Community Forums

Lefty67 · 07-24-2017, 10:24 AM

We are in a 2002 Newmar Class A. How bad is Wolf Creek Pass to travel across? We are in Williams, AZ traveling to Creede, CO. Does anyone have a suggested route except 89 from Flagstaff? Open to reccomendations. TIA

OLYLEN · 07-24-2017, 10:36 AM

Two questions whether it gas or diesel.
Do trucks and MH's use this route?
Is your MH in reasonable condition and are you comfortable driving mountain pass' s?
My answer' s for ME are, if trucks do it I do it, if your MH is in reasonable shape it will do fine and last diesel will do better on that high a pass than gas as it will be turbo charged.

LEN

vanion2 · 07-24-2017, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty67

We are in a 2002 Newmar Class A. How bad is Wolf Creek Pass to travel across? We are in Williams, AZ traveling to Creede, CO. Does anyone have a suggested route except 89 from Flagstaff? Open to reccomendations. TIA

I have driven Wolf Creek pass multiple times. It is not that bad as they have passing lanes on the up slop and big rigs are common enough going through there. Just take your time and you will be fine.

I will admit that driving through Cortez, CO will be pretty boring and Durango will have lots of traffic but once through there things will be fine. You could always shoot up I-40 and then take 491 to Farmington, NM. That would cut out the worst of the Durango traffic.

What are your time limits? Scenery or just shortest route?

RedRocket · 07-24-2017, 10:39 AM

This will be one of those subjective things as I have towed my 9000 lbs loaded TT with my 800+ lbs Grizzly ATV in my truck bed over that pass a couple times and didn't find it bad. That was during summer so road conditions were optimal. I'm also quite used to towing in that king of environment or other passes even worse than WCP.

Wolf Creek Pass has a max grade of 6.8% and really it will be up to your comfort level on if it is bad or not. Unfortunately, you would need to extend your trip by many miles to avoid most passes getting to Creede. I don't have any recommendations on other routes to take unless you want to add significant miles to your trip.

Crasher · 07-24-2017, 10:43 AM

It's been several years since we were over Wolf Creek, but as I recall, it was one of the easiest passes to go over. A nice four lane road with great scenery.

ArmandV · 07-24-2017, 10:51 AM

I drove Wolf Creek Pass westbound last November in my Class C. It wasn't a bad drive.

Before getting into the mountains from the east, there were heavy winds which almost made me stop and wait them out.

MrsChilerick · 07-24-2017, 11:35 AM

Wolf Creek Pass was one of the first bits of mountain driving we did on our first trip in our first MH towing a car on a dolly. We have a 30 Winnebago gasser. At that time we didn't know what we didn't know. The road was fine, though a challenge in a small gasser for a rookie driver and navigator. We wouldn't hesitate to drive it again. As others have said, take it slow.

Lefty67 · 07-24-2017, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanion2

I have driven Wolf Creek pass multiple times. It is not that bad as they have passing lanes on the up slop and big rigs are common enough going through there. Just take your time and you will be fine.

I will admit that driving through Cortez, CO will be pretty boring and Durango will have lots of traffic but once through there things will be fine. You could always shoot up I-40 and then take 491 to Farmington, NM. That would cut out the worst of the Durango traffic.

What are your time limits? Scenery or just shortest route?

We check in there on Wednesday and leave Williams on Tuesday. 89 is a 2 lane but going to Albuquerque on 40 then North are also 2 lane roads and it is a lot farther. Do you know if 89 is a fairly wide, easy to travel 2 lane?

Lefty67 · 07-24-2017, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLYLEN

Two questions whether it gas or diesel.
Do trucks and MH's use this route?
Is your MH in reasonable condition and are you comfortable driving mountain pass' s?
My answer' s for ME are, if trucks do it I do it, if your MH is in reasonable shape it will do fine and last diesel will do better on that high a pass than gas as it will be turbo charged.

LEN

It is a 500 hp diesel. Yes, we saw you tube video of the pass and there were trucks on it.

vanion2 · 07-24-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty67

We check in there on Wednesday and leave Williams on Tuesday. 89 is a 2 lane but going to Albuquerque on 40 then North are also 2 lane roads and it is a lot farther. Do you know if 89 is a fairly wide, easy to travel 2 lane?

491 is just inside of NM border. You won't come close to hitting Albuquerque unless you miss the turn off. My suggested route will add about 35 minutes according to google maps and it will be slower, more scenic driving.

I haven't done 89 before so I cannot offer any feedback there but I have driven from Telluride to Cortez to Durango before several times. Creede is a nice little town and the drive you are planning is a beautiful one from Pagosa Springs to South Fork to Creede. I've done that run a couple or three times myself but usually on my motorcycle. Still, the roads are pretty easy to handle and the Wolf Creek pass is the only challenge if you are new to driving your class A. Just stay in the right lane and cruise at your comfort level and you will be fine. Just remember to down shift on the down slope to conserve your brakes.

Since I was just there this weekend I will tell you that afternoon thunderstorms are to be expected so it might be pretty windy up at the top of the pass depending on how late in the afternoon you get there.

Lefty67 · 07-24-2017, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanion2

491 is just inside of NM border. You won't come close to hitting Albuquerque unless you miss the turn off. My suggested route will add about 35 minutes according to google maps and it will be slower, more scenic driving.

I haven't done 89 before so I cannot offer any feedback there but I have driven from Telluride to Cortez to Durango before several times. Creede is a nice little town and the drive you are planning is a beautiful one from Pagosa Springs to South Fork to Creede. I've done that run a couple or three times myself but usually on my motorcycle. Still, the roads are pretty easy to handle and the Wolf Creek pass is the only challenge if you are new to driving your class A. Just stay in the right lane and cruise at your comfort level and you will be fine. Just remember to down shift on the down slope to conserve your brakes.

Since I was just there this weekend I will tell you that afternoon thunderstorms are to be expected so it might be pretty windy up at the top of the pass depending on how late in the afternoon you get there.

Thank you so much for all of your information it has been very helpful.

ctpres · 07-24-2017, 03:20 PM

If staying at Mountain Views in Creede - Welcome - stop by and visit us - site 313. Did the pass going south last fall in our fully loaded and towing gasser. No problem up or down. Some oneway traffic due to fiber crews laying conduit in roadway but that project should be done by now.

Lefty67 · 07-24-2017, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctpres

If staying at Mountain Views in Creede - Welcome - stop by and visit us - site 313. Did the pass going south last fall in our fully loaded and towing gasser. No problem up or down. Some oneway traffic due to fiber crews laying conduit in roadway but that project should be done by now.

Sure will.

cruzbill · 07-24-2017, 03:29 PM

Watch out for trucks haulin' chickens, or hogs......as the song goes. Did that trip in 2006 all the way to Creede. The pass is no big deal (except for the cautions noted above) there is a huge ski area parking lot just over the top on the east side if you want to check your brakes.
The fish get up late around Creede-you're good till 10 am or so.......