Albuquerque to Colorado Springs Route
Posted by Fifth_Courtesy_Wipe@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 18 comments
This summer we’re planning a trip with the Sequoia from Albuquerque to Colorado Springs. I’ve mapped out a draft route that stretches the trip over five days. The current plan includes three camping nights (highlighted in yellow) with a mix of AirBnBs/Hotels (blue) in between to keep things manageable while traveling with kids.
Are there any recommendations or tips along this route? I'm also open to route changes. Would it be worth heading a bit farther East towards Taos? Or going on the West side of Santa Fe National Forest?
Thanks in advance. Cheers!
vudublurunner@reddit
Make sure medano pass is open… I tried to do it 3 times, to include during the time GSDNP told me it would be open only to find a gate on the East Side… if unable to make the pass, you can push north up 17 and do Hayden Creek pass which will drop you to Hwy 50 along the Arkansas river.
dayblazer_420@reddit
im a little shocked no one has flagged elwood pass
Fifth_Courtesy_Wipe@reddit (OP)
I have it currently on the route in the screenshot. Is it something I shouldn’t miss? I made some updates to the route that now bypasses that area
too_much_covfefe_man@reddit
I just did a road trip to NM. There's a really good pizza and beer spot in Jemez Springs, and the Bandelier cliff dwelling site and Valles Caldera area is nearby, which is both geologically and culturally fascinating
butter_biscuit_boy@reddit
Going through jemez springs and across the caldera would add 1-2 hrs but is super worth it, very beautiful drive
too_much_covfefe_man@reddit
We did a whole day detour for it, if we had the frontier with us, we would have explored Valles Caldera more for sure
financegardener@reddit
Done this before, have to recommend one way going up through salida and then this way on the way back.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Definitely swing by zapata falls before you go through great sand dunes NP. Also check water levels for the stream crossings going over medano pass. Should be good since this was the lowest snowfall year on record in CO. But always worth knowing before you go.
MojaveMac@reddit
Keep going north past monte vista into the San Luis valley. The edges of the valley have some amazing stuff on both the east and west side (avoid driving down the middle). Zapata Falls/great sand dunes, crestone on the east; there’s some great hiking mtn biking trails on the west side. Then go to Salida, and down to Cañon City - there’s a lot of bighorn sheep in this section and it’s super scenic. From Cañon city, go north and check out garden park fossil area, oil well flat, red canyon park, shelf road climbing area (camping here). Keep going to cripple creek and around pikes peak back to Colorado Springs.
Mike92104@reddit
The Valles Caldera is worth seeing.
Fifth_Courtesy_Wipe@reddit (OP)
Looks beautiful. Better than the East side of Sante Fe or the Pecos River area?
AlpineCoder@reddit
If possible plan on driving through the Jicarilla during the middle of the day and avoid dusk or dawn. Regardless of the time of day, be extremely wary of animals on the road there.
Fifth_Courtesy_Wipe@reddit (OP)
Good call out. Plan was to drive during the day to get to Pegosa Springs from Sante Fe.
y2ketchup@reddit
I would hit Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde.
Humble_Cactus@reddit
I have done this drive a few times- both in a vehicle and on a motorcycle. I lived in CoS and my wife was in nursing school in Phoenix. I was alone so all I did was ride my motorcycle.
It’s an awesome trip, but it would be that much better if you included Taos in the stops. Once you leave Los Ojos, take Hwy 64 back east to Taos.
DecisionGrouchy9695@reddit
Just did Albuquerque to the Springs a few weeks ago...actually a segmant on a much longer trip...we went through Taos. Lots of options around that way and fantastic scenery. Enjoy!
USCAVsuperduperhooah@reddit
I think taking 550 up to Montrose and driving east from there would more scenic, but it would add a ton of time and miles onto the trip.
Fifth_Courtesy_Wipe@reddit (OP)
Yeah, that's the biggest thing. Fortunately we went to Telluride/Ouray in our last adventure 3 years ago. Would love to go back, but not this time.