Slumgullion Pass . . . help please

[padredw]

A friend has just asked me for advice about towing from Lake City to Creede. I have been over that route many times, but never towing. I hope someone with actual towing experience, over Slumgullion Pass out of Lake City toward Creede will help me know what advice to give him.

I will appreciate your timely response.

dw

[BB_TX]

Like you, I have driven it but never towed it. I did look into it a couple years ago. And based on what I could find out, decided it was not something I wanted to do, even though there were some who said they had done it.
Beautiful drive, but at well over 11,000 ft and over 9% grade on the north side and over 7% grade on the south, I don't think I would try it with a trailer of any size.
On a couple of web sites I found was the statement "the north side has the steepest grade of any continuously paved road in Colorado".

[ole dude]

Well, how some ever, I have been over the pass both ways, pulling a 40ft toy hauler. There are some real ups and downs and sharp turns, but pay attention to what you are doing and it is a pretty ride. The road was a good road when we were there.

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

When I was younger, a LOT younger, I went over that pass several times with my dad, mom, and brother, with a 21-foot camper behind us. I can still remember some of the turns on it--pretty scary. How my dad did it with me and my brother whining over and over in the back seat "Are we THERE yet? Are we THERE yet?" is still a source of wonder to me. My dad was an expert, careful, pay-attention-to-the-road kind of driver; I wouldn't want to be driven over that pass by anyone who tended to look at the scenery rather than the road.

Carolyn

[DnDatGrdJct]

Not sure where you are coming from but have this bit of information. In early June several units left Grand Junction at the same time for a rally in Creede. Several went over Slumgullion Pass and others of us went about 8 miles East of Gunnison and took Hwy 114 to Hwy 285 to Hwy 12 to Hwy 160 to Hwy 149 and up to Creede. This route is about 50 miles further but the interesting part was those of us going the longer route arrived at the campground and had just finished setting up when the Slumgullion group arrived.

There is a fair amount of RV traffic going over Slumgullion so it certainly can be done but it is not a relaxing drive.

Dean

[DnDatGrdJct]

Not sure where you are coming from but have this bit of information. In early June several units left Grand Junction at the same time for a rally in Creede. Several went over Slumgullion Pass and others of us went about 8 miles East of Gunnison and took Hwy 114 to Hwy 285 to Hwy 12 to Hwy 160 to Hwy 149 and up to Creede. This route is about 50 miles further but the interesting part was those of us going the longer route arrived at the campground and had just finished setting up when the Slumgullion group arrived.

There is a fair amount of RV traffic going over Slumgullion so it certainly can be done but it is not a relaxing drive.

Dean

[padredw]

Thanks to all for these helpful responses. I have forwarded all to my friend.

I have also added them to my own "notebook."

[ole dude]

Dean is correct, if you are in a hurry to get from Lake City to Creede, the pass is not the way to go. Going that direction is pretty much all up hill. I remember at times we were zinging along at 40 MPH, most of the time a bit slower.