BillMFl wrote: Little village of Marble has a great bbq joint and a scenic campsite on the river right off 550.
Sorry, but Marble (with its BBQ joint) is over by McClure Pass near Aspen/Carbondale. Must be thinking of another trip.
Sheesh, I'm getting too old! Thanks for catching my mistake.
To be more specific Marble is on Hwy133 near McClure Pass in northern tip of Gunnison County as you head south toward the Black Canyon NP. I camped on the canyon rim a few days before heading south on 550. I'd spent some time in Aspen before heading south to Durango and used 133/92/50 going to the canyon SW Rim. Of course 50 becomes 550 after Montrose. Its all rugged and scenic out there and in just two years my brain moulded the whole trip into one day!! Must have been those scary South bound drop offs and O2 deprivation on Independence pass and Red Mountain Pass (both over 11,000 ft). haha
PS: IMHO Ken and Sue's is the best place to eat in Durango!
Order is illusion. Chaos is reality. But right or wrong I'm still the captain.
BillMFl wrote: PS: IMHO Ken and Sue's is the best place to eat in Durango!
BillMFl - If you like BBQ, try Serious Texas Bar-B-Q in Durango. We first ran across it quite some years ago and was well worth waiting in the line at lunch. We're quite happy that they opened a shop near my brother in Loveland, so we can get our fix there now, too.
BillMFl wrote: PS: IMHO Ken and Sue's is the best place to eat in Durango!
BillMFl - If you like BBQ, try Serious Texas Bar-B-Q in Durango. We first ran across it quite some years ago and was well worth waiting in the line at lunch. We're quite happy that they opened a shop near my brother in Loveland, so we can get our fix there now, too.
Thanks for the tip. I sure eat my share of BBQ. Ken and Sue's has a more fancy menu but still affordable. We like to mix it up. Love the Mama's pancake breakfast at Cracker Barrel when we are rolling on interstates. I have a son who lives lives in the Denver area so we try to get out that way every other year or so. Last trip over we took the "Oh My God" dirt road from Central City over to 70 and we had a fantastic gourmet lunch at a funky little place near that old gold mine tourist trap on the right as you head towards Loveland. What a surprise. Wonder if its still there? Oh and my son lived in Leadville for one year. Said he thought it snowed every day for the whole year. haha
BillMFl wrote: PS: IMHO Ken and Sue's is the best place to eat in Durango!
BillMFl - If you like BBQ, try Serious Texas Bar-B-Q in Durango. We first ran across it quite some years ago and was well worth waiting in the line at lunch. We're quite happy that they opened a shop near my brother in Loveland, so we can get our fix there now, too.
While we're on my favorite subject!...I'll second Texas BBQ, and Gazpacho New Mexico Restaurant was excellent for Mexican (New Mexican?) cuisine!
jolooote wrote: BBQ ??? What ever happened to MY POST QUESTION??? LOL
We just didn't want you to starve!!
Limited amount of NFS CG's in this area. North of Durango and south of Silverton, Haviland Lake NFS CG. Some of the sites have electric but no hookups otherwise. Pit toilets. Sites are lake front. No dump station. Nice setting and nice views, but somewhat of a drive into Silverton.
Near Silverton, South Mineral NFS CG is a first come, first served CG with pit toilets and a few water spigots scattered through the CG. Arrive early to get a spot. Great views and good access to Silverton area.
Near Silverton, there's also several popular boondocking spots where hundreds of RV's congregate every night. A couple have pit toilets but no water. Other than the private parks in Silverton, there are no dump stations in the area. We usually spend a week every year camping near Silverton.
Near Ridgway, many speak highly of Ridgway SP, but we've never stayed there. Do a search here for lots of info as to which campgrounds and sites people like best. Do a search on Ouray for info on the private CG's there. Great hot springs pool in Ouray -- has amazing views all around. Last time we were there, we watched a bear on the hillside on the other side of the road for half an hour.
South of Telluride, Matterhorn NFS CG has four sites with full hookups. While the other site have no hookups, there are showers in this CG, unusual for NFS CG's in CO. There are several 4x4 trails from this area heading east over the mountain to US 550 and the Silverton area.
South of Matterhorn CG is Cayton CG. We've never camped there, but some sites have electricity and there is a dump station. Some are fairly out in the open, but at that elevation, heat generally isn't a proplem.
Near Dolores, there's a great little NFS CG near McPhee Reservoir. I think four have FHU and maybe a dozen more have electric. There is a dump station there. Visit the Anasazi Hertiage Center a couple of miles down the road.
There are a few more CG's around Haviland lake north of Durango and in the Rico/Telluride area, but most are smaller w/o any hookups.
I am just kinda watching this a little and wondering the same thing - what happened to the question that was asked????? !!
The 550 question is debated over and over. That is why I suggested Search. But you will get information overload. Long and short of it is that is is good road but also severe dropoffs with no guard rails (mainly southbound) and traffic - accordingly - tends to take their half our of the middle. Including the trucks.
Not for me, but there are those who swear by it. Or at it.
The alternate which many people use is Lizard Head Pass. Doing it south to north take the 160 west from Durango to the 184 to the 145 to the 62 to Ridgway. Rolling hills sweeping curves - beautiful! And no heart failure.
IMHO ---------- BTW, I no nothing about BBQ's along the way. :-)
DW of 50 great years, Barbara
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2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
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jolooote wrote: BBQ ??? What ever happened to MY POST QUESTION??? LOL
When I was a younger man, I ate to live. Now I seem to live to eat! And RV of course. And you got lots of good advice on 550. White knuckle for many but gergeous drive. Discovery Channel featured it as one of America's most dangerous roads. Glad I drove it before I saw that show. There are lots of rusted out wrecks down in the gorges. One DOT grader operator went over the edge and lived to talk about it.
Lauren wrote: I am just kinda watching this a little and wondering the same thing - what happened to the question that was asked????? !!
The 550 question is debated over and over. That is why I suggested Search. But you will get information overload. Long and short of it is that is is good road but also severe dropoffs with no guard rails (mainly southbound) and traffic - accordingly - tends to take their half our of the middle. Including the trucks.
Not for me, but there are those who swear by it. Or at it.
The alternate which many people use is Lizard Head Pass. Doing it south to north take the 160 west from Durango to the 184 to the 145 to the 62 to Ridgway. Rolling hills sweeping curves - beautiful! And no heart failure.
I have been wanting to visit Telluride soon, so thank you for this trip route!
I've been wanting to visit Telluride next fall. That looks like a good route. Thank you.
IMHO ---------- BTW, I no nothing about BBQ's along the way. :-)
* This post was
edited 05/03/12 11:59pm by BillMFl *
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