Best Rt Estes Park Co. To Durango Co

[gilmorj]

I want to travel from Estes Park to Durango with the least mountain driving as possible. I have a 40 ft Holiday Rambler with exhaust brakes. I have done very little mountain driving in Colorado and I understand some places can be nerve racking. Looking at taking I25 to Walsenberg, Co and taking 160 thru Wolf Creek Pass.

[manholt]

gilmorj.  Welcome to the Forum!

Hwy. 285 to 160 or go back to I-25 .  If your not short on time, go to I-70W to Moab exit, Hwy 191 head for Monticello, then take 491 to Cortez and turn East on 160 to Durango.  My recommendation is Hwy. 285S...been up and down in 34' gasser to 45DP.

How did you get to Estes?

Carl

[hermanmullins]

gilmorj,

Getting back to I-25 from Estes Park is not too bad and the drive down to Walsenberg is just a few steep grades. Walsenberg to South Fork is a piece of cake. Wolfe Creek Pass is another story. You will encounter steep grades, a tunnel and some Hair Pen turns. After that it isn't bad on through Pagoso Springs then into Durango.

There is a beautiful RV park in Pagoso Springs, Wolf Creek Run. They are a bit pricey but what they offer is top notch. Their Hi and Howdy time is great and their Continental Breakfast is to die for.  

And might I quote Carl, "How did your get to Estes?"

Herman

[manholt]

I always let folks experience Wolf Creek Pass, some are looking for a Bar after, some think nothing off it.  I enjoy the scenery!  That breakfast is to die for, big problem is the reservation at park. 

[hermanmullins]

Wolf Creek Run is an owner's park with just 27 spaces, all concrete pads and roads. Also right on the river. Plus great and friendly folks.

Herman 

[rsbilledwards]

Carl has the answer for the flattest drive and least mountain exposure. Good job Carl, all those truckin years payin off for everyone else...

 

Bill Edwards

Evergreen, Colorado

[manholt]

Bill E.  What trucking years?  I'm a retired Drilling Consultant, also, known as "Oil Field Trash"!   Not that I have anything against truckers or anyone who works/worked for a living!  We all had to do something to make ends meet.

[obedb]

Probably confused you with me because you spell like a trucker?.

[obedb]

Estes Park to Durango but don't want to drive in the mountains?

It has been claimed for decades that 74% of all land in the US above 10,000 feet is in Colorado. Skeptics are now claiming that it it is only 56% because Alaska and Hawaii weren't states and GPS did not exist. Let's deal with those numbers.

I have misplaced some calculations done awhile back so I will go from memory. All of Colorado's mountains exist in the area west of I-25. I remember my calculation to be somewhat below 2% of all land in the 50 states. 

Old retired trucker that loves mountains and the roads that get me there. 

[gilmorj]

Thanks for the info. I came up I25 and cut over on 36 and it was a easy drive. I'll probably just take 25 to 160 and thru Wolf Creek. Herman, I am Jim Gilmore, I know you from Mckinney, Tx. We met at Hilltop Storage several years ago. I had an insurance agency and sold it a few years ago. We talked several times while you did some maintenance on your rig.

[manholt]

Jim, Small world...Herman will be in Shawnee, OK for FMCA 6 State Rally in September....

Byron, as I said earlier, your vacationing in the wrong part off the country!  But, I got to leave the cool mountain, Monday morning, so I also will be sweating!

Carl

[tbutler]

We just left Durango this morning.  Actually we stayed at Ancient Cedars which is right at the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.  There were plenty of places available there.  We couldn't find a campground in the Durango area.  We were about 30 miles from Durango.  Took the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, what a great experience.  Mesa Verde was a fantastic experience as well.  Enjoy.

[hermanmullins]

Tom, we stayed in a small park north of Durango several years ago. Went into Durango to a Bar-B-Que Restaurant. The young lady that served us was not only from Texas but was from McKinney, Texas where we lived at the time. Another RVers "Small World Moment".

Durango to Walsenberg,  what a beautiful trip. We may just go back next year.

Herman

[manholt]

Agree!  A friend from Phoenix has been at Mesa Verde RV Park for the past month, across from entrance to the park.  Took the Railroad 4 years ago, an all day'er and well worth it...so is the one out of Chama. 

I have always felt that if your in the Mountains, it's because you want to enjoy the weather and view's...I figure that if an 18 wheeler can make the run, so can I... There are a few exceptions to my rule, but their on the East Coast.  

[rsbilledwards]

Yup confusion reins in old minds just before bedtime. I did have you Carl confused with Obedb,  my apologies.  BillE 

[manholt]

We figured you did ! No, apology needed...  I think Byron, after he got his Degree, realized that to get on the open road, beat a desk job anytime! 

Carl

[obedb]

Herman forgot to tell Jim Gilmore about Laveta Pass.  It turns into a hard pull before you top out at a little over 10,000 feet, but the descent into the San Luis Valley is gentle. Piece of cake even for fraidy cats. Have seen herds of Elk well off the road in the late afternoon.

The San Luis Valley is the largest alpine valley in the world. At 7500 feet and up, the nights have always been cool in the summer months when I was there, and I was there a lot. Loaded salad spinach all summer and into the fall. Lettuce and organic carrots ship late summer. Potatoes ship from the fall all of the way through the winter. Speaking of winters/ bitter. I have seen 12 below early winter. Record is at least 40 below. Keeps the riffraff out.

Before we changed plans ( a big mistake )  and decided to stay east, Alamosa was going to be our first stop in Colorado. I hope we make it next Summer.

[manholt]

Byron.  If you don't, we may never travel together... I suspect that, sooner rather than later, we will have a luxury tax on RV"s!  Every Socialistic Country has one, with the exception of Sweden and a modified one in Norway!  Something to think about...