Anyone out there that can tell me what Route 184 is like from Mancos, Co up to 491 to Moab, UT? Looking at it as an alternative to going thru Cortez.
Is it scenic? Road good? Will I lose time taking this route?

thanks!!

 

It depends on if you want desert or mountains. It may be a little late I'd check weather but another pretty route is up through Ouray to Ridgeway, over towards Telluride, and out to Moab from there. It has been a little while so I don't remember what condition the roads are. If I'm going south I usually just go through Cortez. Never been on 184 but the cortez ride is nice.

 

LOL! That is pretty much my return route as we are staying in Ouray for two days on the way back from Moab

 

184 should be okay, it's been a couple of years since I went up that way. It's only about 35 miles from Mancos to where you turn onto 145. I know 145 is fine. 491 is great all the way to Monticello, UT.

 

If you have a little extra time you can take 141 from Dove Creek to Naturita then get on Highway 90 that goes over the LaSalle Mountains and ends up at LaSalle Junction about 20 miles south of Moab. The roads are real good and scenic and there is hardly any traffic on it. I don't think it would be to many more miles than the way you want to go, but would be a lot better ride.

 

Ouray is probably my favorite town in the lower 48. Have fun!

 

We love Ouray! Its like stepping back in time. The scenery is as good as anywhere in the world. We stay at River's Edge motel. Two fellows from Wisconsin bought the place three or four years ago and have really turned it into a wonderful place to stay. Getting harder to just call and book on a moments notice.

We ride up to Durango/Silverton/Ouray three to four times a season.

 

Will check this out. Just looking for a different ride.

 

In a word "short" 184 is a good cut off to skip driving through Cortez, they are doing a repave on it starting sept 7th so unless you dig that kind of thing, skip it this week.

 

Also, they were doing some shoulder work on 491 from Monticello to Moab, but last time I was up that way was about 3 weeks ago.