Anyone travel from Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO?

[lwg]

Wondering if anyone has driven the route from Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO? I know from experience to avoid Highway 550, AKA the Million Dollar Highway. Not sure if it even has the clearance and I don't have the balls to drive it with this rig anyway. That dropoff outside of Ouray is by far the scariest thing I've ever seen with a paved road. Keep in mind I've four wheeled some of Colorado's scariest shelf roads. Big difference in driving 2 MPH 12" from a 500' dropoff and driving it at 35-50 MPH with a Redwood in tow!

Thinking I'll have to loop around through Cortez and up 141 through Gateway to get to Grand Junction. Pluses are I've never been to Cortez and in Gateway there's a killer secret Auto Museum owned by the owner or founder of the Discovery Channel.

Thoughts and advice?

[johnboytoo]

Thoughts ?
jealous !

Advice ?
take us


good luck - one of the palces on the bucket list for next year!

[Fredtp]

I am from Durango and have been over Red Mountain Pass many, many times riding as a kid and also driving. I admit it has been some years since I have been back there, but if I was inexperienced at mountain driving I would never attempt it pulling a Redwood.

[lwg]

Originally Posted by Fredtp

I am from Durango and have been over Red Mountain Pass many, many times riding as a kid and also driving. I admit it has been some years since I have been back there, but if I was inexperienced at mountain driving I would never attempt it pulling a Redwood.

I'm not terribly inexperienced at it. Have some seat time pulling the Redwood over I-70 from Grand Junction to Denver. Also out of Monument Valley to Moab where there was a 10% grade with a bridge and literally a 10 MPH right turn at the bottom... Hated that. But in general steep grades don't both me as bad now. I just gear way down, go really slow and tap the brakes as needed.

Just trying to avoid raising my blood pressure unnecessarily if I don't have to! If that means tacking on 70-100 miles I'll do it

[lwg]

Originally Posted by johnboytoo

Thoughts ?
jealous !

Advice ?
take us


good luck - one of the palces on the bucket list for next year!

LOL, we fulltime and are tired of the heat and humidity here in OK while we visit family. Wanted to make our way back through CO and UT on our way down to AZ for winter.

[atom ant]

We came down TO Ouray from the top of the state just last week, but I haven't been over Red Mountain pass for a while.

Gorgeous country - at least from Ridgeway Reservoir

[jhardin]

Atom, we stayed at Ridgeway last summer and loved it. Rode our ATVs on most passes and had a great time.

[atom ant]

I was thinking of renting some ATVs when we go back to see if we like them - a little preview

[lwg]

We're taking our Land Rover with us. Years ago did all the 4WD passes including the one that drops into Telluride by Bridal Veil Falls. Probably won't drive that one again as my wife would likely divorce me if I made her ride down that.

Really looking forward to the trip, especially as we wait here in OK for our inspection appt to come and go so we can leave. That's scheduled for Aug 5th... Waiting is killing me!