Recommended Route from Pagosa Springs CO to Montrose CO

[silversled]

Hello,

Does anyone have a recommendation on the best route?

Interested in your feedback.

Thanks,
Barry

[nrgtrakr]

3 h 36 min (166.7 mi)
US-160 W, then US-550 N

Alternate route, no white knuckles in Ouray ...
US-160 E, US-285 N, US-50 W
(much longer)

[amaier7771]

Best route is to go to Durango, and then north on 550 to Montrose. Very scenic, and most direct. However, be aware, that 550 down through Ouray, will be "white-knuckle", if you are not used to driving in the mountains without guard-rails on a two lane road. But is it s great route. If you do not want to do the "Million Dollar Highway(550)" through Ouray, then take 160/285 up to Poncha Springs, then west on HWY US50 through Gunnison. Except for Monarch Pass, this a flat-landers route with great scenery along Blue Mesa and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. If you take that route, consider a side trip from Gunnison up to Crested Butte and take the summer chair lift to the top, and hike down!!

Have Fun.......

[ghaynes755]

Scenic route, east on 160 to South Fork, then northwest on CO149 through Creede and Lake City. Then US50 west to Montrose.

[nrgtrakr]

Which reminds me ...
Just east of Gunnison and west of Parlin, Colorado Hwy 114 to Saguache, on the last crest before making the final desent to Saguache, on a clear day, you can get a better appreciation for the enormity of the Great Sand Dunes.
A similar view from Zapata Falls campground south of the Great Sand Dunes.

[silversled]

Thank you all.

😀


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[TG Twinkie]

You can also go farther west to Cortez then head north on Hwy 145 to Dolores then continue north on Hwy 145, hang a right at Placerville on 62 and connect with Hwy 550 at Ridgway. If you have the time driving both 550 and 145 will take you thru some of the most beautiful country in the USA.


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[SilverBuddha]

Silversled,
Your "best" route will depend on your intentions.

If your journey allows time for some relaxing sightseeing, I would take the same route that TG Twinkie just posted. In fact I did, just two weeks ago and loved the amazing beauty of SouthWest Colorado.

Towing a rig between (550) Silverton and Ourey was definitely not a challenge I was willing to take. I struggled with staying in my lane WITHOUT the Airstream in tow. Nope, I parked the Airstream at Ridgway State Park just North of Ouray (lot's of nice Texans camped there BTW) and then drove the Million Dollar Highway without the added stress. [ Disclaimer: I sometimes struggle staying in my lane while driving across Kansas and you could calibrate a 50 mile long straight-edge on some of those roads]

Best of luck on your journey!

[eliset123]

Just arrived back in Rhode Island after a six week trip out west. We traveled 7, 500 miles in 55 days.

One of the best camping spots was Rosey lane on the Taylor river in the Gunnison Nat Forest. Its north of Almont across from onemile campground. Fish for Trout and 18$ a nite. Rip and Barb keep the space prestine.
curecanti national recreation is nice as well between Montrose and Gunnison. All these have walkin sites.