valise

We'd like to drive from Denver to the Montrose area during the summer. My husband is a bit insecure about extreme heights. Will there be scary passes along the way? Please advise.

Thank you.

sylvia3

Take 285 to 24 to 50 if you want to avoid mountain passes. It's not like you'll be driving over mountaintops at "extreme heights" by taking major highways ( you have to go out of the way to find scary driving).

the_scarecrow_in_oz

Sylvia3 gives good advice. The route she described is very scenic, yet not overly stimulating for someone who is a little acrophobic.
Taking hwy 285 out of Denver will take you up into the foothills, then drop you down into the valley of the North Fork of the South Platte River at Bailey. From there you follow the North Fork upriver to Kenosha Pass. Kenosha Pass is easy, and cresting it you are hit with one of the more picturesque sights in Colorado as the whole expanse of South Park opens up before you with the Mosquito Range and Collegiate Peaks Range as a backdrop. Following 285 into South Park will take you to Fairplay over Red Hill Pass (very gentle), and Antero Jnction where Hwy 285 joins with Hwy 24 to take you over Trout Creek Pass (also very gentle). From Antero Junction to Johnson Village the road is a little winding, but not scary and about halfway to Johnson Village the view of the Collegiate Peaks Range begins to fill your windshield.
Follow Hwy 285 south from Johnson Village to Poncha Springs. If you are inclined to do some white water rafting, there are many places along this strtch that offer commercial outfitters.
At Poncha Springs get onto Hwy 50 west which will take you to the continental divide at Monarch Pass which is the highest pass you will go over on this route. Although steeper than the other passes you have already gone over, it is still quite mild when compared to other mountain passes. At the top of Monarch there is a little gift shop and a sign designating the continental divide that lots of people like to take their pictures in front of.
Down the other side of the pass will bring you into the easy driving scrubland area around Doyleville, Parlin and eventually to Gunnison.
From there the scrubland disappears as Hwy 50 follows the Gunnison River, and then the beautiful shoreline of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
From the west end of Blue Mesa Reservoir the hwy gets a little curvy as it climbs, then dips down to the hamlet of Cimarron, and climbs again for 12 miles until you come to the crest that looks down onto the Uncompagre River Valley and the town of Montrose below.
Between Cimarron and Montrose, Hwy 347 leads 6 miles up to the south rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which I would suggest seeing as long as you are in the area.
Plan on 5 to 8 hours for the entire trip, depending upon the number of stops you make along the way.

valise

Thanks Scarecrow and Sylvia. The grandkids will be with us asking "are we there yet?" so which is the quickest route?

sylvia3

That's the route, with the helpful travelogue of scarecrow. There are other ways to get to 50, but this one's the best.

the_scarecrow_in_oz

Of course, some people prefer the other way............ which is to take I-70 from Denver all the way to Grand Junction, then get on Hwy 50 south to Montrose. The I-70 route is not as scenic (except as you near the continental divide at the Eisenhower tunnel, or as you go over Vail Pass, or through Glenwood Canyon), but it is 4 lane interstate all the way to Grand Junction. It is also longer, milage-wise, but only seems shorter as you are going 75 mph instead of the 40-55 mph you would be going on the other route. Either way, the actual time spent driving either route is about the same.
The scenery on the southern route is much more dramatic though. For the anxious grandkids I would suggest breaking their expectations into smaller bits. Tell them your first stop will be in Fairplay to fill up with gas and get a pop. Next stop will be Johnson Village or Buena Vista (2 miles north of Johnson Village) for an ice cream. Then to the souvenir shop atop Monarch Pass. Lunch in Gunnison, etc. etc. etc.