Help--Driving route to Creede, CO from South Texas

[Ken & Patti C.]

Hello:

Does anyone have a suggested driving route from the San Antonio area to the Creede, CO area (actually South Fork, CO)?

Google shows two possibilities: Through the Texas panhandle on Hwy 87 and on to Raton, NM. Then I-25 to Walsenburg, CO and on to South Fork, CO via Hwy 160.

Or,

Up the SE corner of NM on Hwy 285 through Roswell, Santa Fe to Almosa, CO and on to South Fork, CO via Hwy 160?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Ken & Patti

[KU9L]

I've been both ways many times as we used to live an hour north of Alamosa. The highway 285 option is much flatter in the grand scheme of things. Taking I-25 north of Raton and then La Veta Pass on HWY 160 has a couple of minor passes, although more scenic than worrisome. Enjoy!

Dave

[golden]

I live a little north of you (Georgetown) and am in CO (NW of where you will be in Creede) for the summer.

I drive to Lubbock and then bypass Amarillo to the west, go to Raton (stay at the Cedar Rail RV Park at Raton Pass if you can), then go to 160, etc. The roads are good and with careful mountain driving you should have no trouble. As a flatlander going from not too much above sea level to above 8,000', you might want to take something to help you adjust to the change of altitude as you travel. It sure helps us.

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by KU9L

I've been both ways many times as we used to live an hour north of Alamosa. The highway 285 option is much flatter in the grand scheme of things. Taking I-25 north of Raton and then La Veta Pass on HWY 160 has a couple of minor passes, although more scenic than worrisome. Enjoy!

Dave

Dave,

My experience with La Veta pass is the pass isn't bad, but boy is the wind. We confronted a head wind that was so steady we couldn't tell it was wind......felt like we had the brakes on. Donna was driving and she was in 3rd gear with lots of power on and going about 30-35 MPH. She said I don't like this "stuff" and pulled over to let me drive. She went to get out of the Tug and couldn't get the door open. The wind was straight line at 45 MPH!!!! We called our friends in Alamosa and told them we were stopping and coming in tomorrow. They told us the only time there's no wind in La Veta is at night. And since I have night blindness (hereditary condition.......OK I'm drunk!!!) so went on in. Lots and lots of wind. I was a worn out puppy by the time we got in. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Bet the HDT guys will get on this one......I know LGT!

[Still Working "NOT"]

Tom, Tom, Tom

Head wind, no problem. Crosswind is the same for everyone. I drove 250 miles in a 40mph crosswind back in April, I decide to stop at a State Park for the evening. Set camp, Wind goes down for a nice evening. Get up the next morning and the winds back to blowning 40mph with 110 mile to drive. Boy did I miss up. Drunk or not when driving in the wind shorten the trip for the day. I have always thought I would rather be safe and alive then stupid and dead. Something about death doesn't agree with me.

[Endeavor2BnC]

Are you looking for speed or scenery?

[rockintom]

I thought the HDT cats would talk how they didn't even know there was wind out there!!! Wrong again!

[Endeavor2BnC]

Wrong! SKIA admits to being worng! Is the world coming to an end?

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by Endeavor2BnC

Wrong! SKIA admits to being worng! Is the world coming to an end?

Timo,
I've been married almost 14 years.....I know ALL about being wrong!!! Can I get a witness???

[Still Working "NOT"]

Originally Posted by Endeavor2BnC

Wrong! SKIA admits to being worng! Is the world coming to an end?

Oh no, SKIA being wrong, don't say so. I'll have to come up with a new name for him. I'll have to put some more thought into it this time.

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by Still Working "NOT"

Oh no, SKIA being wrong, don't say so. I'll have to come up with a new name for him. I'll have to put some more thought into it this time.

Don't think too hard Mr. Green Jeans......I may be wrong from time to time but I "still" "know it all" The OZ has spoken!!! Don't mind the man behind the curtain!!!

[KU9L]

Tom,

We routinely got 80 MPH winds in San Luis Valley in the spring, hard to predict. Before we had the house we came to the campground and found our tent 1/4 mile away stuck to a fence! After four years I learned to rotate me F-150 so it was equally sandblasted in all directions. There are more calm days than windy days, but even on calm days the dust devils can lift up 4x8 sheets on styrofoam insulation and deposit them a mile away (been there, done that!).

The scenic and speedy way are both cool in my opinion, just different options.

We never travel through SLV at night though with the coach as there are 6,000 elk and just as many mule deer & pronghorn antelope there and few boy scouts to escort them safely across the highway.

Dave

[Ken & Patti C.]

Hello All:

THANKS to everyone for your observations.

One post ask: Are you looking for speed or scenery?
__________________
Tim & Roseann Sikora

Actually we're looking for the safest route. I've driven over Raton and several other MANY times and don't have a problem with the excellent Interstate highway system (at least there). My neighbor wants me to drive to Fort Stockton, Carlsbad, NM and then up the middle of New Mexico. Just seems to me that there are too many starts, stops, turns and twisty roads coming up Hwy 160.

During my sales career I comfortably drove maybe 10--15 percent out of the way just to stay on Interstates and similar highways.

Monotonous and boring? Yeah! But, safety and less hassles were comforting.

We'll enjoy the scenery once we get to the South Fork area.

THANKS again for all replies!

Ken & Patti

[KU9L]

Both most of HWY 160 and 285 are mostly two lane roads in good condition. HWY 285 is a 1000' climb out of Espanola, but rolling gentle hills until S. CO where it is flat. Many elk are in the national forest area of N NM on HWY 285. HWY 285 is 4 lane inside of Alamosa where it meets HWY 160. HWY 160 from I-70 often has lots of constant wind through La Veta Pass, not a bad pass @ ~9500' elevation.