Late September drive to Colorado

[muledeerarea33?]

From the Tucson area. Have 4 days to get there. Two days of training in wheatridge and 3 days to get back. The way back will be I-25 and the I-10 which are a very boring drive. The way there is where I need some help. I’ve never had the time for a pleasure drive before. Debating the Moab route, thru the mountains a couple ways, or up thru New Mexico. What’s a cool stopping point? Motel? Lake to fish? Just trying to make it a fun trip getting there. Thanks.

[catclaw]

Last time I drove back i drove across 160 ( I think)  wolf creek pass, Cortez, Shiprock  etc.

You can stop in Durango . Never been across to Moab. 

[NOTAGS]

 Go 17 n and across to Cortez and up.. SW Colorado has tons to fish. McPhee reservoir to fish.. , the Dolores River, Fish Creek, Bear creek… way more I can’t think of.  Dolores used to be a cool little town, don’t know now, go through Telluride, which used to be fun  but now is probably bougie  now.  Return through NM and hit the Sun Juan

[CJNAZ]

9 hours ago, NOTAGS said:

 Go 17 n and across to Cortez and up.. SW Colorado has tons to fish. McPhee reservoir to fish.. , the Dolores River, Fish Creek, Bear creek… way more I can’t think of.  Dolores used to be a cool little town, don’t know now, go through Telluride, which used to be fun  but now is probably bougie  now.  Return through NM and hit the Sun Juan

This ^........use to do it 2-3 times year when my folks lived in Montrose. 

[PRDATR]

Go up through four corners. Places to consider seeing would be Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Rocky Mountain National Park.

[Ed67]

I40 to Gallup, north 491 to Cortez, 145 through Dolores to Telluride, left at telluride take 145 to Placerville, NE on 62 to the 550. Right a few miles goes to Ouray, left will take you through Montrose, Delta to Grand Junction. Get on the 70 and head east to Denver. 
About as scenic as you can get. I used to spend a lot of time in that area. 
have fun, leaves will be changing, archery and muzzy elk hunters will be out. 

[muledeerarea33?]

22 minutes ago, Ed67 said:

I40 to Gallup, north 491 to Cortez, 145 through Dolores to Telluride, left at telluride take 145 to Placerville, NE on 62 to the 550. Right a few miles goes to Ouray, left will take you through Montrose, Delta to Grand Junction. Get on the 70 and head east to Denver. 
About as scenic as you can get. I used to spend a lot of time in that area. 
have fun, leaves will be changing, archery and muzzy elk hunters will be out. 

That’s about the route I was looking at but wasn’t sure about scenery. Thank you.

[Ed67]

Another option is the dirt road going north out of Dolores that you can take Norwood, hit the highway and head east to Placerville. Groundhog amd Miramonte reservoirs are up there. Good road. 

[Edge]

3 hours ago, Ed67 said:

Another option is the dirt road going north out of Dolores that you can take Norwood, hit the highway and head east to Placerville. Groundhog amd Miramonte reservoirs are up there. Good road. 

Another vote for Groundhog Res.

[NOTAGS]

6 hours ago, Ed67 said:

Another option is the dirt road going north out of Dolores that you can take Norwood, hit the highway and head east to Placerville. Groundhog amd Miramonte reservoirs are up there. Good road. 

My folks had a ranch up there on the East Fork where Fish Creek joined it… we used to hit Groundhog  every time I went to visit. Those rainbows were fat and almost blood red inside like a salmon. 

[arizonian]

On 5/30/2025 at 12:35 PM, Ed67 said:

I40 to Gallup, north 491 to Cortez, 145 through Dolores to Telluride, left at telluride take 145 to Placerville, NE on 62 to the 550. Right a few miles goes to Ouray, left will take you through Montrose, Delta to Grand Junction. Get on the 70 and head east to Denver. 
About as scenic as you can get. I used to spend a lot of time in that area. 
have fun, leaves will be changing, archery and muzzy elk hunters will be out. 

Spent 3-1/2 yrs in Grand Junction working oilfield. Four corners up thru Cortez, then Lizard Head Pass into Telluride.

Going north from there you could take a right at Montrose and go up to Gunnison, then on to Buena Vista and Pikes Peak/ Colorado Springs or stay on 285 and right into the Denver area.

Gotta warn  you, the Front Range is where all the woke people are, nothing like the Western Slope.