RexxRacerX
Omaha, NE
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Hi everyone,
I asked this in another thread for our Grand Canyon trip this summer, but did not get any replies there so thought I better ask this specific question by itself.
Wanted to check in with anyone that might be familiar with a route we're contemplating for part of our summer trip. We are coming east on I-70 and will be making a stop in Estes Park area for several nights, and are wondering if we can take a route through some smaller highways from I-70 to avoid Denver.
The route is Central City Parkway (just East of Idaho Springs) at exit 243, off of I-70 to CO 119(around Blackhawk) then on north to CO 72, then CO 7 up to the campsite.
I'm going to attempt to put a link in for google maps, let's see how it goes... Stop G is the route in question, that route south of the G marker.
Grand Canyon Trip
It is hard to get a good feel for the elevation and curves on google maps and their street view, but many areas appear very narrow with no shoulders and tight spots through the little towns we will go through that way.
We will be traveling in 2 different campers, a 32' Class C Winnebago, and a 35' Travel Trailer. Has anyone made this route off of I-70, and would you advise to take i_25 up, or is this route an easy way to bypass Denver traffic?
Thanks!
* This post was
edited 02/08/12 10:49am by RexxRacerX *
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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The Central City Parkway has some steep grades. One section is posted at 8%
Going through Central City you have some tight city streets for a little over a mile to get to CO 119. From there going north you have two lane mountain roads. Lots of elevation change. and a lot of curves in some areas. Some sections have narrow shoulders and some sections have better shoulders. Some good pavement sections and others not as good.
The road north of Nederland is called the Peak To Peak Highway is you want to do a Google search.
You bypass the Denver traffic but you actually are not in Denver if you continue on I-70. You exit I-70 at C-470 going north to US 6 at Golden. Then continue north on CO 93. This takes you through Boulder and then north.
Or stay on I-70 to I-270 to I-25 and north out of the Denver area.
The two lane mountain roads are doable with the RVs you mention but this route is not flat or wide roads. How comfortable are you on driving mountain roads?
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Bounder Billy
Colorado
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I agree with CM, especially if it is near evening rush hour, you want to stay away from the I-25/I-76/I-70 area. CO 93 is probably your best bet to Boulder then get on Denver/Boulder turnpike headed to Lyons and Estes Park. In Boulder, from 93 take a right on Table Mesa Drive or Baseline Road to the D/B turnpike.
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Bearhawk
Away up north
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Bounder Billy wrote:....you want to stay away from the I-25/I-76/I-70 area. .....
I second Billy's advice.
I hit Denver on a Friday night at rush hour after a long drive from Yellowstone. Travelled on the I-25 & I-225. Wasn't all that much fun at the end of a long day's drive.
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Son of Norway
Denver, Colorado
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Your route is not an easy way to bypass Denver. It is a long and challenging mountain drive with constant grades and curves going up and down. But, it is a very scenic drive through a beautiful area of the State. You won't get to enjoy it as the driver, but your passengers will.
Miles
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paulj
Seattle
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RexxRacerX wrote:...
It is hard to get a good feel for the elevation and curves on google maps and their street view, but many areas appear very narrow with no shoulders and tight spots through the little towns we will go through that way.
...
In my experience Google maps are a great tool, perhaps the best, for learning elevation and curves. But then I've been playing with maps all my life, and can readily translate contours to mental images.
To clarify your question - you are coming from the west on I70, and would like to drive north to Estes Park without dropping down into the Denver area, or at least not hit any more urban traffic than necessary.
With terrain mode on, it is evident that I70 emerges from the mountains about where it crosses 470, where it passes through a hogback at the base of the Front Range. And the Denver suburbs flow right up to this mountain edge. Altitude around Denver is about 5000' (Mile High city).
Estes Park is at 7600', in a mountain valley (a 'park') at the entrance to Rocky Mtn Nat Park. Looks like you will be leaving on CO34, which follows Big Thompson Canyon back to the plains. Since it follows a river, the grades are generally gentle, but it has lots of curves. And if I recall correctly a lot of turn offs to summer homes and camps along the river.
All other routes to Estes have to climb higher before dropping down into the valley. US36 from Boulder is probably the gentlest, and is the major highway to Estes. Boulder, like Denver, is on flat land at the base of the Rockies.
The other route into Estes is CO7 from the south. For a ways it follows a high broad valley at 8800' between Longs Peak and Twin Sisters, before taking a couple of broad curves down to the Estes Park level.
CO7 also climbs up from the Boulder area, though you can also reach it via CO72 (Peak to Peak), and CO119. Nearly all of this stays in the 8-9000' range. Idaho Springs is about 7200'.
Maybe that's the essence of your question - can you drive north from Idaho Springs to CO7, instead of dropping down to the Denver outskirts and driving north to Boulder.
The truly scenic way of approaching Estes Park is from the west on US34. But that requires crossing Berthoud Pass on US40 (major switch backs), and Trail Ridge, both in the 11,000' range.
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Dashonthedash
CO
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I have been doing that route in a motorhome for 20 years, and it is not a difficult route at all. There are grades and curves, but they are very doable in your vehicles. It is a very beautiful drive (even more so in late September when the aspen turn), and I highly recommend it. I hope you enjoy your visit to Colorado.
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crabbin cabin
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I can't believe that all my CO friends have not given you the following - if you want to miss the long pull up the Central City Parkway and the jam-up getting through Central City- stay on I 70 about a mile further east , stay in the left hand lane and take the exit to US 6. East on 6 to the junction of 119 the north thru' Blackhawk and on north all the way to Estes Park. This (the Peak to Peak is a beautiful drive and pretty easy drive in your rig. Have pulled our 30 ft. fiver thsi way more than once! Especially pretty way to enjoy the fall colors in September.
Go for it! and happy travels.
John
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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crabbin cabin wrote:I can't believe that all my CO friends have not given you the following - if you want to miss the long pull up the Central City Parkway and the jam-up getting through Central City- stay on I 70 about a mile further east , stay in the left hand lane and take the exit to US 6. East on 6 to the junction of 119 the north thru' Blackhawk and on north all the way to Estes Park. This (the Peak to Peak is a beautiful drive and pretty easy drive in your rig. Have pulled our 30 ft. fiver thsi way more than once! Especially pretty way to enjoy the fall colors in September.
Go for it! and happy travels.
John
Am I missing something, if your route is not taken ( Idaho Springs exit 244) think about or consider this easy route to RMNP -- Exit 205 - Silverthome - North on Rt 9 to Kremmling -- then Rt 40 over to Grand Lake to the Western entrance to RMNP (the one I prefer -- IMHO Estes is just too crowded - and Grand Lake is sooo much more family friendly and slower paced. Also has a great CG with horses and lots for a family to do.
I would not even think to suggest that you take Trail Ridge over to Estes -- but that's the way I always try to go in the Summer. We usually spend one or two night's in Grande Lake, then drive over to the city of Lyons in their little CG on the River -- lots of great drives and open space all around Lyons. The only time we will stop in Estes is in the off season when it's just us and the locals (still lots of people but they have some idea about how to drive.
Just one more option -- which you could back track to avoid any grades other than the Interstate.
BOL,
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
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Lauren
Sahuarita, AZ (or on the road!)
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Well, Busskipper is pushing the west side of RMNP again. Most people, including me, do not agree. The reason the east side (Estes) is popular is because that is where 98% of the activity and scenes are. West side is wetter and buggier as well. I lived in Ester 1998-2005 and have been back several times since. Simply very little reason to go to the west side IMHO.
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