In a week we will be traveling from Mesa Verde to Moab with an overnight in Ouray. Would the more scenic driving route for mountains and snow be 145 or 550? Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

You will be traveling in early June, so I think you have a good chance to see snow on US 550 that leads from Durango to Ouray.

I think US 550 gets a little higher than the other route. You cross three major passes between Durango and Ouray: Cold Bank, Molas and Red Mountain.

Having climbed some of the fourteeners in August, I know from experience that snow on the tops is often greatly diminished by early August.

I drove the route you are taking from Durango to Moab in mid May a few years ago, and the lakes were still frozen around Silverton. You will about 3 weeks later than I was, but there may be some ice left on the lakes and some snow at the higher elevations, like above 11,000 feet.

Let's hope so at any rate if that is what you want to see.

I take it that your question refers to getting from Mesa Verde to your overnight in Ouray.

If that's the case, then Hwy 550 from Durango to Ouray wins hands down. Not that Hwy 145 from Cortez to Telluride & Placerville is anything to sneeze at - I just think 550 is more dramatic.

How were you planning to get from Ouray to Moab?

Thank you both very much for the responses. I had no idea which would be the better.

In answer to your question - if 550 was the better route - then I was going to drive up to Ridgway then 62 around to Telluride for a ride on the gondola then 145, 90 46 over to Moab. We will have a day to do the drive over to Moab (including the detour to Telluride) does that sound feasible?

We are coming from Louisiana so our children love to see anything resembling snow any chance they get.

Your route from Ouray to Moab (including the side trip to Telluride) is very doable - and was the route I would suggest.

Some notes:

- If you're doing this a week from now, you should definately see snow - maybe even be close enough to touch some and throw a few snowballs around Red Mountain Pass between Silverton & Ouray. Keep in mind that the water you see cascading in roadside waterfalls along this route was probably snow an hour before.

- Watch out for the local law enforcement as you drive through Ridgeway. They like to hide in the shadows and catch cars speeding through their quaint little town.

- Leaving Ridgeway on Hwy 62 you'll climb toward the summit of Dallas Divide - not a particularly high pass, but a gorgeous one. Just east of the summit of Dallas Divide there is a somewhat large pullover on the south (eastbound) side of the road that offers an unobstructed and absolutely stunning view of the Sneffels Range that you have been paralleling on your ride up from Ridgeway.

- The ride down the other side of Dallas Divide is nowhere near as stunning as you follow Leopard Creek and occasionally catch sight of Lone Cone Mountain ahead.

- From the junction of 62 & 145 (near Placerville) highway 145 follows the San Miguel River through red rock canyon, both upstream to Telluride, and downstream to near Norwood. The San Miguel should be swollen and running fast just about now.

- The ride from Norwood to Vancorum crosses relatively flat ranchland.

- From Vancorum to Paradox the terrain slowly begins to rise and undulate with some interesting land formations, and the heights of the La Sal Mountains ahead fill your windshield.

- Around Paradox you'll start to climb and the road will wind back & forth as you skirt along the southern edge of the pretty La Sals and enter Utah.

Thank you for the reply furled leader. I always make a trip notebook for our travels and your previous posts on the drive from Denver and RMNP are already there for reference. Bob_brown your posts have also been so instrumental in helping us plan our trips. As I travel the million dollar highway and throughout Colorado I will be thinking a million thanks to you both. I also really appreciate the detail on the route to Moab as we have not traveled those roads before. This will be our first trip to Telluride also.

Will there be a pullover on Red Mountain Pass? I hate it when we wish we had pulled over and we thought about it too late and there is no place to turn around.

This is our 3rd and final month long trip to Colorado. Well - final for awhile. There are so many places to see but your mountains keep calling me back.

Our schedule is:
Drive in from Louisiana and overnight in Alamosa.
Day 1 - Great Sand Dunes National Park early am and to Pagosa Springs Resort for the night.
Day 2 - Early drive to Mesa Verde and explore/overnight there at Far View.
Day 3- Explore Mesa Verde and leave about 2 for drive to Ouray to Box Canyon Lodge.
Day 4- Early am -hike Box Canyon Falls, tour history Museum and drive to Telluride for gondola - then on to Moab.
Days 5 & 6 - Moab. Fiery Furnace hike, Jeep Trip to Needles, Dead Horse Point.
Day 7 - Drive to Frisco where husband will enjoy a couple more days relaxing and golfing before flying home and we'll stay for a month of fun hiking and exploring Colorado with a side trip to South Dakota.

Any suggestions/trip edits appreciated.

Looks like a nice itinerary. Glad to see you're staying overnight in Pagosa Springs. Their hot springs are one of the best in Colorado, and I think you'll like them. The San Juan River will probably be flowing really high with snowmelt runoff, so the "river pools" may not be accessible, but don't be surprised to see kayakers and rafters floating by as you soak in the pools.

Also think you'll like the jeep trip into the needles district of Canyonlands (if that's what you're refering to), especially if you do the jaunt over Elephant Hill and down to Chesler Park - great jeep trip!

To be honest, I don't remember if there is a turnout or pullover at (or near) the top of Red Mountain Pass. Maybe someone with a better memory can fill us in.

I was just on Red Mountain Pass a few weeks back - plenty of places to pull over to take in the views.

Thank you one last time for the replies - especially the detailed notes on the ride over to Ridgway, Telluride and over to Moab. It's so nice to have a clue about what we will be seeing.

Any last thoughts on best use of our time during a very quick stop in Telluride - quickest access to Gondola? Best picnic spot?

In town, the gondola station is tucked away almost against the mountainside on W. San Juan Ave. between S. Oak St. and S. Aspen Street. Parking will be an issue in town. It always is; and it's worse if there is a festival going on. I honestly can't tell you where the best place to park near the gondola base in town would be.

On the other hand, the OTHER terminus of the free gondola system (in the Mountain Village) I seem to recall has an ample parking area nearby. Insread of taking the Hwy 145 spur at Society Turn that leads into Telluride, stay on Hwy 145 proper up and around to the other side of the mountain until you get to Mountain Village Blvd. Turn onto Mountain Village Blvd and follow it to the gondola station. From here a short gondola ride will take you to the Mountain Village Gondola Station where you must get off and go to the other side of the building to catch another gondola that will take you up to Station St. Sophia and then down into town. You can get off at Station St. Sophia for some picture taking and maybe eat lunch, or you can stay in your gondola for the trip down to town.

A place you may try parking in town is at the city park. Follow the main drag (Colorado Ave.) through town until you get to the entrance to Telluride Town Park. There is a hiking trail here that follows the San Miguel River for about a quarter mile to the gondola station in town.

canyoneering with www.deserthighlights.com is probably the single best thing I have done in a national. Rafting the Grand Canyon and zipling near Durango was really good, but canyoneering is hard to beat and it is fairly inexpensive. Desert highlights is Arches only concessionaire and they take you into the fiery furnace on a lot of their trips. We were in Mesa Verde last week and it snowed on us. Two inches or so on our car.