Question on road conditions in April (Montrose, Ridgway: maintenance, price, food)

[Kirkrv8]

Hi Folks!
Planning on trying to travel from Montrose out RT 90 west towards Naturina and onwards to Moab, and was wondering if RT 90 usually is passable by late April?
Thanks!
Kirk

[Mike from back east]

Very high probability of that, though there are some late snows that could occur.

[Kirkrv8]

Thank You Sir!!

[DOUBLE H]

I know the Uncompahgre Plateau a tad. I've camped up there a lot in my day, but not in the last several years. Temps in Montrose by April usually are 65-70, will be cooler on the plateau. I've gone through there in mid Spring with varying results, but always has been passable. We're down on snowpack, that area included. As you're going through the Uncompahgre National Forest, before you take off on your trip, it wouldn't hurt to check with the forest service folks on Townsend Ave. (U.S. hwy 50) to get their take on road conditions. Once you get to Naturita and head west on 90, it wouldn't hurt to top off your tank there at the station with the car wash next to it. You have a good ways to go before you see another one, which would be Monticello, which is way higher in price. Moab is 55 miles north of Monticello. Naturita to Moab is about 125 miles. No services until you get to Monticello. 10 to 15 miles each side of the border the road winds and is slow going.

Keep your eye peeled for road maintenance trucks doing work on the highway when you head out west of Naturita. During the last few years the fiscal budget has been tight, and the money budget for road maintenance has been cut back a ways on western Colorado's rural roads, particularly western Montrose and San Miguel counties. I've been on those roads a fair amount this past summer and fall and in fact might be going through there as I have friends in Farmington that I might be visiting in the next few weeks.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

before you take off on your trip, it wouldn't hurt to check with the forest service folks

Good idea, but take what they say with at least a small grain of salt. Last year, early summer, I was out on the High Plains and was going up to Pawnee Buttes. The night before there had been strong thunderstorms in the area. Not even sure why it occurred to me to call the Forest Service, who controls that area. "Oh no, you won't find any standing water there, even after these storms."

Well, I had to make a 17 mile detour when I ran into...standing water that was at least a food deep.

[Kirkrv8]

Thank You again !!!
And if you do travel that way Double H if you wouldn't mind posting how it was that would be great!
Thanks and All the Best!
Kirk

[DOUBLE H]

A quick question here. I go through Naturita a couple times a year, I donated a lot of hardback fiction books and music cd's to their public library last summer. When I am in Montrose I always take the Dallas Divide west of Ridgway on SH 62 and go west on SH 145 as the road offers great views of the San Juan Mountains. I take it you have already been on this road several times and you want to go on 90 for something a little different. Am I assuming correctly?

[Kirkrv8]

I traveled 90 once and really enjoyed it, if it's how I remember it I would like to show my wife.
Thanks!

[80skeys]

Almost for sure will be passable at that time of year.

[jazzlover]

If you are referring to "old Highway 90" between Montrose and Naturita--it used to be a state road, but no longer is--it is not winter maintained. It may or may not be open by late April. So far, this has been a light winter, so it might be open by late April if the dry winter continues, but I wouldn't bet on it. The western portion of CO 90 from Naturita to Utah is a state highway and is open in winter, though it may not be plowed at night. Many secondary Colorado highways are no longer plowed at night.