Road to Mesa Verde
 

Is the road into Mesa Verde a whiteknuckle drive? Does it have guard-rails; dropoffs? We are from Florida and we are a bit concerned about mountain roads. Thanks

Whiteknuckle drive? I suppose it depends on whose knuckles are gripping the wheel and the seat cushions. Given the conditions you have set forth, and the concerns expressed, I would recommend not driving it. It climbs, it drops, its full of curves, the sides are steep, and it is crowded at times.

I also suggest that you NOT approach Durango from the east, like from Pueblo or Colorado Springs. Wolf Creek Pass is between you and it. It terrified my wife back in 1968.

I would approach from Albuquerque.

Also the drive from Durango to Ouray is steep, high, full of curves, and sharp dropoffs over deep canyons. It traverses 3 major mountain passes:
Molas Divide, Coal Bank and Red Mountain. The descent into Ouray is very steep on a narrow highway.

The Wolf Creek Pass was a real mess a few years ago when they were working on it. But, I drove over it last summer and the construction is over. It's now a fine road and certainly no longer a "whiteknucler".

550 between Durango and Ouray is fine too. It's not that narrow. But, I would not recommend Imogene Pass except as a passenger.

As a local, I am quite familiar with the roads here in SW Colorado.

The road into Mesa Verde is a long winding road. It is steep at times and there are indeed dropoffs and few if any guardrails.

Being from Florida doesn't mean you can't drive these roads. It means you have to use your skills - driving slowly [often you have no choice but to drive slowly due to traffic] and driver keeping their eyes on the road and not on the scenery.

http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm

Note to Otis: No one should drive over Imogene Pass unless they are in a 4x4 with a short wheel base. Drove over it yesterday and you simply cannot do this in a car.

Dafujua - you didn't ask about the other roads that were mentioned and they may not even matter to you. IF you wanted to drive the San Juan Skyway - you could do it clockwise and would be on the inside lane most of the time. Durango to Mesa Verde to Cortez to Dolores to Rico to Telluride to Ridgway to Ouray to Silverton to Durango.

I was trying to see if there was anyway that you could see Mesa Verde without driving yourself. There are most likely tours from Durango. I'll see if I can find something. Mesa Verde is TOO GOOD to miss because of the road.

Debi

Here is a place that does tours so you wouldn't have to drive:

http://www.mesaverdetours.net/Mesa_Verde.html

Debi

Thanks to all for the information. Debi: I think I will do the drive to Mesa Verde. We have driven through Zion to Kanab and on Highway 12 from Bryce to Torrey. Is the Mesa Verde worse than the above? You are right, I do not need to go through Wolf Creek Pass since I am going to Cortez from Monument Valley. From Mesa Verde we plan to go to Durango for 2 days then to Santa Fe for 1 night(through Pagosa) and Albuquerque.