Driving 285 instead of I-25 to New Mexico: more scenic?

[BarryK123]

If you take 285, fill up on gas in Denver or Jeffco. In the Fiarplay area it's about 30 cents more per gallon.

A worthwhile side trip, not far orr 285 is Great Sand Dunes NP.

[sdlaura]

285 is gorgeous! It takes longer, and there is more mountain driving

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by sdlaura

285 is gorgeous! It takes longer, and there is more mountain driving

More accurate to say high desert driving. I can't think of anywhere 285 takes you into the mountains.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

More accurate to say high desert driving. I can't think of anywhere 285 takes you into the mountains.

Well, that's true, too, however, you get very good views of the Sangres to your east and the Brazos to the west. Also places like Antonito and Tres Piedras, out of the way places, where time seems to have frozen 50 years ago, I think are worth the drive, in and of itself.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by mike0421

Well, that's true, too, however, you get very good views of the Sangres to your east and the Brazos to the west. Also places like Antonito and Tres Piedras, out of the way places, where time seems to have frozen 50 years ago, I think are worth the drive, in and of itself.

Yeah the views are spectacular and the immediate high desert scenery is neat too

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

Thanks everyone for your responses. I figured as much that 285 would be the obvious answer for a more scenic drive though I'm not familiar with it so I wasn't entirely sure. The only interstate drive that ever really knocked my socks off before is I-70 through Glenwood Canyon and I was pretty sure I-25 wasn't the same league though I couldn't think of any intersates that are.



That alone is reason enough for me to detour over to 285. I've deinitely made up my mind . Thanks!



Yeah, I was thinking about spending a day up in Taos once in Santa Fe, I'll definitely plan on taking this route up there.

And something else to think about, on the New Mexico side, at least, while driving through this area, the dynamics of the people and the culture here. Jazzlover is the most qualified poster on this board, in my opinion, to contact about.

Very interesting article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/us...gewanted=print
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4804031

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by mike0421

And something else to think about, on the New Mexico side, at least, while driving through this area, the dynamics of the people and the culture here. Jazzlover is the most qualified poster on this board, in my opinion, to contact about.

Or somebody in the New Mexico forum, would probably be more qualified...

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

Or somebody in the New Mexico forum, would probably be more qualified...

At your service!! I lived there for 6 years, but in Las Cruces, only have experiences visiting Northern NM, without living there, but visiting on numerous occasions!

[Snikt]

Much more scenic, I just drove to Alamosa last weekend taking US 50 from Canon City and 285 south from there. I'm familar with 285 north of where I came in as well.

On the way back I drove I-25 from Walsenberg to Denver, won't be taking that way again.

I would add that 285 to Salida then US 50 over to Canon City and back up CO-119 to CO Springs then I-25 to Denver would be the most scenic route. This would only add 15-20 minutes according to Google Maps

[xeric]

Mostly I agree with these comments, but I think the entire route is very scenic (including the San Luis Valley). Also you do go through mountains when passing through the Front Range from south of Morrison to Kenosha Pass. There are also numerous passes and stretches of mountains separating the major basins along the highway. And when you aren't in the mountains, they are almost always within visual range. Santa Fe to Taos to Questa to 160 is a beautiful variation, although all-in-all I prefer cutting back to 17 and then 285 rather then taking 160 east to I25 (although the 160 part of that route is nice). Also Taos has semi-permanent traffic jams in the summer. I'm sure there is a way to bypass the main drag but I've haven't explored the area enough to know about it.