Living in Cortez, CO and surrounding areas (Denver, Colorado Springs: for sale, apartments)

[Native to CO]

Hello,

I recently was Offered a position near the four corners area, the NM side. My options for living are farmington area or Cortez/Durango area. I am really interested in living in Cortez b/c Durango would be a farther commute. Any Ideas how I can find out about rentals in COrtez? All I can find is housing for sale and I do not want to buy a house. Any help is appreciated.

[Idunn]

This is hardly a definite list, but five references to apartments in Cortez:
Cortez Apartments for Rent - Find Apartments in Cortez, CO

As not local to the area I can only presume it is a fairly small market, certainly compared to Farmington, NM, although surely less expensive than Durango. If actual houses, there may be possibilities as well, but I didn't check. Once on the ground you'll probably quickly gain an idea of what exists, whether one would actually want to live there (not being incidental), and of course word of mouth, which always helps.

Good luck.

[Dogmama50]

You could try the newspaper classfieds: The Cortez Journal | Cortez's home-page for breaking news, weather, sports, local events and entertainment
You may also try craigslist, not sure if it would fall under Farmington listing or Western Slope, Colorado listings

[Native to CO]

Thanks so much IDunn and Dogmama 5050,

I don't really want to live in Farmington, I have been there and it is pretty ugly (or at least the parts I have seen).

Anyone live around cortez/four corners area? How are the roads? I will be driving down to Shiprock, NM and wondering how bad roads get during winter?
Thanks!

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Native to CO

Thanks so much IDunn and Dogmama 5050,

I don't really want to live in Farmington, I have been there and it is pretty ugly (or at least the parts I have seen).

Anyone live around cortez/four corners area? How are the roads? I will be driving down to Shiprock, NM and wondering how bad roads get during winter?
Thanks!

There is no way I would set myself up for a commute from Cortez to Shiprock. There is a lot of traffic on that road for a two-lane highway. Unfortunately, drunk drivers are a pretty big issue, too. Locally, the road has a pretty grisly reputation. I drive that road pretty infrequently, but twice I've seen very serious accidents, both likely caused by drunk drivers. One involved multiple fatalities.

[Native to CO]

Yikes! I know they re-name the road b/c it was Rt 666. What about the other road into shiprock? I think is is Rt 64. I think no matter what, this area has a high rate of drunk driving, I also read somewhere that the state of NM was making improvements on 666 road?

[DOUBLE H]

U.S. 64 into Shiprock, then to Farmington and Bloomfield is a four laner, I've been on that road several times. The road was renamed U.S. 491 in 2003, I believe. New Mexico was behind it I believe. Wikipedia has an interesting overview on U.S. 491, and it's tie-in with the old Route 66, and it explains the why's and the reasons/opinions behind the change. I'll just leave it at that.

It's been a few years since I've been on 491 going down to Gallup, but yes, there are a few stretches there where some four laning has been done. It's just as dangerous on that stretch as it is between Cortez and Shiprock. Regarding Jazz's comments on the surprising heavy traffic, he's right. A casino built down there a few years ago and it looks like it pulls in a fair amount of business form Cortez and probably Durango folks as well.

Where they've been at paving wise the last couple years there I'm not sure, getting away from the DUI situation it's a fairly pretty drive down there though. You just have to be awful careful.

[Josseppie]

Just curious. I have never been on that road. When you say it has a lot of traffic are you talking about I-25 between Colorado Springs and Pueblo traffic or I-25 between Colorado Springs and Denver traffic or I-25 between Denver and Fort Collins traffic or highway 50 from Pueblo to Canon City traffic or Highway 50 between Pueblo and La Junta traffic or what? Im just not sure what you mean by a lot of traffic and wanted to know. Thanks

[Native to CO]

I would also like to know how bad traffic is? I am coming from Parker, CO so I know traffic!!!! Is rush hour bad? Is there a rush hour?? I think anything might be better than commuting from Parker into denver. Also wondering about the snow? Are the roads cleared?

[Idunn]

If not having spent a huge amount of time in the Four Corners area, I've never thought the traffic was all that bad. Not in comparison to sitting seemingly forever in a creeping standstill through Denver on I-25.

As for having an unfortunate encounter with someone who will later hopefully be cited for at least a DUI, then yes, possibly a problem. Time of day should have an influence on that, but if constrained by the limits of commuting then a consideration.

With due respect to the Navajo Nation, I can think of better places with scenery, certainly other areas of that large reservation. Driving down to Shiprock, NM from Cortez, CO is a two-lane exercise in bleakness. From Shiprock east into Farmington, NM isn't any better, and in my estimation a whole lot worse, because if the natural scenery has not much improved aside from now a few Cottonwood trees, highly compromised with a good example along the roadside of the creativity of mankind in just how ugly they can construct things. Those favoring decrepit strip shopping malls and abandoned industrial sites should love it. But perhaps I exaggerate.

What is more certain are four lanes divided two on either side of an often economy-size median of whatever happens or will grow in that parched place. A lot more traffic than near Cortez as well. Ideally the commute one would ride in the back of a limo for, so as not having to deal with the depressing landscape, and fatigued from watching for all the incoming traffic from myriad side roads, businesses, etc. Although if you could find a limo anywhere in northwest New Mexico, then probably vacant and for sale, or perhaps occupied by some oilman, as the only one wealthy enough to consider anything more than a pickup truck a commuting conveyance.

Rush hour? If not having exactly fully experienced it there, I'm inclined to think nothing on par with the front range. If for no other reason than you'll probably still be moving, and not at a dead stop or crawl. Only you might feel as much with the string of stop lights in trying to get in or out of Farmington. Shiprock will feel a relief in comparison, and basically anything south, west, or north of there pretty open country.