- First Name
- Nathan
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2024
- Threads
- 19
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 139
- Location
- St. Peters, MO
- Vehicle(s)
- 2025 TRD Sport Premium
- Thread starter
- #1
Just wrapping up our trip from the St. Louis, MO area to Dillon, CO. Currently on our 13 hour return drive, so I figured I'd sum up the trip.
The drive out was very uneventful. Kansas doesn't offer much to look at other than farms and windmills (sorry, Kansas). About 9 hours into the drive, we hit the Colorado border.
I was not super impressed with the gas mileage we averaged, but given our cruising speed of about 80-85 across Kansas, it's probably accurate. We averaged 13.8 mpg.
Driving 70 through the mountains after got through Denver was a breeze. Our condo was right on the Dillon Resovoir and offered beautiful views.
Day one, we drove to Loveland Pass. Again, the drive up the switchbacks was effortless in the 4 cylinder turbo.
I'm not a super experienced off roader so we didn't venture off onto any trails that were too intense (or so we planned). I wanted to give OnX Offroad a try, so we found a 3/10 rated trail (Rock Island Road) and gave it a shot. It ended up being a bit more than we bargained for, especially by ourselves, so we only made it about 2 miles in before deciding to turn around. If I was prepared enough to air down, it would have been much more comfortable, but at regular tire pressure it was just too rough and uncomfortable. It was very steep uphill as well, but the 4Runner handle it with ease. I was in 4 LO the whole time. I still was able to get some beauty shots in at some of the less treacherous sections.
The next day didn't involve any off road adventures, but we traveled to check out Golden and Red Rocks. I got comically high fuel economy numbers on the way down the mountains from the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels that I just had to share. Several miles without having to touch the gas pedal.
The biggest off roading adventure was Boreas Pass. It's not anything difficult at all and we came across a few sedans along the route. It's pretty much one step above your average gravel road. It can get pretty rocky with large potholes at times. Several remote campsites along the road as well. We ventured off Boreas Pass Rd once. There is a logged/forested section that has a forest service road (FR-611 - Pennsylvania/Indiana Creek). The initial part was no worse than Rock Island Road. It was noted on OnX that it did get more difficult and we didn't want to get too far off our planned route anyway, so we stopped at the bottom and turned around and climbed back up to the top. The views with the Aspens at peak color along Boreas Pass are unbeatable.
From Como, we looped back through Hoosier Pass towards Breckenridge, making a quick stop at Montgomery Resovoir and Magnolia Mill.
Overall, very successful trip. Rolled over 10k miles and still loving every bit of it. Some new things on the way very soon!
The drive out was very uneventful. Kansas doesn't offer much to look at other than farms and windmills (sorry, Kansas). About 9 hours into the drive, we hit the Colorado border.
I was not super impressed with the gas mileage we averaged, but given our cruising speed of about 80-85 across Kansas, it's probably accurate. We averaged 13.8 mpg.
Driving 70 through the mountains after got through Denver was a breeze. Our condo was right on the Dillon Resovoir and offered beautiful views.
Day one, we drove to Loveland Pass. Again, the drive up the switchbacks was effortless in the 4 cylinder turbo.
I'm not a super experienced off roader so we didn't venture off onto any trails that were too intense (or so we planned). I wanted to give OnX Offroad a try, so we found a 3/10 rated trail (Rock Island Road) and gave it a shot. It ended up being a bit more than we bargained for, especially by ourselves, so we only made it about 2 miles in before deciding to turn around. If I was prepared enough to air down, it would have been much more comfortable, but at regular tire pressure it was just too rough and uncomfortable. It was very steep uphill as well, but the 4Runner handle it with ease. I was in 4 LO the whole time. I still was able to get some beauty shots in at some of the less treacherous sections.
The next day didn't involve any off road adventures, but we traveled to check out Golden and Red Rocks. I got comically high fuel economy numbers on the way down the mountains from the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels that I just had to share. Several miles without having to touch the gas pedal.
The biggest off roading adventure was Boreas Pass. It's not anything difficult at all and we came across a few sedans along the route. It's pretty much one step above your average gravel road. It can get pretty rocky with large potholes at times. Several remote campsites along the road as well. We ventured off Boreas Pass Rd once. There is a logged/forested section that has a forest service road (FR-611 - Pennsylvania/Indiana Creek). The initial part was no worse than Rock Island Road. It was noted on OnX that it did get more difficult and we didn't want to get too far off our planned route anyway, so we stopped at the bottom and turned around and climbed back up to the top. The views with the Aspens at peak color along Boreas Pass are unbeatable.
From Como, we looped back through Hoosier Pass towards Breckenridge, making a quick stop at Montgomery Resovoir and Magnolia Mill.
Overall, very successful trip. Rolled over 10k miles and still loving every bit of it. Some new things on the way very soon!
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