We are planning a driving trip mid-late May through some of the canyons and parks in Utah. We would like to continue on into Colorado to go to Mesa Verde and eventually land up in Denver. Any recommendations on a route and the time it would take? Is May perhaps the wrong time of year for a trip through the mountains?
Thanks,
KC

Just be sure to do the loop of Mesa Verde, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Black Canyon and Telluride in the San Juan Mts. One of the best parts of Colorado and the Rockies.

May could be too early for some of the passes.

Thanks, Connie.

Have you a suggestion for an alternate route in case the weather is bad? Any must-sees or must-stays along the way?

Kari

If you are going to Canyonland and Arches, I would go down to Monticello and turn east on 666 that will take you to Cortez. That's all pretty easy driving.

Parts of the loop I described above might be a problem that early. I've never been there in May.

There are two ways you might go to Denver. One is Montrose, Gunnison, Salida, Pueblo and up to Denver. The other is Montrose Gunnison, Salida, Leadville and over to Denver.

The last one takes you through a lot of ski areas and would be the prettier drive.

I would contact the Durango Chamber of Commerce and ask about road conditions in May. If you can't drive them, you will miss the best parts. If that is the case, it would be worth putting off the trip a few weeks. Otherwise, what is the point?

The only road conditions you probably have to worry about in May are construction zones. If there were some sort of freak late snow, it would be cleared off early. We generally take our snow tires off at Easter in Durango, which is at 6500 feet with nearby passes in the range of 10-11,000 feet.