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Old 07-20-2020, 02:36 PM   #1
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Rt 34, Trail ridge road Colorado, hard drive?

Hi
We are going to be driving through Colorado in late July Early August and we like the look of the Trail Ridge road through Rocky Mountain National Park. We have a 33' 2008 diesel pusher and an adventurous driver. . Has anyone else taken an RV through?
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Old 07-20-2020, 03:12 PM   #2
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Yes we have with our 40' MH a few times. It's steep up and down. If you're comfortable with that it's doable. If crossing we tried to get an early start before the 'tourists' came out.

From the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers':

Eastbound descent in 11 mi. of 6-7% with 15/20 mph curves then rolling hills then 5-6% for 3 miles.

Westbound descent: 1.5 mi with 6-7% & 15/20 mph curves. Then 1.5 mi of 5-6%; then 12.5 miles at 6% with many curves and 15mph hairpin turns.

It's slow going and everyone will be driving slow... hopefully. If you're staying in the park or nearby, take your vehicle first and see how you like it.
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Old 07-20-2020, 03:24 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by twogypsies View Post
Yes we have with our 40' MH a few times. It's steep up and down. If you're comfortable with that it's doable. If crossing we tried to get an early start before the 'tourists' came out.

From the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers':

Eastbound descent in 11 mi. of 6-7% with 15/20 mph curves then rolling hills then 5-6% for 3 miles.

Westbound descent: 1.5 mi with 6-7% & 15/20 mph curves. Then 1.5 mi of 5-6%; then 12.5 miles at 6% with many curves and 15mph hairpin turns.

It's slow going and everyone will be driving slow... hopefully. If you're staying in the park or nearby, take your vehicle first and see how you like it.
...
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Old 07-20-2020, 05:19 PM   #4
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Rt 34, Trail ridge road Colorado, hard drive?

We drove from west to east on it. I enjoyed the drive. Don’t plan on stopping at many if any pull outs. 41 ft DP with Buick Enclave toad
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Old 07-20-2020, 06:17 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by twogypsies View Post
Yes we have with our 40' MH a few times. It's steep up and down. If you're comfortable with that it's doable. If crossing we tried to get an early start before the 'tourists' came out.

From the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers':

Eastbound descent in 11 mi. of 6-7% with 15/20 mph curves then rolling hills then 5-6% for 3 miles.

Westbound descent: 1.5 mi with 6-7% & 15/20 mph curves. Then 1.5 mi of 5-6%; then 12.5 miles at 6% with many curves and 15mph hairpin turns.

It's slow going and everyone will be driving slow... hopefully. If you're staying in the park or nearby, take your vehicle first and see how you like it.
Hard to argue with any of that - good road biggest issue is the driver will miss most of it as the drive requires extreme concentration! It is a Beautiful drive to be enjoyed latter in the toad (JMHO) Sorry but the mountain drives in the RV require your utmost attention and the more enjoyable drive to enjoy some of the scenery in the toad is something I’ll often suggest.

Have just spent the last two weeks doing many of the passes in Colorado and all I can say is I sure Love Rocks.

Enjoy the Drive it is worth the effort,
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Old 07-20-2020, 08:40 PM   #6
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As of now you need to make reservations to enter the park or they will turn you around. You can do it online, but who knows, it may change.
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Old 07-24-2020, 07:06 AM   #7
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You will need a "timed entry permit" to go thru RMNP. Go to the website.
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Old 07-25-2020, 07:27 PM   #8
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You will need a "timed entry permit" to go thru RMNP. Go to the website.
Even to drive through we need to know the date and approximate time and get the reservation pretty far in advance. Glad you told me. Probably next year then.
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Old 07-26-2020, 01:09 PM   #9
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Hard to argue with any of that - good road biggest issue is the driver will miss most of it as the drive requires extreme concentration! It is a Beautiful drive to be enjoyed latter in the toad (JMHO) Sorry but the mountain drives in the RV require your utmost attention and the more enjoyable drive to enjoy some of the scenery in the toad is something I’ll often suggest.

Have just spent the last two weeks doing many of the passes in Colorado and all I can say is I sure Love Rocks.

Enjoy the Drive it is worth the effort,
I agree with Busskipper...... Driving a big rig (or even a smaller one) requires constant driver attention thus reducing the chance of enjoying the drive and the views. And pulling off at a lot of stops is mostly not convenient - or even possible at some spots.

I had the same choice last summer - whether to traverse through the park or take a different route from Estees to my next stop. We chose to drive around with the rig but did do a few day trips into the park in the truck.

If you want adventure, drive up to the Alpine Visitor Center via Old Fall River Road then back down on pavement stopping as often as you like.
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Old 07-27-2020, 06:46 PM   #10
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I agree with Busskipper...... Driving a big rig (or even a smaller one) requires constant driver attention thus reducing the chance of enjoying the drive and the views. And pulling off at a lot of stops is mostly not convenient - or even possible at some spots.

I had the same choice last summer - whether to traverse through the park or take a different route from Estees to my next stop. We chose to drive around with the rig but did do a few day trips into the park in the truck.

If you want adventure, drive up to the Alpine Visitor Center via Old Fall River Road then back down on pavement stopping as often as you like.

I do agree. We are passing through one way only. The visitor center sounds like a good idea but the park is appointment only with permits required even to drive through and booking a month ahead. Loveland Pass sounds like it will be good though and we will probably stop at Pikes Peak and drive the toad up there.
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Old 07-27-2020, 10:59 PM   #11
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.... we will probably stop at Pikes Peak and drive the toad up there.
Driving yourself would be fine but the cog railroad is closed until next year.
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Old 07-28-2020, 09:46 PM   #12
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I do agree. We are passing through one way only. The visitor center sounds like a good idea but the park is appointment only with permits required even to drive through and booking a month ahead. Loveland Pass sounds like it will be good though and we will probably stop at Pikes Peak and drive the toad up there.
Hi there....if you are going to Pikes Peak, check their website or call first. I "think" I've heard that due to the construction of a new visitors center on top that they are shuttle busing people to the top only. If that's the case, you may not need to unhook your toad there. One of the diesel pusher youtube channels, LivingRVision, just went through there a couple of weeks ago and had to take the shuttle to the top.

Safe travels and enjoy. Drop me a line if you come to the Ouray, CO area.
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Old 07-29-2020, 05:57 PM   #13
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Hi there....if you are going to Pikes Peak, check their website or call first. I "think" I've heard that due to the construction of a new visitors center on top that they are shuttle busing people to the top only. If that's the case, you may not need to unhook your toad there. One of the diesel pusher youtube channels, LivingRVision, just went through there a couple of weeks ago and had to take the shuttle to the top.

Safe travels and enjoy. Drop me a line if you come to the Ouray, CO area.
Interesting. I knew about the shuttle for the last three miles. I am not thrilled about getting in a shuttle of infected tourists so I figure to hike the last three. I am good with altitude and hiking so no problem. Interesting that they did get to take a pusher up to the shuttle station. I was told I wouldn't be able to drive mine. Either way I want to take our '96 Tracker up to see if it can do it.

We are in Bakerville right at the East end of the tunnels. We are camped by the old logging camp area to do some hiking. The Freightliner made it up 70 fine except for the up to 6" deep ruts in the pavement that tossed it around.hey have to fix that!
I soent a lot of time in Montros and have been to Ouray a few times.
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Old 07-29-2020, 10:32 PM   #14
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Interesting. I knew about the shuttle for the last three miles. I am not thrilled about getting in a shuttle of infected tourists so I figure to hike the last three. I am good with altitude and hiking so no problem. Interesting that they did get to take a pusher up to the shuttle station. I was told I wouldn't be able to drive mine. Either way I want to take our '96 Tracker up to see if it can do it.

We are in Bakerville right at the East end of the tunnels. We are camped by the old logging camp area to do some hiking. The Freightliner made it up 70 fine except for the up to 6" deep ruts in the pavement that tossed it around.hey have to fix that!
I soent a lot of time in Montros and have been to Ouray a few times.
For sure; I don't blame you. I'd hike too.

You know...now that I think of it, that may have been their off day and they did drive around and up in their toad. My son lives over in Colorado Springs; I need to get over there to say hi at some point.

Ok...very cool! I hope you have some good hikes up there. We're going to go over to the Sand Dunes next Tuesday to Thursday.

Send me a p.m. if you are coming to Ouray; you'd be welcome to park in our secondary drive way. The views are killer from there and the Cascade Falls flows about 30 ft behind the driveway in the flume.
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