I’m going to be taking a driving vacation in and around Colorado at the middle of October.
So far, the legs of the trip are (roughly):
Colorado Springs to Gunnison
Gunnison to Arches Nation Park
Arches to Monument Valley
Monument Valley to Mesa Verde
I have a friend who’s been to parts of CO, and tells me that I should plan extra time in driving, because it’s not like driving in TX; maximum speeds are a lot lower and roads have a lot of switchbacks and curves. Makes sense, CO is a lot less flat than TX.
Can someone that lives in CO give me some ideas as to the driving times for each of my legs? That’d be a big help in planning my trip.
Also, if you can give me some idea as to the average highs and lows in those areas during my stay, it’d also be a big help. I’m planning on doing some camping and hiking.
Finally, if there’s anything in that area that I absolutely should see, please tell me. I’ve never been to CO, I dunno when I’ll go back, and I don’t want to miss anything.
I don’t know the driving times. Maybe a AAA map can help. Their estimates always seemed pretty close to me.
As for clothing, take clothes for both warm and cold. And waterproof under garments are a smart choice. Or, some dry clothes in a waterproof bag. I’ve gone camping in the high country on Memorial Day and Labor Day and it snowed on me. Once, in the middle of July, I was on St. Mary’s glacier and I drove through snow flurries on the way back down to I-70. Even those super quick thunderstorms can chill you to the bone, regardless of whether or not it snows.
My parents live in Ft Collins. Talking to Mom just this Saturday, she said there were snow warnings for 9K and above.
Even when I was rock climbing around Boulder in the middle of Summer, I would bring sweats to go over my shorts, because when the sun went down, it could get downright chilly, even if the daytime temps were in the 80s.
You should check with the NPS (National Park Service) to verify those attractions will still be open. Arches and Mesa Verde close down during winter, and mid-October is VERY late in the season. Also, many of the mountain passes are closed in winter, though I think Guanella Pass is one that remains open year round. The good news is that you’re certain to avoid all the annoying tourists.
A bit south of Moab is Hole 'n the Rock–first operating as a diner, then a home, carved directly into the cliff side.
Just north of Monument Valley (near Mexican Hat, UT) is Goosenecks (of the San Juan) State Park. Just a short detour off your route, I highly recommend this side trip just for the overlook alone.
After Mesa Verde, are you driving back to Colorado Springs? If so, definitely make the San Juan Skyway part of your route.
Like KGS said, some of these places/highways may be closed in October, so plan ahead.
I live here, and I haven’t yet gotten to the parts of the state that you mention. So I am having a jealousy attack
I really want to see Mesa Verde… when you get back, please start a thread and let us know how the trip went. With pictures, please
If you are down in that area, there is always the Narrow Gauge Railroad that runs between Durango (not too far from Mesa Verde) and Silverton. I hear the views are spectacular.
On your way from Monument Valley to Mesa Verde you can see some of the ruins at Hovenweep. It’s not as grand as Mesa Verde, but it’s sublime in it’s own way. Chaco Canyon is in the general vicinity if you’re really interested. Chaco and Hovenweep are really out in the middle of nowhere, so the visitation isn’t as heavy as at Mesa Verde and Monument Valley.
I liked staying at the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat. It’s right by the San Juan River and has a good restaurant. There’s another sort of crummy hotel up the road from San Juan Inn that has a real nice barbeque.
Valley of the Gods is a pleasant little diversion.
Monument Valley takes a little getting used to at first. Access is limited if you’re driving your own car. You can’t just wander around. You can hire guides in jeeps or horseback also. We just drove ourselves.
South of Moab is Canyonlands, but that’s a whole couple of day’s worth down there. Some spots to hit if you’re just passing through are Needles Overlook and Newspaper Rock. There’s some nice camp sites near Newspaper rock if you can get one.
That’s the problem wih projecting your driving times. I can say each leg of your trip will take maybe 4-8 hours depending on the leg but you’re going to want to stop and take in the view from time to time.
If you’re going south from Moab to Monument Valley, You might want to pick up 95 south of Blanding, check out Natural Bridges, then take 261 down through Muley Point and Moki Dugway. It’s like you’re on the the edge of the earth. You can then proceed to Mexican Hat and chow down on fry bread with chili and sleep to the rustle of the San Juan river! Damn!! where’s my car?!!
I LOVE the San Juan Skyway (a/k/a the Milion Dollar Highway). But be forewarned - many people also think it’s the most terrifying drive they’ve ever taken. Tight curves, narrow roads, no shoulders, and huge dropoffs. There are tributes up there to the snow plow drivers who have been killed on duty.
I live on the Western Slope of Colorado between Gunnison and Montrose and nothing personal but we are not fond of Texans - I don’t mean to be too critical, but you don’t know how to drive mountain roads. Definitely the Million Dollar Highway is not for you. It’s not for most Coloradans. In October it could well be especially challenging.
One thing I request is if you have more than two cars behind you pull over and let them by. Granted that’s not possible on the Million Dollar Highway. You pull over there and you’re a couple of thousand feet lower than you just were.
I would invite you to stop by for a cup of coffee or even give you a place to stay on your trek, but I’m probably going to be in New Mexico through November.
TV Time makes an excellent point. I used to live in CO, and the 'rents have been there for ages, so I’ve done a lot of mountain driving. Having the nervous tourist in front of you can be a real annoyance. Don’t go any faster than you’re comfortable with, tho. That is unsafe. On many mountain highways, there are pull over lanes periodically. They are your friend. Use them. Even tho I thought I was very comfortable driving the windy roads, I’ve still had to pull over at times to let some others go past me. Don’t be aggressive about it, just try to friendly to all the different drivers.
As for the San Juan Skyway, HOLY SHIT! I’ve driven it a few times in the Summer, and there is no way I would plan on taking it any other season. Is it even open four seasons? Remember, even early Autumn in the high country (all the way through to late Spring) can instantly turn into hazardous wintry conditions.
Oftentimes, the chain law will be in effect even along I-70, esp west of the Eisenhower tunnel. If a road is impassable, tho, it will be closed. Usually.
Remember, October in the high country CAN BE WINTER. Depends on day to day at times. Don’t worry, tho. Colorado radio and TV are very up to date and on the spot with closures and trouble spots.
Chances are, you’ll be just fine on all the major highways and the interstates. They are very quick with sand trucks and snow plows. Many of the more popular passes, like those leading to ski areas, are as well taken care of as I-70 and !-25 through Denver.
I’m not from Colorado, so this won’t be a definitive answer. I would imagine there’s always the potential for parts the road to be somewhat icy/snowy any time of the year. I don’t know what the likelihood of that happening in mid October is, but I would think the potential is certainly there.
Will you have internet access on your trip? If so, bookmark this page for current road conditions. The San Juan Skyway in particular includes (parts of) highways US 550, CO 62, CO 145, and US 160.
If you won’t have internet access, dial 1-877-315-7623 (toll free) for CO road conditions.
A couple more trivial things. As tpayne mentioned, the San Juan Skyway (at least part of it) is known as the Million Dollar Highway, supposedly because of the low grade gold ore used in the road bed.
One more thing, the northern part of the San Juan Skyway (actually, more around Lake City, which is a bit east of there, on CO 149) is the general area where Alferd Packer had his friends for dinner. I love the quote apparently spoken by the judge at the trial, “There was only six Democrats in all of Hinsdale County and you ate five of them.”
Real good chance of being much more than six inches. Granted, the last few years, we’ve been really dry, but not that many years ago I was snowed in for almost a week in mid September. But that’s why we call it the high country.
Bring an emergency kit. Don’t get macho. Everybody out here carries one or at least parts of one. They can be bought at almost any Walmart or similar store.
You asked for specific driving times, but you don’t give much on your route. From Springs there are a handful of ways to get to Gunnison. Well, to get to Salida there are a handful, to get to Gunniville from Salida you’re pretty limited to one or two (going by way of Saguache [pronounced Sa watch’] is a possibility but virtually no one goes that way).
Let us assume you will be cutting down to U.S. 50 from Colorado Springs on that road (115?) that takes you to 50 just north of Florence. From there you will cut straight west on U.S. 50. It’s freeway all the way into Canon (pronounced Canyon by the locals) - but the speed limit is 65 so watch out.
Canon to Salida (pronounced Sa lye’ da by the locals) the highway snakes along the Arkansas River. It’s been widened and banked a great deal in the last ten years but if you are not used to winding roads it could be challenging. And if you have trouble here, avoid the trek to the high country. Allow about an hour between these two towns more if you stop to watch the river, rafters or Kayakers.
Salida has some great restaurants, art galleries, mountain biking and kayaking if you like any of those things. It also has so very good B&Bs.
Salida to Gunnison about 65 miles but allow about two hours. You will be going over Monarch Pass here. It’s one of the steeper mountain passes on major highways in Colorado but one of the better maintained. The “Watch for falling rocks” in the area of this pass is for real. I once saw a car pushed off the highway and another time I had a stone strike the roof of my car and put a major sag there.
Going up to the pass will seem like a good test of your driving skills. But really, the test comes when you head down the west side. You will learn why people in the area prefer manual transmitions. It pretty much flattens out from about Sargents into Gunnison but the Highway Patrol cruise this part seriously. Gunnison can be cold even in the summer so have a warm jacket handy don’t have it packed away.
Gunnison to Montrose (pronounced Mont’ rose by the locals) about 68 miles - allow at least an hour and a half, probably two hours. three summits and a couple of canyons. At the beginning you will drive along Blue Mesa Resivour. In the old days it was a canyon and river and the highway ran down it along the river. It was a hell of a drive there. These days the roads are wide and flat for most of it. You will do a bit of climbing and a bit of descending. The stretch coming off Sapanaro and Siro summits can be especially tricky - shift down.
Half way between Cimmaron and Montrose is the turn off for Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The road is 347. This is well worth seeing. It is not at all commercial - just very impressive.
There are a lot of ways to get from Montrose to the Arches area. What way do you want to go You’ve got the northern route though Grand Junction — Very easy drive not much to see. There is the straight west route to Naturita very isolated but nice and pleasant through the middle of a forest. There is the southern cut via Ridgeway and Naturita. It is more mountainous but also the most attractive. Ridgeway is where John Wayne’s True Grit was filmed. Most of the buildings that were used in the film are still there and functioning as saloons, stores and cafes.
If you want more detail on the trek just tell me and I will continue.
I don’t know if it’s been specifally mentioned but The Anasazi ruins around the area are pretty cool if you didn’t plan any time for them. When I was a kid you were able to crawl through the little houses, but I’m not sure if that is allowed anymore, But don’t miss at least stopping by to look down the canyons at them, it’s not to often you get to see anything that old in the western U.S.
Oh and get your camera ready when you get to eastern Utah. If it’s a warmish breezy day you can seen dozens of Dust Devils. Well maybe that’s not a big deal to most people but I think dust devils are really cool, hehe a mini-tornado you can drive through.
So far, the only route I’m sure of is CS to Montrose, 115 to 50. I’m kinda playing everything else by ear, plus I haven’t looked at a detailed map. The one I’ve been using is kind of a “big picture” kind of thing.
