Question about Rte 160 across Colorado

[Maron]

We are planning a trip from Cortez to Walsenburg across rte 160 in Colorado later this week towing a 35' Rockwood. Anyone familiar with that route and the difficulty level?


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[Capt. Mike]

Originally Posted by Maron

We are planning a trip from Cortez to Walsenburg across rte 160 in Colorado later this week towing a 35' Rockwood. Anyone familiar with that route and the difficulty level?


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We did it a couple of years ago pulling a 34' Windjammer, going the other way, east to west. Good roads, but one very high pass along the route, just a little over 10,000 feet. I don't like heights, but this one wasn't bad...didn't feel like I was inching along the edge of the world.

Pagosa Springs is a cute little town to stop and have lunch. It is west of the pass, and by the time we got there, I was ready for a break.

All in all, not a bad trip, if the weather is good.

[Maron]

Thanks Capt Mike, i understand about heights. We crossed further north a couple of years ago and when we hit 11000+ we were crawling. Plus coming down the other side with 18 wheelers flying by was no fun either. Thanks again.


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[lmiken]

Wolf creek pass east of Pagosa Springs is a slow winding climb up over 10000ft. Wide roads on the west side. I have only done it when I had a popup. This time of year it still gets lots of snow (like this weekend) they keep it well plowed but still can be slippery. Love to go up to Pagosa Springs for the hot springs. La Veta Pass east of Alamosa can get snowy also. Check the Colorado website for road conditions and cameras (Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation).

[lbrjet]

Pass tops out at just over 10,800 feet and the final 3000 feet are a steady 6.5% grade. Not the easiest climb in CO, but not the worst either. La Veta pass will seem like a cake walk after climbing Wolf Creek.


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[jeepman71]

We have done it with an older class a gasser towing an HHR. Lavetta Pass isn't bad, Wolf Creek is a little steep and windy but not bad. The rest of the drive overall is nice and great scenery.

[tstanger]

Watch the weather. I came through there in September and it was snowing pretty heavily a few miles on each side of the pass. I was going to hike up and camp overnight at the hot springs but not in 5 inches of snow. Didn't think to bring snow boots.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by lmiken

Wolf creek pass east of Pagosa Springs is a slow winding climb up over 10000ft. Wide roads on the west side. I have only done it when I had a popup. This time of year it still gets lots of snow (like this weekend) they keep it well plowed but still can be slippery. Love to go up to Pagosa Springs for the hot springs. La Veta Pass east of Alamosa can get snowy also. Check the Colorado website for road conditions and cameras (Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation).

Hit Wolf Creek Pass in early June some years back. Found they do not plow snow they use graders to push it off the side of the mountain. I did it with a 30' TT. I'd like to do the trip again ~~ US160 from KS to Las Vegas pulling the 5er. My wife said once in a lifetime was enough.

[txredfish]

I drove from Walsenburg to Durango one time pulling a TT. Wolf Creek Pass was the only issue. I did not like that. Going up the pass toward 10,000 feet, I had my peddle to the metal going about 35 mph and that was all the speed I could get. But I made it. Coming down, use a lower gear to slow you down and do not ride the break. Coming back 160 East, I turned south at Pagosa Springs, took 64 east to I25. Much easier drive. If I had it to do over again I would not take 160 over Wolf Creek Pass. I would use hiway 64 from I25 to Pagosa Springs.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by txredfish

I drove from Walsenburg to Durango one time pulling a TT. Wolf Creek Pass was the only issue. I did not like that. Going up the pass toward 10,000 feet, I had my peddle to the metal going about 35 mph and that was all the speed I could get. But I made it. Coming down, use a lower gear to slow you down and do not ride the break. Coming back 160 East, I turned south at Pagosa Springs, took 64 east to I25. Much easier drive. If I had it to do over again I would not take 160 over Wolf Creek Pass. I would use hiway 64 from I25 to Pagosa Springs.

I did not have power problems ~~ it was rain at the bottom that froze with snow on top. BUT ~~ we made it!!!