Colorado Loop

[Jennifircone]

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!