Western Mountain Directory- Questions on some passes
Some of you out west or others that may have driven over some of these passes, please share with me if I'm being a little too cautious in not wanting to travel over or should I say, down some of these passes.
New Mexico:
1. Cloudcroft Hill- on US 82 between Alamogordo & Cloudcroft, NM
2. NM HWY 104- east of Trujillo, NM
3. NM HWY 3- S. of Villanueva, NM
Arizona:
1. US HWY 89 ALT.- between US 89 & Cottonwood, AZ
2. HWY 260- between HWY 87 & Camp Verde, AZ
3. US HWY 89 ALT.- between Flagstaff & Sedona, AZ
These are a few that jumped out at me. It's one thing to read about them and another to drive down on them, so any insights will be helpful.
In New Mexico Hwy 3 and 104 are fine, no major passes, fairly good roads. Hwy 82 however, is a steep 18 mile 6% grade going east then a fairly gentle decent down the other side. I just went over it last month. However I did east to west with no problems.
John,
I would not tow a trailer on Arizona 89a, as it is a very narrow road with tight hairpin turns. I have done it twice with a trailer and the problem is if you meet a trailer or large motorhome coming at you you may have to stop and let the other one through. That said it is a beautiful drive and you should do it with out the trailer.
I have done 260 with out the trailer a long time ago (17 years), however reading my mountain guide it could be OK if you take it easy and use engine braking going down hill. It looks like a good road with 45 mph curves, but no run off area.
If you don't already have it pick up a Mountain Directory for truckers at most truck stops and Camping world.
1. US HWY 89 ALT.- between US 89 & Cottonwood, AZ
2. HWY 260- between HWY 87 & Camp Verde, AZ
3. US HWY 89 ALT.- between Flagstaff & Sedona, AZ
All of these roads are able to be traveled with a trailer. I would caution you to contact the AZ Hiway Patrol for inclement weather road conditions. We have had several low elevation storms pass through AZ lately and I know the mountains have gotten quite a bit of snow. Hwy 89A is usually the first one to get closed along with I-17 south of Flagstaff. Often chains are required by law.
I've traveled quite a bit of this scenic state and the only place I would not take a trailer is a place that I just did last weekend, a 5 mile an hour, white-knuckle ride. Avoid the Apache Trail and Fish Creek Hill from Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Lake.
Brad
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
I've pulled all three with no problems. Hwy 82 I've pulled for 13 yrs. now. (Lived in Cloudcroft for a spell ) When coming down, (west) just gear down and take your time, you'll be fine. In 1966 our family came down that slope pulling a HR when it was DIRT and NO GAURDRAILS! Oscar
PS Cloudcroft got 16" of the white stuff last night, we got about 5" here! Another 1-3" expected here tonight. A white Christmas for SNM.
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