Best Route to Pagosa Springs, CO

[Parrothead]

Monday we will head out from CA to Pagosa Springs, CO. We will be at Gallup, NM on Wednesday night and then head north. Since we have never been in that area, we are not sure which is the best route to take with Monty behind us. We have GPS and have several alternative routes available. Has anyone traveled the roads from Gallup to Durango? We prefer a route without switchbacks.
Happy Trails..................................

[DnDatGrdJct]

Hello Folks,

Having traveled that route a few times my suggestion is to Just go North out of Gallup on US491 to Cortez and then take US160 East to Durango and Pagosa Springs. Recently we have been only as far East on US160 as Bayfield but no problems at all. When in that area Mesa Verda National Park is well worth a day or two.

You might want to call ahead for campgrounds as this time of year can get busy.

Have a great trip.

Dean

[HamRad]

Parrothead,
I second what DnDatGrdJct said. That is a good route with none of the dreaded switchbacks.

Good luck. We're missing you guys here at the Progressive Spring Rally.

Travel safely.

Dennis and Mary Kay

[Parrothead]

Dean & Dennis
Thank you - that is the route we tentatively had planned. We do have reservations at Gallup and Pagosa Springs.
Happy trails.....................

[simonsrf]

Hey Sue (and Ed),

In Gallup, we stayed at the Red Rocks State Park...your kind of place, scenic, quiet...and they have 50 amp power!

[ARJ]

Check out the Durango & Silverton narrow guage RR trip. Expensive but it is a great trip!

[Parrothead]

Oh, we have had that on a must see list for a long, long time. We will probably make that a day trip in July.

Robbie,
I did check out Red Rock but it is past our turnoff and that day and the next will be long days. Also since it is only an overnight, we wouldn't have TV because we don't usually set up the dish for an overnight.
Happy trails.......................

[sreigle]

Parrothead, I hope you have an opportunity to stop for at least a full day at Mesa Verde NP. If you go the route above, you drive right by the entrance. It's absolutely amazing. We used an RV Park about a mile or less from the park's entrance, on the north side of US 160. This is between Cortez and Durango. By the way, the route recommended above is the one we took.

www.geocities.com/stevereigle then 2008 postcards, then scroll to the postcards from July 14 through July 26.

[ALAN]

You might send an email to Howard & Lynda Payne at RV-Dreams.com. They worked last summer in Pagosa Springs and traveled extensively in the area.

Alan

[rames14]

Parrothead -

Just make sure you do the Silverton, Ouray and that area as a day trip. We pulled our old TT that way and it wasn't a lot of fun. There are plenty of good roads, but the million dollar highway is not the best for towing. Lots of neat things to see out there. Terrie is from Pueblo, Co originally so over the last 36 years we have probably averaged two trips a year. The Silverton area is definitely one of those must see areas. Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings, as mentioned, is really neat along with Sand Dunes National Monument. Also, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is close by. You should have a great trip. Keep us posted.