Trip to Colorado in Feb. Need advice.

[future rs]

So I am working out the logistics of a trip I am planning for the 9th through 13th of February.

I am wanting to go the back way from Albuquerque through Ouray up to i70 and over to Denver.

Has anyone done this trip? How bad are those mountain roads during February? Is i70 well maintained during the winter months?
(I will be in a subaru or 4wd truck)



Thanks!

[iamsam]

you will definitely need your subaru or 4x4 truck. And knobby tires, and a flare gun, blankets, matches, food, etc.

[blefevre]

I70 is well maintained because it's a major shipping route for trucks. It is very busy. However, weather is unpredictable and it could either be sunny and 60 degrees or it could drop a few feet of snow in a day. It's better to be prepared.

Avoid driving to Denver on I70 on weekends. It will be backed up with ski traffic.

[Cloudbase]

I've driven it that route. The most sketchy part will be on the million dollar highway from Durango to Silverton to Ourray. The high elevation there and two lane roads make for some fun driving. Subaru or 4Wd will rock that no prob.

Stop at the hot springs and for a chocolate chip cookie in Ourray for sure.

Ourray to Grand Junction to Eagle is all low elevation and well travelled. Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel can be sketchy, but nothing either Suby or 4wd can handle.

Watch the Wx. If the northern mountains are getting hit your might want to take 285 through Gunnison and South Park or vice versa. If there is an upslope storm, the mountains are usually clear and the shit wx hits lower on the Front Range. You will literally descend into the top of the snow storm.

I'd be comfortable driving the scubie if it gets better gas mileage, unless there is a blizzard. They do occasionally close vail pass or the tunnel, if that's the case keep 285 in the back of mind as an alternate.

[future rs]

I've driven it that route. The most sketchy part will be on the million dollar highway from Durango to Silverton to Ourray. The high elevation there and two lane roads make for some fun driving. Subaru or 4Wd will rock that no prob.

Stop at the hot springs and for a chocolate chip cookie in Ourray for sure.

Ourray to Grand Junction to Eagle is all low elevation and well travelled. Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel can be sketchy, but nothing either Suby or 4wd can handle.

Watch the Wx. If the northern mountains are getting hit your might want to take 285 through Gunnison and South Park or vice versa. If there is an upslope storm, the mountains are usually clear and the shit wx hits lower on the Front Range. You will literally descend into the top of the snow storm.

I'd be comfortable driving the scubie if it gets better gas mileage, unless there is a blizzard. They do occasionally close vail pass or the tunnel, if that's the case keep 285 in the back of mind as an alternate.

Thanks. Yeah I have driven the route from abq to ouray and up to grand junction before a couple of times. ridden the Million dollar highway on my bike as well. Was really unsure of the area past that to denver.

I usually like taking the more scenic route (within reason) And I figured it would be nice seeing the snow covered mountains.

I am no stranger to driving in snow. And yes the subaru gets much better gas mileage. I will throw on some snow tires and It should be a fun trip!

Thanks for the input guys. I look forward to the trip. The wife and I are scouting out the area as a future residence.

Any suggestions on stops in denver? places we should visit? best housing areas?