Estes Park/RMNP to Albuquerque

[Gene]

I think the Santa Fe bypass is 404 or is that the number telling us the server is busy, try later? Anyway, the signs say "Relief Route" since Santa Fe is too cool for "Bypass".

Gene

[nilesrob]

Greg, based on reports coming out of RMNP (major roads closed etc.), maybe now you have more time to spend at some of these other locations. Perhaps Plan B comes into play, as it will for us, since we were originally heading to RMNP this coming weekend on our way west.

[Roadtoaster]

We have elected to completely cancel this trip due to the floods. I can only imagine the misery those people are going through.

[Gene]

Estes Park, as of yesterday, was cut off except from the west and Trail Ridge Rd.—not allowing many people through that way and the Park is closed. Since snow will be coming to Trail Ridge soon, they are going to have to open at least one road to Estes from the east, but I don't know how long that will take and where the money is coming from. Many roads in the canyons along the Front Range are destroyed or compromised. Flood waters are moving east into the plains. Storms hitting Mexico may bring more moisture north soon. Since the northeast had lots of trouble obtaining relief funds after Sandy, I don't know if Colorado will get much or any help.

Western Colorado got a lot of rain, but no floods I am aware off, so roads west of the Divide and in south central Colorado are open. Greg, you could go further west and still have a good time. Brad, I-70 is open and most roads south of the Denver area seem good, though it is best to check with Colorado DOT's road conditions website.

Gene

[eubank]

The Santa Fe bypass is 599, aka the Veterans Memorial Highway (in part so named because its northside terminus is near the state memorial). When you're heading into the Santa Fe area from the north, you'll be climbing some grades and passing the Santa Fe Opera. Get into the right lane. As you top the final grade, you'll find the exit onto 599 from the right lane.

The Taos bypass is 585. We recommend it to everybody entering Taos from the east side with an RV, no matter which direction you're heading thereafter.

For those who, like us, really dislike interstate travel in cities, you can avoid a great deal of ABQ traffic by getting off of the interstate south of Santa Fe at Algodones. Get on state road 313 and follow it all the way in to Paseo del Norte, where you turn right/west. There will be some traffic on Paseo, but it won't last long. Follow the road all the way out of ABQ onto the west mesa. It'll take you to within a few blocks of Vicki's place and Camping World.


Lynn