A couple of weekends ago, I made a little getaway trip down to Richmond for a few days. On my way down, I decided to experiment with a route that I had never taken before. This was PA 160, which I took between Berlin, PA near Somerset, to the PA/MD border (and on to Cumberland on MD roads). The hilly, two-lane drive ended up being so thoroughly enjoyable, with its rural ambience and constantly-visible windmills (some of which you even get pretty close to), that I was almost dismayed not to have known about it sooner.
This experience got me thinking...there have to be hundreds of drives like this out there that are largely unknown to the general traveling public, and I'd love to know about some of them, if only for my own future trip-planning edification. Of course, who better to ask about such a thing than a forum like this one?
I don't want to attach too stringent a set of rules to something like this, because everyone has their own ideas about what makes a drive "enjoyable" and I really want to know what's out there, but I guess it does make sense to say that by definition Interstates or major U.S. routes shouldn't count, and nor should well-advertised scenic routes, i.e. the Blue Ridge Parkway, the PCH, etc. But other than that, I am extremely curious as to what you all have discovered over your own travels. So, fire away.
US-30 in Nebraska.
The South Dakota portion of the Heartland Expressway (SD-79), with the Black Hills off to your west, is very underrated as a drive. Especially for a new four-lane highway.
Just don't take it in winter, of course.
While everyone knows about the part of CA 1 south of San Francisco, the part to the north is really underrated.
Colorado 141- everybody gets caught up in US 191 (Moab) and US 550 (better marketing), but 141 is amazing. I drove it during the height of summer last year on a beautiful day and had sixty miles of breathtaking scenery all to myself.
Washington 129/Oregon 3. It doesn't connect anything to anything but holy shit is it scenic. Absolutely magnificent view.
QuoteUS-30 in Nebraska.
I'll see your US-30 in Nebraska and raise you an N-2 across Nebraska
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 03:02:17 PM
Colorado 141- everybody gets caught up in US 191 (Moab) and US 550 (better marketing), but 141 is amazing. I drove it during the height of summer last year on a beautiful day and had sixty miles of breathtaking scenery all to myself.
Was it you who made a post about this very road recently? Because that was another thing that inspired me to create this thread...I saw someone mention CO 141 on this board and, having never heard of it before, did some research and was blown away by how awesome it looked.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 01, 2013, 01:58:11 PM
US-30 in Nebraska.
I took this on a Greyhound. Felt like it would never end.
the road from Montrose CO to Moab Utah is really nice.
QuoteWas it you who made a post about this very road recently? Because that was another thing that inspired me to create this thread...I saw someone mention CO 141 on this board and, having never heard of it before, did some research and was blown away by how awesome it looked.
Yes- I took it on a whim back last July with no idea what to expect and nearly fell over- not only at the scenery but the sheer lack of cars relative to the scenery. I'd been on US 50 all day passing seriously hundreds of RVs and not a single one was to be found on 141.
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 03:02:17 PM
Colorado 141- everybody gets caught up in US 191 (Moab) and US 550 (better marketing), but 141 is amazing. I drove it during the height of summer last year on a beautiful day and had sixty miles of breathtaking scenery all to myself.
Colorado 145 south of Telluride is also pretty neat, though on a nice summer day you'll likely be sharing it with bicyclists who have the same idea.
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 03:02:17 PM
I'll see your US-30 in Nebraska and raise you an N-2 across Nebraska
I've only done 2 where it is multiplexed with 71; you are right that I am probably missing out. 71 in general is quite scenic, and also very fast. for the other end of the state, I really like 4 between 77 and 81; it follows several river beds and there are also plenty of old alignments to find.
for something completely different, US-36 in Kansas.
Down in the Great Smokies, it seems like the Tail of the Dragon (US-129) gets most of the attention. But I really enjoyed US-74 from Cleveland, TN, all the way to I-40 near Asheville. The OP mentioned no Interstates nor major US routes, but I'm not sure I'd count this one as a "major" US route in practice (number notwithstanding) simply because for most of the drive I was the ONLY car on the road for miles at a time. I love having the road all to myself through highly scenic areas (which this road certainly had) so that I can go slowly to look at the scenery if I want or I can drive fast and recklessly if I want.
In a completely different vein, Virginia primary routes 22/231 between Charlottesville (technically Shadwell) and Gordonsville are a nice drive through rolling countryside with a lot of large properties belonging to some very wealthy people. There is a really beautiful small Episcopalian church just north of the 22/231 split that is, to me, the highlight of the drive between Northern Virginia and Charlottesville. I simply love passing that church, especially at night when it's lit up. Can't really get a good Street View image because the trees are in the way. I also find this route to be a more pleasant drive than Route 20, which roughly parallels it on the other side of a ridge to the west, because in my experience Route 20 can be painfully slow. Neither road has all that many passing zones due to curves and hills, but for some reason the traffic on Route 20 is just substantially slower. Most people going from Charlottesville to Northern Virginia use US-29 and are unaware of the more scenic route to the east, or else they refuse to consider it because a portion of the most direct version of the scenic route uses I-95 between Fredericksburg and NOVA.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 01, 2013, 03:36:05 PM
for something completely different, US-36 in Kansas.
Ugh. Yeah, it's different alright, but not in a good way.
Parts of NE 2 east of Alliance might be good for railfans. It follows a line used a lot (like once every few minutes at times) by coal trains headed east.
FL 17 (Scenic Highway) is a departure from standard Florida fare; hills, curves, lakes, small towns, and few traffic signals. Passes by many orange groves, so during springtime, the orange blossoms make for a nice experience.
CR 42 (former FL 42) is also a lightly-traveled route; twists and turns, dips and dives, alongside Ocala National Forest. Watch your speed as you enter Altoona, though.
CA 78 (east of I-15) and CA 79 give you all kinds of scenery in San Diego County.
Edit: "It was" wasn't necessary.
Quote from: formulanone on May 01, 2013, 06:22:41 PM
FL 17 (Scenic Highway) is a departure from standard Florida fare; hills, curves, lakes, small towns, and few traffic signals. Passes by many orange groves, so during springtime, the orange blossoms make for a nice experience. It was
A bit to the north is CR 455, a similar hilly road: http://www.floridascenichighways.com/green-mountain-scenic-byway/
Just off the route is Sugarloaf Mountain, the peninsula's highest point (and much more prominent than that Britton Hill BS). West of there, the narrow but paved Grassy Lake Road impressed me. Even northbound on the Turnpike has a nice vista coming over the rise at Grassy Lake Road.
California route 253, Boonville-Ukiah Road. Very scenic, very lightly traveled, lots of twisty passages to try out your cornering ability.
Well, if I must:
http://goo.gl/maps/7Ar70
http://goo.gl/maps/iyfbs
Don't go telling everyone you know about these, though :-D
Mattole Road, beginning at Ferndale CA (S of Eureka - hi, Alan!), then over the coastal range and down to the coast. It goes through Petrolia and eventually brings you to U.S. 101 at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It goes by Cape Mendocino, and geology geeks would know this area as close to the Pacific/North America/Gorda plates triple point. Isolated area, no gas stations, no cell phone signals.
Another one: This leads to a blueberry farm that could use a little more business :sombrero:
http://goo.gl/maps/AOmlq
Quote from: oscar on May 01, 2013, 04:10:34 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 01, 2013, 03:36:05 PM
for something completely different, US-36 in Kansas.
Ugh. Yeah, it's different alright, but not in a good way.
Parts of NE 2 east of Alliance might be good for railfans. It follows a line used a lot (like once every few minutes at times) by coal trains headed east.
Heh, really? I love 36 across Kansas. That whole south of I-80 but not in the Flint Hills east-west tier is pretty boring but 36 makes the best of it- I think it's a neat transition from east-west and enjoy some of the towns along the way. It's certainly nicer than 6 or 34 or Nebraska 4 a few miles north.
The drawback to 36 across Kansas is that there's little way to drive it without also having to drive 36 from Kansas to Denver, which is one of the most brutally boring drives I've ever been on.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 01, 2013, 04:06:13 PM
In a completely different vein, Virginia primary routes 22/231 between Charlottesville (technically Shadwell) and Gordonsville are a nice drive through rolling countryside with a lot of large properties belonging to some very wealthy people. There is a really beautiful small Episcopalian church just north of the 22/231 split that is, to me, the highlight of the drive between Northern Virginia and Charlottesville. I simply love passing that church, especially at night when it's lit up. Can't really get a good Street View image because the trees are in the way. I also find this route to be a more pleasant drive than Route 20, which roughly parallels it on the other side of a ridge to the west, because in my experience Route 20 can be painfully slow. Neither road has all that many passing zones due to curves and hills, but for some reason the traffic on Route 20 is just substantially slower.
That church was quite a surprise the first time I drove by it 17 years ago.
VA 231 from Madison to Sperryville is also quite nice.
VA 20 from Barboursville to VA 3 Wilderness is nice plus has few curves slowing one down although traffic volume north/east of Orange can be heavy sometimes.
Also beautiful and not full of traffic is the entirety of VA 39.
Mapmikey
Riverside Dr (part OH 257, part US 33) from southern Delaware County to abouth 5th Ave in Columbus.
Wilmington Rd through the valley just west of I-71 between Wilmington and Lebanon. Drive it in a small vehicle.
WV Secondary Route *
PA Route 31 between Bedford and Donegal or I-70 instead of the Turnpike. (Intersects PA 160 from the OP)
WIS 113 - complete with Merrimac Ferry - from Madison to Baraboo rather than I-90
Old York Rd/Old Trail Rd/Susquehanna Trail/MD 45 instead of I-83
US Route 16A
New Avenue, Main Street (Lemont), and Archer Avenue from Lockport to Willow Springs. Traverses the industrial and scenic Des Plaines River Valley. Starts off in forest preserves and oil refineries near Lockport, follows the valley into downtown Lemont, and then climbs up onto the bluff through forest preserves to Willow Springs.
Bluff Road on the other side of the river from Joliet Road to Lemont Road is less industrial and has a great little compound curve on a hill.
IL-71 from Ottawa to IL-178 isn't usually publicized, but goes through and by Starved Rock State Park. The road goes around and over canyons through the forest in terrain one usually does not associate with north-central Illinois.
H-58 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Until recently, the road wasn't even paved. H-58 goes through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from Munising (M-28) east to Grand Marais (M-77).
Canal Road from M-26 in Houghton, Michigan out to the Houghton Breakwater on the Portage Lake Waterway. It starts in urban/suburban Houghton, but passes by forests, farms, and sandy bluffs, and winds its way to a black stamp sand beach at Lake Superior. Its short length and low traffic makes it a great bicycle ride as well.
I like the roads of Wyoming. I like US 16 west of Newcastle. May seem boring to some but Wyoming has some long trains and you follow the track. Also love 14A across the Bighorns. May not be unknown but everyone talks about 14 (also nice) and 16 (somewhat boring)
Burr Trail, east of Boulder, Utah. I can't really claim "no one knows about it", since there's Google Street View. In early May a couple years ago, we had the road to ourselves, miles and miles from anywhere. Gorgeous red rock -- looks like Mars, except for the scattered plant life and breathable air.
Quote from: wphiii on May 01, 2013, 03:07:03 PM
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 03:02:17 PM
Colorado 141- everybody gets caught up in US 191 (Moab) and US 550 (better marketing), but 141 is amazing. I drove it during the height of summer last year on a beautiful day and had sixty miles of breathtaking scenery all to myself.
Was it you who made a post about this very road recently? Because that was another thing that inspired me to create this thread...I saw someone mention CO 141 on this board and, having never heard of it before, did some research and was blown away by how awesome it looked.
Agreed wholeheartedly; one of my most memorable drives to date. You pass through maybe a half-dozen canyons, each totally different in character. Actually, CO 141-145 is an advertised scenic byway, though not a very well-known one, perhaps because nobody can pronounce it to recommend it by word-of-mouth:
http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/unaweep-tabeguache.
Going back to the original PA example, I find that if you look on the PennDOT highway maps for any relatively through-routing that's made up of quadrant routes (4-digit secondaries) you'll have pretty good luck in scenery and/or character of the landscape. It's also worthwhile to explore the former alignments of routes like US 11/15 and US 22; they tend to remain relatively intact and have their former days sort of frozen in time.
Quote from: texaskdog on May 02, 2013, 10:29:34 AM
I like the roads of Wyoming. I like US 16 west of Newcastle. May seem boring to some but Wyoming has some long trains and you follow the track. Also love 14A across the Bighorns. May not be unknown but everyone talks about 14 (also nice) and 16 (somewhat boring)
speaking of Wyoming: US-20/26 through Wind River Canyon is fantastic.
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 08:04:09 PM
The drawback to 36 across Kansas is that there's little way to drive it without also having to drive 36 from Kansas to Denver, which is one of the most brutally boring drives I've ever been on.
you're right on this one. for some reason all the towns peter out, and then 36 itself is overloaded with trucks and in bad physical condition, so you can barely keep 60mph. If I were there again, I'd consider taking K-27 to Nebraska.
(I looked on the map real fast and it looks like there is an old alignment heading into Haigler, NE across the state line. anyone want to see if there's any old signs there? Google Street View does not cover it.)
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 02, 2013, 12:43:00 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on May 02, 2013, 10:29:34 AM
I like the roads of Wyoming. I like US 16 west of Newcastle. May seem boring to some but Wyoming has some long trains and you follow the track. Also love 14A across the Bighorns. May not be unknown but everyone talks about 14 (also nice) and 16 (somewhat boring)
speaking of Wyoming: US-20/26 through Wind River Canyon is fantastic.
Good one, drove that one to go by Independence Rock & Casper
I'm sure y'all know about it but I'm surprised how on travel sites you never hear about Utah 12. One of my favorite roads.
QuoteI like the roads of Wyoming. I like US 16 west of Newcastle. May seem boring to some but Wyoming has some long trains and you follow the track. Also love 14A across the Bighorns. May not be unknown but everyone talks about 14 (also nice) and 16 (somewhat boring)
I like 14A too. 16 is a weird one- it's fairly boring eastbound but very scenic westbound.
I have "driven" Colorado SH 141 using CDOT photologging imagery. I agree it is scenic, but isn't it also twisty and rather slow (innumerable 40 MPH bends)?
Edit: I'm referring to the part between Naturita and Grand Junction--the part between Naturita and US 491, which I have actually driven, has some twisty lengths and a mountain pass crossing, but also a long length of 65 MPH straight at the south end.
I did it in a rental Kia Soul- since there's not much traffic you can open up and make good time. I think I averaged about 58 from Naturita to the US 50 junction- I don't remember exactly but I do remember it took a lot less time than I budgeted it taking when I was scheduling the day's drives, and I even got out a few times to take pictures. It's a lot easier drive than, say, 191 north of Morenci AZ which I'd define as "twisty and rather slow"
There isn't a massive contingent of RV traffic as there is in much of that part of the country and even if one was to bump into one, you can often see far enough around the corners/down the canyon to safely pass. I'd bet it's no slower to drive 141 than it is, say 191 at parallel latitudes in Utah at the height of tourist season simply because the tourists mostly aren't on 141. Either way it's a more pleasant experience because you get to drive at your own pace and take in the scenery instead of devoting 90% of your attention to passing the RV in front of you, giving cursory glances to the parallel scenery.
Quote from: corco on May 02, 2013, 03:02:19 PM
QuoteI like the roads of Wyoming. I like US 16 west of Newcastle. May seem boring to some but Wyoming has some long trains and you follow the track. Also love 14A across the Bighorns. May not be unknown but everyone talks about 14 (also nice) and 16 (somewhat boring)
I like 14A too. 16 is a weird one- it's fairly boring eastbound but very scenic westbound.
hmm never thought of it that way. I guess you're more excited heading TO Yellowstone.
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 02, 2013, 03:07:13 PM
I have "driven" Colorado SH 141 using CDOT photologging imagery. I agree it is scenic, but isn't it also twisty and rather slow (innumerable 40 MPH bends)?
Edit: I'm referring to the part between Naturita and Grand Junction--the part between Naturita and US 491, which I have actually driven, has some twisty lengths and a mountain pass crossing, but also a long length of 65 MPH straight at the south end.
Hey it's not about speed :)
Quotehmm never thought of it that way. I guess you're more excited heading TO Yellowstone.
The results of Yellowstone (all those mountain/river systems coming together) give Wyoming quite a few routes like that. For instance, 191 southbound from Pinedale is terribly boring, but 191 northbound from Rock Springs isn't bad. Same with 287.
NY 97 from Port Jervis north past Barryville is squeezed between the Delaware River and Mountains - very picturesque, but not very well travelled.
Quote from: empirestate on May 02, 2013, 11:53:40 AM
Quote from: wphiii on May 01, 2013, 03:07:03 PM
Quote from: corco on May 01, 2013, 03:02:17 PM
Colorado 141- everybody gets caught up in US 191 (Moab) and US 550 (better marketing), but 141 is amazing. I drove it during the height of summer last year on a beautiful day and had sixty miles of breathtaking scenery all to myself.
Was it you who made a post about this very road recently? Because that was another thing that inspired me to create this thread...I saw someone mention CO 141 on this board and, having never heard of it before, did some research and was blown away by how awesome it looked.
Agreed wholeheartedly; one of my most memorable drives to date. You pass through maybe a half-dozen canyons, each totally different in character. Actually, CO 141-145 is an advertised scenic byway, though not a very well-known one, perhaps because nobody can pronounce it to recommend it by word-of-mouth:
http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/unaweep-tabeguache.
Going back to the original PA example, I find that if you look on the PennDOT highway maps for any relatively through-routing that's made up of quadrant routes (4-digit secondaries) you'll have pretty good luck in scenery and/or character of the landscape. It's also worthwhile to explore the former alignments of routes like US 11/15 and US 22; they tend to remain relatively intact and have their former days sort of frozen in time.
I remember being pleasantly surprised by CO-90 coming from Utah, not too far away.
For a way to cut from I-57 to I-24, I recommend Tick Ridge road in far southern Illinois, from New Grand Chain to Joppa.
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 02, 2013, 03:07:13 PM
I have "driven" Colorado SH 141 using CDOT photologging imagery. I agree it is scenic, but isn't it also twisty and rather slow (innumerable 40 MPH bends)?
If it is, I didn't retain any meaningful recollection of the fact. I don't remember any characteristics of the road itself that detracted from my enjoyment of it, or that greatly deviated from my expectation of any 2-lane Colorado state route. I certainly had time to get from Grand Junction down to Telluride and back, with ample stops, in one leisurely day's driving.
Delaware 9 up to New Castle, if you excuse the Delaware City Refinery.
Here's a few roads less travelled in Connecticut that are definitely worth it for the scenery:
* CT 40 (Mount Carmel Connector) in North Haven and Hamden - Enjoy the rock cliffs along this very short expressway.
* CT 154 in Old Saybrook - It's got some really nice water views, as well as a causeway.
* CT 34 in Derby - A nice ride along the Housatonic River with cliffs on the other side of the road
In the Hudson Valley:
* Rockland CR 90 and US 9W in Haverstraw - Good river views with cliffs
And finally a couple of roads on Long Island with nice water views that aren't considered major enough to get a numerical designation:
* Lloyd Harbor Road in Lloyd Harbor
* West Shore Road from Oyster Bay to Bayville
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 01, 2013, 01:58:11 PM
US-30 in Nebraska.
I second this. I also like to add Iowa 9 to the list.
Just about any road, whether it be a US or state highway, county highway, or town road, in the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin is a beautiful drive. Some of my favorites are:
Grant County O from US 151 to US 61
Grant County B from Platteville to US 61
Lafayette County Z heading west from Darlington
WIS 133 from Potosi to Cassville, along the Mississippi River
WIS 80 from Muscoda to Richland Center
S. Oak Park Road, which branches off of US 151 about 1.5 miles south of Mineral Point. Up and down over some high ridges, with a couple hairpin curves thrown in.
Holland Rd. outside of Belmont and Darlington. This road is a real roller coaster, with a narrow little one lane bridge at the bottom of a steep hill.
Dugway Rd near Glen Haven. A basically one lane gravel path leading out of Glen Haven, en the edge of a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. At one point is a clear 20-30 foot drop down to the railroad tracks on your left, with the bluff overhanging the road about 15 feet above you. This is probably my favorite of them all.
VA 183 and SR 613 in Northampton County, on the Eastern Shore. Lots of tight, slightly banked curves and in surprisingly good condition. Also, lots of rustic scenery for people more into that than hoonage.
Too many to count. Some of my Virginia favorites include SR 600 on the Eastern Shore, SR 601 between US 15/VA 234 and The Plains, and SR 635 in western Fauquier County.
I'll add my name to WA129/OR3. I only drive it south to the border crossing to clinch a county. But, that is one impressive drive the whole way.
One of my favorites is MT200 from Mill Hall to Circle and MT200S to Glendive.
One that's WAY out of the way is TX349 from I-10 in Sheffield to US90 in Dryden. Pure desolation. Saw one car the whole way.
IL-23 going north or south between DeKalb and US-30 at sunset. With the wind turbines in the background, excellent pictures
There are several routes between I-95 and the mountains in Virginia that are like this. (US 33, VA 6, US 60, VA 3, US 211)
Try US 259 in SE Oklahoma.
I'd nominate US-89A south (east) of Fredonia, AZ and AZ-98, though the US-89 landslide may have helped them become a little less "not known."
Quote from: Rover_0 on June 20, 2013, 04:22:39 PM
I'd nominate US-89A south (east) of Fredonia, AZ and AZ-98, though the US-89 landslide may have helped them become a little less "not known."
we made the mistake of taking 89 west of Page. SO BORING!
It's amazing! US 89 west of Page is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country but it manages to perfectly avoid ALL of it. 89A is pretty cool.
heh, 89 may be the most boring route in that general area, but I still think it is more scenic than a lot of routes in other parts of the country which are considered interesting. maybe I'm just a sucker for red rocks, but 89 is more interesting to me than the best of maybe 15-20 states.
(sorry North Dakota.)
Ohio SR-78, between Glouster & McConnellsville is nicknamed the "The Rim Of the World". The road is windy, hilly and provides a spectacular vistas north of the road.
NY 46 and NY 274 around Delta Lake
PA 120 from Lock Haven to Ridgway
US 522 Mt. Union PA to Maryland Line
And even though its Interstate, I Have to add I-88 in NY. Its 100+ miles of just pure pleasure with scenic rolling hills and valleys with peaceful small towns every 10-20 miles Very lightly traveled for an interstate. Its what I wished I-81 was like; It has some very nice scenery on it too, BUT the traffic and trucks on it are just Horrible!!!
Quote from: oldparoadgeek on September 09, 2013, 12:00:19 AM
And even though its Interstate, I Have to add I-88 in NY. Its 100+ miles of just pure pleasure with scenic rolling hills and valleys with peaceful small towns every 10-20 miles Very lightly traveled for an interstate. Its what I wished I-81 was like; It has some very nice scenery on it too, BUT the traffic and trucks on it are just Horrible!!!
Seems that I-88 isn't really on the through route to anywhere. Coming north on I-81 and cutting over to I-87, you actually save 10 miles by taking I-84 rather than I-88. (Yes, you do pay a toll that you wouldn't by taking I-88.) And staying with I-81 into Canada is significantly shorter if going to Montreal. The only cities that get a shorter mileage via I-88 are in the Southern Tier.
If I-88 is empty, parallel NY 7 must be a great bike route - relatively flat, nice scenery, and little traffic.
Two stretches of California 23: one from PCH north to Westlake Village, then the other stretch between Moorpark and Fillmore. In between, the route goes through outlying suburbs of Los Angeles that were mostly built only within the last 40 years and is also partially on freeway.
Arkansas 123 south of Arkansas 7
US 259 between US 59/270 to US 70
Whatever floats your boat... or, in this case.... FERRY. CA-84 in Rio Vista, CA to CA-220. May not be the nicest drives, but it takes you on the two California-operated ferries.
CA 2 - not the part in urbanland.
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 02, 2013, 03:07:13 PM
I have "driven" Colorado SH 141 using CDOT photologging imagery. I agree it is scenic, but isn't it also twisty and rather slow (innumerable 40 MPH bends)?
Edit: I'm referring to the part between Naturita and Grand Junction--the part between Naturita and US 491, which I have actually driven, has some twisty lengths and a mountain pass crossing, but also a long length of 65 MPH straight at the south end.
The first time I drove it was coming back from Cortez at night en route to Grand Junction.
Desolate?? Yes!
Twisty?? Yes, although the night I drove I had at least a half-moon overhead, and I definitely remember seeing the moon out of all my car's windows that night as I drove, but I want to say that I made a lot better time than I thought -- even with the occasional deer/elk/mountain goat(s) in the middle of the road scenario.
And one thing to mention about CO-141 south of CO-145: Disappointment Valley is exactly that!!!
Quote from: SSOWorld on September 10, 2013, 09:14:36 PM
CA 2 - not the part in urbanland.
The Angeles Crest Highway? Certainly that's known well, at least in Socal?