Colorado Loop

Hi All,

Following some great ideas from you guys a few months back about where to travel to with a little one in tow, we have now settled on Colorado. However as ever, I’m after a few extra pointers on timings and things to see.

So we plan to travel end May/start June next year for 2 weeks, and will be a party of 4 adults and one toddler (just under 2) so I wanted to bear that in mind with the travelling as I don’t want to be stuck in the car for a whole day travelling. I’ve been researching Colorado and it looks like there’s so much to do! I have initially come up with the below loop, but am not sure of the following:

- How long we may need in each stop (particularly some of the smaller stops like Silverton/Boulder – eg can we just spend the afternoon?) bearing in mind we may do some walks, but won’t be out hiking for hours!
- Have I missed any key sights? I know there are quite a few ghost towns but many seem to be out of the way of our loop? Are any worth the diversion?
- Is the loop too ambitious?

Here it is:
Denver – Rocky Mountains NP (via Boulder) – Glenwood Springs – Grand Junction – Black Canyon – Silverton – Durango( Mesa Verde) – Alamosa (Great Sand Dunes NP) – Colorado Springs – Denver.

I’m currently guessing we’ll spend 2 nights in each of Denver/Colorado Springs and Durango/Mesa Verde (or would you recommend more in any of these?)

It’s almost painful that we are soooo close to Monument Valley and Arches NP but I think to do either (certainly not both) would be a stretch too far and we would have to cut something else? Both my husband and I have been to both and LOVED them!

Your trip is set at a very relaxed pace compared to many but as always, it's your trip and it's what suits you and how you want to spend your time that is important. An option I would prefer is to visit Arches and Canyonlands NP's even at the expense of the Great sand Dunes NP. I wouldn't spend more than 2 nights in Denver, 1 would be enough for me so I could get out into nature, but again that's me. So if Arches were included, this is how the loop would work out. Denver > RMNP > Glenwood Springs > Grand junction [Colorado National Monument] > Moab for Arches and Canyonlands > Durango > Silverton > Black canyon > [Sand dunes ?]Colorado Springs > Denver.

From Grand junction to Moab you can cut through Castle Valley on UT128 which is a lovely drive alongside the Colorado river in parts. US50 from Black canyon will take through the Currecanti Nat Rec area and over Monarch pass.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jennifircone

Hi All,
<snip, snip>

Durango (Mesa Verde)

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Mesa Verde is fully worth two nights/3 days. Durango is an hour from the Mesa Verde National Park entrance. It is an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or more, drive to the main sights (an hour more out to the Wetherill Mesa). Two closer towns are Mancos and Cortez. Also, in Cortez, you can make tour reservations at the Mesa Verde Country Visitor Information Bureau on the afternoon or your arrival to the area. Cortez also has some good restaurants and brewery pub. Mancos has a great coffeehouse/breakfast eatery for your getaway day east.

I'd agree with the above. Mesa Verde is well worth all that time, however, I think landmariner meant to Say 2days/3nights..

If you want to do both the Cliff Palace tour and Balcony House on the one day, be sure to book at least 24 hours beforehand. The tours book up quickly, because it is the only way you can see these attractions, with the ranger's commentary. They are the most magnificent and historically significant attractions in the park.

When I did them there was a family with very young children in the group.

Don't overlook the Durango Silverton Railway, which the toddler and parents might enjoy.

Lifey

It's all about personal tastes and what you wish to see in the time you have, for me 2 nights and one full day at Mesa Verde would be enough when in area of such outstanding natural beauty with limited time.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll research Mesa Verde a little more to see what the options are.

Re ghost towns - does anyone have any thoughts on these? Are there any close enough to our proposed route or any that are worth a diversion?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

for me 2 nights and one full day at Mesa Verde would be enough when in area of such outstanding natural beauty with limited time.

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If you can do both tours on the one day, that would be ideal. So get onto booking them a few days before you get there.

Lifey

Sorry another question. If the Trail Ridge Road from RMNP is closed, what is the next best alternative when heading towards Glenwood Springs?

Also, if we were to spend one night somewhere, would you recommend Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction, if we were then heading on to Moab afterwards as per Southwest Dave's suggestion?

I would take the 'Peak to Peak' scenic Highway if the TRR was closed. This is using CO7/72/119 through Nederland and Central City to I70.

If you are booking in advance then I would choose Glenwood Springs as it's not too far from Moab and would allow you time to stop along the Trail Ridge road without being rushed. You could also drive over Loveland pass which crosses the Continental divide at almost 12000ft. It's a short detour from I70 onto US6.

I am not sure about genuine Ghost towns along your route, by their very nature they are often out of the way and difficult to get to, and if on dirt roads would most likely violate the terms of your rental contract which state you must not use on unpaved roads. I have searched for Ghost towns using this site in the past, but a general search of Colorado/Utah ghost towns will show results and difficulty to get to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

I would take the 'Peak to Peak' scenic Highway if the TRR was closed. This is using CO7/72/119 through Nederland and Central City to I70.

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That is the route suggested to me by the ranger, when the TRR was closed. It did not disappoint. I recall there was a lovely souvenir shop by a railway crossing, with fuel available and all...... but that was in 2001, so no guarantee that it is still the same.

Lifey

Hi all,

At the risk of being told off for asking too many questions of you guys, I'm back again as I just can't seem to get our itinerary right. My husband and I, my parents and my daughter (will be just under 2) will be arriving in Denver on 31 May. We have 14 nights and plan to spend the first 3 in Denver, and probably the final 2 in Colorado Springs. We don't want to spend huge amounts of time driving because I don't think it'll be that great for my daughter.

So, basically what we want to see is as folows but I'm a bit stumped as to the best way to do it, what order, and where to spend the nights? With 9 nights left we want to see:

RMNP (I was going to allow 2 nights?)
Colorado National Monument
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Million Dollar Highway (and surrounding towns: Ouray, Silverton etc), possibly a loop to incorporate whole San Juan Skyway but where best to stay?
Mesa Verde
Heard the drive over Monarch Pass was scenic and via Salida/St Elmo/Mt Princeton/Buena Vista towards Colorado Springs?
Any other suggestions?

Any thoughts gratefully reveived, else I will return to my maps again and stop harassing you guys!
Jenny :-)

Moderator Note: Please keep all questions about the same trip in the same thread.

With the time you've got available, I don't think doing a loop of the entire skyway is probably in your best interest.

From Montrose (Black Canyon), I think I'd spend a day making your way down the Million Dollar highway, and then spend a couple of nights in Durango. That will also make a good base for a day at Mesa Verde.

On the way back to Colorado Springs, rather than going all the way to Monarch Pass, I think I'd look to make a stop at Great Sand Dunes National Park to break up the drive.

Given what you have laid out, I would do it something like this. RMNP to Colorado National monument. From there head to Cortez and Mesa Verde NP via Telluride and Dolores taking in that section of the San Juan Skyway and then head to Durango and North to back to Montrose on the 'Million dollar Highway' section of the Skyway. So I slightly disagree with Michael in that you can do the Skyway without adding significant time or mileage. Then Black canyon, Currecanti Nat Rec area and over Monarch Pass to Colorado Springs. You have the option of continuing further on US50 through the canyon alongside the Arkansas river to Penrose and north on CO115. That would take you close the Royal Gorge bridge near Canon city if it appealed to you and you had the time to stop.

Thanks both for your advice. We've decided to stay a couple a nights at Durango to vist Mesa Verde, and from there we will be making our way to Colorado Springs. I'd like to go into CS via US24 so we can visit St Elmo Ghost town and possibly detour up to Fairplay, but I'm wondering if from Durango we should retrace our route up the Million Dollar Highway to Montrose then head over Monarch Pass, or should we take the US160 from Durango? Is one more scenic than the other? They look approximately the same mileage?

Also I was wondering about an overnight stop in Salida, or would you recommend somewhere else instead?

Many thanks!

When it comes to CO, it is hard to find a route which is not scenic. US 50 from Montrose would still allow you to take US24 into CS. Another thought is, since you will have already driven down the Million Dollar Highway, take US160 east out of Durango through Pagosa Springs - lovely hot springs - and over Wolfe Pass to Alamosa. If time allows this will give you an opportunity to call in at Sand Dunes NP.

Here is a picture I took in May 2009, of the creek at the base of the dunes. (Dad was just out of the picture.)

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...&pictureid=868

Lifey

Another option you might consider going from RMNP straight down to South Park (Fairplay) and the across Monarch to Black Canyon. I would probably do that, skip the Colorado Monument, and give yourself more time elsewhere, possibly giving yourself time for Sand Dunes.

I did both drives last year, as a Mountain Pass, I probably liked Wolfe Creek better than Monarch, but the rest of US-50 through the Curecanti Rec Area was quite nice. Really no bad choice there.