Day 15 The Ultimate USA Road Trip Rangely Telluride
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 11-04-2022
Route Summary
This is the fifteenth route of "The Ultimate USA Road Trip", a collection of routes based on the route created by scientist Dr. Randy Olsen algorithm to create the perfect USA Road Trip covering almost every US state and major US hot spots.I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive through beautiful Colorado from Rangely via Grand Junction to Telluride. We drive on beautiful roads such as the Scenic State Highway CO-139 and the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway CO-141.
The route is on beautiful, good roads with beautiful panoramas. There are tons of opportunities to stop for a photo of the beautiful scenery. There are a number of visits to places of interest along the route. Today the emphasis is on driving and enjoying the panoramas. I therefore rate this route with 5 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 12m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
396.38 km
Countries
Douglas Pass
RouteXpert Review
On day 15 we drive through beautiful Colorado from Rangely to Telluride. On the way you can really enjoy the beautiful red colored mountains and canyons with many rivers. There are several possibilities to stop to take pictures but pay attention to the time because the route is almost 400 kilometers. Also make sure you leave with a full tank and take some food and drink with you because there are large parts of the route that runs through no man's land.Leaving Rangely, we turn right and are immediately treated to the start of a beautiful Colorado Scenic Byway, the CO-139. This beautiful road treats you to beautiful panoramas and the Douglas Pass between Rangely and Loma. An original 1920s state highway, it wasn't even paved all the way to the top of Douglas Pass until 1972. The pass reaches a height of more than 2,500 meters and has numerous hairpin bends and in places narrow sections between the rocks.
The first stop is planned in Grand Junction, a nice place to stretch your legs and take time for some sightseeing and a coffee break. Enjoy the pedestrian-friendly downtown area with lush landscaping and a variety of restaurants, cafes and shops. The "Art On The Corner" project has installed dozens of sculptures and other works by local artists in multiple places around the city, including fountains. There is also the option to visit The Museums of the West to learn more about the history of Western Colorado.
The real highlight of this day starts 15 kilometers southeast of Grand Juction; the Start of the 260km Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway, this scenic road through Colorado is very popular with motorcyclists and car clubs looking for great scenery full of canyons, rugged cliffs, lush valleys, open beaches, waterfalls, Native American buildings and a backdrop of the nearly 3,660-foot peaks of Utah's La Sal Mountains. Unaweep Canyon cuts through the red sandstone rock formations of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Most of the scenic byway is on State Highway 141, which winds through rugged terrain and tight curves, with the final portion on State Highway 145.
There are several places along the route to stop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The ride is enjoyable from start to finish. In the small town of Gateway we stop for gas, lunch and a visit to the Colorado Gateway Auto Museum. This museum displays more than 50 beautiful American cars of various years from Hendrick's private collection. Well worth it for real Petrol Heads.
From Gateway it is a more than 170 kilometers drive through this beautiful area with its mountains and canyons. We drive along the winding course of the Dolores River and the San Miguel River. Take the time to enjoy yourself and stop regularly to take pictures.
The end point of the trip is the famous ski resort of Telluride. Tucked into a canyon surrounded by lofty peaks, Telluride is only eight blocks wide and twelve blocks long.
Because of its important role in the history of the American West, Telluride was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964. The colorful Victorian-era houses, rafters and historic buildings now mingle with boutiques, art galleries, gourmet restaurants, and more. Located above Telluride at 2,895 feet, Mountain Village complements the historic mining town with European-style architecture, modern amenities, ski hotels, and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Telluride and Mountain Village are connected by a spectacular 13-minute free gondola ride, the first and only free public transportation system of its kind in North America.
Continually ranked as the #1 ski resort in North America, in addition to winter fun, Telluride offers many summer activities such as bike rides, hiking, swimming in the San Miguel River, summer festivals ranging from music festivals to the famous Telluride Film Festival. There are more than enough good hotels to spend the night and rest from this beautiful day.
Garfield Mesa
The Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes
Colorado
About this region
Colorado is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. Colorado is the eighth most extensive and 21st most populous U.S. state. The 2020 United States Census enumerated the population of Colorado at 5,773,714, an increase of 14.80% since the 2010 United States Census.
The region has been inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13,000 years, with the Lindenmeier Site containing artifacts dating from approximately 9200 BC to 1000 BC; the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains was a major migration route for early peoples who spread throughout the Americas. "Colorado" is the Spanish adjective meaning "ruddy," the color of red sandstone. The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, and on August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners. Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. Colorado is one of the Mountain States and is a part of the western and southwestern United States.
Denver is the capital and most populous city in Colorado. Residents of the state are known as Coloradans, although the antiquated "Coloradoan" is occasionally used. Colorado is a comparatively wealthy state, ranking eighth in household income in 2016, and 11th in per capita income in 2010. It also ranks highly in the nation's standard of living index. Major parts of the economy include government and defense, mining, agriculture, tourism, and increasingly other kinds of manufacturing. With increasing temperatures and decreasing water availability, Colorado's agriculture, forestry and tourism economies are expected to be heavily affected by climate change.
Read more on Wikipedia
The region has been inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13,000 years, with the Lindenmeier Site containing artifacts dating from approximately 9200 BC to 1000 BC; the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains was a major migration route for early peoples who spread throughout the Americas. "Colorado" is the Spanish adjective meaning "ruddy," the color of red sandstone. The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, and on August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners. Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. Colorado is one of the Mountain States and is a part of the western and southwestern United States.
Denver is the capital and most populous city in Colorado. Residents of the state are known as Coloradans, although the antiquated "Coloradoan" is occasionally used. Colorado is a comparatively wealthy state, ranking eighth in household income in 2016, and 11th in per capita income in 2010. It also ranks highly in the nation's standard of living index. Major parts of the economy include government and defense, mining, agriculture, tourism, and increasingly other kinds of manufacturing. With increasing temperatures and decreasing water availability, Colorado's agriculture, forestry and tourism economies are expected to be heavily affected by climate change.
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Statistics
20
Amount of RX reviews (Colorado)
13562
Amount of visitors (Colorado)
322
Amount of downloads (Colorado)
Route Collections in this region
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Start the trip at Daytona Pier on the Atlantic Coast.
Through 14 days you will visit New Orleans, Memphis, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. See the sights of Monument and Death Valley, the Hoover Dam. Ride across 12 US States for 4267 miles of adventure before ending the trip on Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast
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The 10 most downloaded routes in the USA from RouteXpert Hans van de Ven
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in USA.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
View Route Collection
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2439.8 km
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