoy.And there are two runaway truck ramps going down if you need them. :B

Travel it a lot. Respect it for what it is. The roads have been much improved since the song was written, but still a good steep grade. Have your passenger get the camera ready down the west side of Wolf Creek into Pagosa! Some of my favorite views.

Are there any other rte. That are not as steep?

Rte 160 in Colorado | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Jun 11, 2018
Thanks Rickwellman! Thats what it looked like on the news, but not always easy to tell.
rickwellman
Explorer
Jun 10, 2018
Oops. Yes I am glad I had the wolf creek pass experience.
rickwellman
Explorer
Jun 10, 2018
We are west of it in CORTEZ. LOOKS LIKE IT IS HEADING NORTHEAST.
rickwellman
Explorer
Jun 10, 2018
We are west of it in CORTEZ. LOOKS LIKE IT IS HEADING NORTHEAST.
Mile_High
Explorer
Jun 10, 2018
Heading to Navajo Reservoir a week from now, hope that smoke is done or it will be a rough week for me.
Heisenberg
Explorer
Jun 09, 2018
On the 8th we could see the Durango smoke from Ridgway!
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 09, 2018
Aren't you glad you went that way?
Great scenery!
Mile_High
Explorer
Jun 09, 2018
How was the smoke down that way? (forest fire)
rickwellman
Explorer
Jun 08, 2018
Staying in cortez.
polly_sue
Explorer
Jun 07, 2018
Nice! Scary about the semi with burning brakes, though. Welcome to smokey Durango!

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