Highway 285 vs 160

[chilaili]

I have a few more questions that came up today:

1) A friend has said that going down 285 is the "slow way" and it would be faster and more scenic to go I-70 and then US 50. I've already decided I do NOT want to take US 50/550 south but I was just curious. Anyway, if it does snow in the mountains that weekend, we'll be going home via Walsenburg

2) Any good places to stop for lunch or coffee along 285?

3) According to Mapquest taking 285 would be about 7.25 hours and going I-25 and then west along 160 would be just under 8 hours - any thoughts on that?


Thanks!

[CDDave]

A common thought...but it's not so. 285 is faster...I-70 to 50/550 are two sides of the triangle...285 is the hypotenuse. Sure you can rip roar on I-70 and in good weather it is probably close...but it takes a good 30 min just to get through Junction (take the Clifton cut-off to be sure...it's east of Junction and brings you onto 50/550 south of town...you can Google it). But when the weather's good, the same thing sorta applies on 285. I do Silverton to Denver is 6 hour flat. From Durango over Wolf Creek, to Center, up the Gunbarrel (285 south of Salida) and 285 up to Denver is also a flat 6 hours. And this is driving "intelligently", not speeding unreasonably. On 285 your biggest speedbump is getting through the relatively small town of Montrose. Watch for wildlife, cops on 285, and enjoy.

As far as eats...that I don't know much about. There's a place in Johnsons' Village (south of Buena Vista, where 285 turns) with a restaraunt, coffee, bathrooms, etc. but I don't stop much. Gunnison has the normal host of fast food (McDs and Taco Bell...etc). Ouray has good food, but can be pricey.

Going I-25 is the absolute longest route (unless you go through Utah, or Wyoming, or North Carolina...). And boring...flat, hot, windy at times...

The roads are awesome right now. Even if the weather's bad, it either doesn't stick or doesn't stick for long. Molas and Coal Bank have been dry pavement for a while now..motorcycles (and bicycles training for the iron horse) are on the road...

[chilaili]

Thanks so much - that's all really helpful

[DOUBLE H]

Chilaili- in the thread about the young lady from northern Utah inquiring about the roads to Albuquerque, the one state highway I did not mention for logistical reasons was state hwy. 145 over Dallas divide and then Lizard Head pass. As it sounds like you are not bonkers about Red Mtn. pass, Lizard Head pass is doable. Denver to Grand Junction-four hours. Grand Junction to Montrose-one hour. Montrose to Ridgway-30 minutes.

HERE is where the San Juan mountain range shows its stuff, towards the east, and south. Hwy. 62 out of Ridgway westbound curves around the San Juans and you are looking at them up close and personal. This particular mountain range rivals Pikes Peak as the most photographed mountains in the state. The road has a couple dropoffs, but it's not bad at all! 62 dead ends at hwy. 145, which goes through the small towns of Placerville, Sawpit (my favorite name for a town). Once you get near Telluride, 145 curves in front of it and ascends up to Lizard Head pass (note the Lizard Head at the right). It has GREAT mountain views of several 14,000 mountains, and unlike Red Mtn. pass, it is an easier drive. You do have a fair amount of curves coming up the pass. You have various areas to pull off for picture taking, and you'll take a fair amount. Coming down the pass ain't bad at all. I'm guessing the grade at maybe 5%. Rico is an old silver era town, and the drive to Dolores on 145 is easy. Cortez is 11 miles south of Dolores.

[DOUBLE H]

Chilaili- a quick note on the eats dept! Johnson Village is all right but if you want to go a little further, keep going south to Poncha Springs, then backtrack maybe 4 miles westbound to Salida. There are several real good restaurants there on hwy. 50. The Country Bounty is my favorite, very good food.

Or you can go over Poncha Pass on 285. No restaurants I know of in Villa Grove, but a couple in Saguache. Been a long time since I've been over Poncha, maybe JL or one of the other posters has a suggestion here. Up until 5 or 6 years ago there was a cool restaurant next to the Phillips 66 in Poncha Springs at the 50/285 junction that had real good food, but closed. If someone has moved in, give a look at it. South side of hwy. 50.

Next town down the line is Monte Vista, 40 miles south of Saguache. GREAT mexican food restaurant just outside the city limits, name of the restaurant
escapes me.
Hope this helps.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by chilaili

I have a few more questions that came up today:

1) A friend has said that going down 285 is the "slow way" and it would be faster and more scenic to go I-70 and then US 50. I've already decided I do NOT want to take US 50/550 south but I was just curious. Anyway, if it does snow in the mountains that weekend, we'll be going home via Walsenburg

2) Any good places to stop for lunch or coffee along 285?

3) According to Mapquest taking 285 would be about 7.25 hours and going I-25 and then west along 160 would be just under 8 hours - any thoughts on that?


Thanks!

I avoid I-70 like the plague, if I can--too many fools. Going to SW Colorado from Denver, US285/US160 would be the preferred route I would take. I-25/US160 is OK, too, but not quite as scenic. Drive times are pretty accurate. I-70/US50/US550 to Durango would likely be even slower for most drivers.

As to restaurants, I agree that the Country Bounty in Salida is good, but has gotten overpriced in the last year or so. If you go via I-25/US160, I heartily recommend the El Charro in Alamosa. It is a "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant in an old house on S. 6th St. in Alamosa. Great "New Mexican" style food at very reasonable prices.

[DOUBLE H]

Thanks for joggin' ze ol' memory on El Charro in Alamosa, JL. Great food is correctamundo.

I'd like to disagree about the prices at CB, but really can't. Still a good place, though. I will say this, though. It is getting harder all the time to find a small mom and pop restaurant doing all 3 meals and staying open 12 hours or more a day More and more of them doing American food do breakfast and lunch only anymore, sadly.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Chilaili- a quick note on the eats dept! Johnson Village is all right but if you want to go a little further, keep going south to Poncha Springs, then backtrack maybe 4 miles westbound to Salida. There are several real good restaurants there on hwy. 50. The Country Bounty is my favorite, very good food.

Or you can go over Poncha Pass on 285. No restaurants I know of in Villa Grove, but a couple in Saguache. Been a long time since I've been over Poncha, maybe JL or one of the other posters has a suggestion here. Up until 5 or 6 years ago there was a cool restaurant next to the Phillips 66 in Poncha Springs at the 50/285 junction that had real good food, but closed. If someone has moved in, give a look at it. South side of hwy. 50.

Next town down the line is Monte Vista, 40 miles south of Saguache. GREAT mexican food restaurant just outside the city limits, name of the restaurant
escapes me.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Sadly my Mum dislikes Mexican food (I try to tell her that's just 'cos she had one bad meal and now thinks it's all like that) but I think we'll manage.

[jodyr]

No contest: 285 has IMO superior views.

[80skeys]

Remember that 50 and 550 are two separate highways once you get past Montrose.

In Montrose, 50 goes due East. 550 goes due south.

50 goes east and eventually can be connected to 285.

Originally Posted by chilaili

I have a few more questions that came up today:

1) A friend has said that going down 285 is the "slow way" and it would be faster and more scenic to go I-70 and then US 50. I've already decided I do NOT want to take US 50/550 south but I was just curious. Anyway, if it does snow in the mountains that weekend, we'll be going home via Walsenburg

2) Any good places to stop for lunch or coffee along 285?

3) According to Mapquest taking 285 would be about 7.25 hours and going I-25 and then west along 160 would be just under 8 hours - any thoughts on that?


Thanks!