Col Springs - Cortez Colorado

[DHamm20]

Going from Colorado Springs to Cortez Colorado does anyone have any advice on taking 50 or 160. Which route would be a safer ride through the Rockies?

[ppine]

Safe is a relative term in Colorado. All the roads are dangerous especially in snow and hail which can happen anytime. Stay on the major roads at first until you get used to it, which probably means Wolf Creek.

[Busskipper]

Thom02099 wrote:

DHamm20 wrote:
Going from Colorado Springs to Cortez Colorado does anyone have any advice on taking 50 or 160. Which route would be a safer ride through the Rockies?

In addition to the above suggestion, you could also take US 24 west out of the Springs up to Woodland Park and on to Johnson Village where you can pick up US 285 and go south to US 50. West on US 50 up and over Monarch Pass (good climb lanes up and not difficult down), past Gunnison and Blue Mesa Reservoir to Montrose. Pick up US 550 south to CO 62 at Ridgway, CO 62 over to CO 145, which takes you south past Telluride and up and over Lizard Head Pass.

Arguably as scenic a route as the route using US 160. Yes, this route has up/downs and twisties, but it's not difficult at all. For me, it's among the best that Colorado has to offer for scenery.

At the top of Monarch Pass is an aerial tram to a summit to the south with incredible views of the southern mountains (IF it is open - coronavirus has it probably currently closed). Monarch Pass is not a difficult pass, nor is Lizard Head Pass south of Telluride. Along the way, there's the beauty of South Park and the Eleven Mile SP area, the Collegiate Range of mountains along US 285, the aforementioned Monarch, the Blue Mesa Reservoir area, Ridgway SP, the Telluride area and on to Dolores and Cortez. Lots of places for photo ops and lots of potential stops for overnight camping, if you want to just sort of mosey over there.

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This is the option I'd Suggest - gets you into the Mountains quicker and allows you to see more of the Colorado you drove so far to see.

If you let us know where you are coming from we may be able to help even more.

RT 24 will get you to Buena Vista - Great spot with ton's to do - then over Monarch Pass to Gunnison pass Blue Mesa Reservoir - and possibly Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP then down to Ridgway/Ouray/San Juan's before taking a beautiful drive on RT 145 to Cortez.

This is a trip that should take a Couple of Weeks - there is that Much to See and Enjoy!

Link to post on similar drive to another Camper.

Hope this Helps, as this is some Beautiful Country you will be Driving through.

Best of Luck,

[Thom02099]

DHamm20 wrote:
Going from Colorado Springs to Cortez Colorado does anyone have any advice on taking 50 or 160. Which route would be a safer ride through the Rockies?

In addition to the above suggestion, you could also take US 24 west out of the Springs up to Woodland Park and on to Johnson Village where you can pick up US 285 and go south to US 50. West on US 50 up and over Monarch Pass (good climb lanes up and not difficult down), past Gunnison and Blue Mesa Reservoir to Montrose. Pick up US 550 south to CO 62 at Ridgway, CO 62 over to CO 145, which takes you south past Telluride and up and over Lizard Head Pass.

Arguably as scenic a route as the route using US 160. Yes, this route has up/downs and twisties, but it's not difficult at all. For me, it's among the best that Colorado has to offer for scenery.

At the top of Monarch Pass is an aerial tram to a summit to the south with incredible views of the southern mountains (IF it is open - coronavirus has it probably currently closed). Monarch Pass is not a difficult pass, nor is Lizard Head Pass south of Telluride. Along the way, there's the beauty of South Park and the Eleven Mile SP area, the Collegiate Range of mountains along US 285, the aforementioned Monarch, the Blue Mesa Reservoir area, Ridgway SP, the Telluride area and on to Dolores and Cortez. Lots of places for photo ops and lots of potential stops for overnight camping, if you want to just sort of mosey over there.

[BB_TX]

From Colorado Springs you can take 115 to 50 to 285 to 160 to Cortez. The only pass of any consequence is Wolf Creek Pass. But going west bound is the easier direction as the pass is longer and steeper on the west (downhill) side going that way. Easier climb but you do need to watch your speed going down. But there are two lanes going down most of the way so you can take it slow and easy without holding up traffic.