Colorado Hwys - 114 vs 17 to US 50

[sullyhoosier]

I am going 2nd of Oct and have a 8.1 Chevy on the Workhorse 38 ft. Allegro.
Is it best to take Co. 17 up to US 50 or is Hwy 114 ok?
I have the trucker maps and see 114 is used by Semi trucks.

[RiverBurt]

18 miles of 114 are very curvy, narrow, and fairly steep, with many 20-25 mph curves. Wonderfully scenic, but for those 18 miles your eyes will be glued to the road.

17 has only a few miles of grade, minimum 45mph curves. Most of it is straight and level. Consequently, much more traffic.

[00 Buckshot]

Where are you going after you hit hwy50? If you are going West you will have to cross Monarch pass. If you are headed East then hwy17 is the way to go. We use 114 each year going to Gunnison with a 40 ft 5er and it is no problem. The last 18 miles are certainly curvy but twice I have seen a herd of mountain goats in this area early in the am. Scenic drive in my opinion.

[RiverBurt]

Bighorn, I’ll bet, rather than Mt. Goat.

[snxwmxn]

HWY 114 to Gunnison from the south avoids Monarch Pass and Poncha Pass and is just as RiverBurt described it. I would much prefer 114 to 17 if you are headed west on 50.

[sullyhoosier]

Thank you to all.
Yes sorry I am headed to Montrose west on 50.....and thought I would avoid the higher passes for this one.

I can drive slow wife likes it better too.