Drives Colorado Grand Junction and the Western Slope
US-50: Gunnison to Montrose
US 50 · Gunnison → Montrose
The drive
US 50 leaves Gunnison heading west and runs along Blue Mesa Reservoir, which Wikipedia calls the largest body of water in Colorado, crossing it at Middle Bridge. The road passes Curecanti National Recreation Area, climbs Blue Mesa Summit at 8,704 feet, then drops through Blue Creek Canyon.
From there the highway follows the Cimarron valley, goes over Cerro Summit at about 8,000 feet, and descends to Montrose. The drive is 60.9 miles and about 1 hr 6 min on a long, easy two-lane with moderate curves.
About ten miles east of Montrose, SH 347 leads 5.2 miles to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. That road is not part of this drive.
Along the way
- Gunnison (west edge)
- Montrose
Good to know
- Plan for turnouts at the reservoir; the drive is about an hour with no stops.
- Blue Mesa Summit and Cerro Summit are the high points of the drive.
- Check COtrip for current conditions.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check COtrip (CDOT).
Questions about this drive
How long does US 50 from Gunnison to Montrose take?
US 50 from Gunnison to Montrose is 60.9 miles and takes about 1 hr 6 min.
Does US 50 pass Blue Mesa Reservoir?
Yes. US 50 runs along Blue Mesa Reservoir west of Gunnison and crosses it at Middle Bridge.
How do you get to Black Canyon of the Gunnison from US 50?
About ten miles east of Montrose, SH 347 leaves US 50 and runs 5.2 miles to the national park.
What you get in the app
Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.
More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.