Planning our summer trip to Taylor Reservior Colorado. Can anyone give me some information on Highway 24 from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista, CO. Easy pull or hard pull with 5th wheel?
Right, a piece of cake. We live about half way between the Springs and BV. Leaving the Springs you'll climb from about 6300' to 8600' in Woodland Park, about 16 miles west. That's the longest all-uphill pull,
but thousands of trailers do it every Friday during the season. We just pulled our 10,000 pounder up it a few hours ago with our diesel.
After that, it's 7 miles to Divide and the top of Ute Pass, about 9500.
Then 8 miles downhill to Florissant, 8400, then about 30 miles of flat
running to Hartsel, except for an easy climb west of Lake George to the
top of Wilkerson Pass, only 9500' but one of the most beautiful views
in the country.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Forest Service decided it would be a good idea
to destroy the view by building a small, mostly closed, visitor center
that totally blocks the view from the large parking lot. But they made up for it by pouring a postage stamp size viewing platform on
its backside, giving you the opportunity to view the fourteeners across South Park and into Chaffee County while simultaneously being blown, snowed on, frozen and rained on.
Just pass it by and go maybe a half mile down hill. There's a pulloff on your left that will let you have the view from your TV.
Twenty-five miles later you'll come to Antero Junction's stop sign. You'll turn left and climb maybe a mile, can't remember the name of that pass, but it's mostly downhill for about 13 miles into Johnson Village, where you'll see a large prison on your right. Turn right
at the traffic light. BV is three miles further.
I think it's 38 miles from BV across Cottonwood Pass to Taylor Park. Don't think I'd want to pull anything over that. I like this guy's website. clicky
Don't fail to drive on up 24 to Leadville. Great history there and one of the highest towns in the country.
Have a great trip and enjoy our mountains!
'11 Eagle 320RLDS
Equalizer WDH
'02 Ford F350 dually, unchipped 7.3 PSD, PacBrake,
6.0 cooler, Ford AIS and Isspro trans. gauge
Replaced old AirLift airbags
That area of the world is our fav in the summer. Have been going to Teller County since the mid '70s. Have reservations in Woodland Park 6-15. so many trails to hike, views to see and relaxing to be done.
Riverbabe wrote: Thank you for your response. Have you traveled into Taylor Reservior? If so, which route in do you take?
I take Hwy 50 to Gunnison, then north on 135 toward Crested Butte, turn off 135 at Almont onto CR742 up the Taylor River. The approach over Cottonwood Pass from BV is doable, but only the eastern half is paved, and its a steep windy road on both sides of the pass.
Offline
