Posted on 10/01/2010 8:47:41 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
Hey, FRiends. Mrs. POF and I are driving from Twin Falls, ID to Boulder, CO week after next. We are going to visit relatives in Twin and SLC and then have 3-1/2 days to get from SLC to Boulder.
What do you recommend we do in CO? Should we stay on the Western Slope? Visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison? Crested Butte? Head more into the Rockies? We love to hike, but probably 6,000 feet tops because we live at sea level in CA.
Ideas on what to see and where to stay would be greatly appreciated. Mrs. POF would like to stay at ski resort towns like Vail or Aspen, but I say "over my dead body." I want to find a ranch or remote resort, rustic but comfortable. What do you say?
Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National park)
Durango (Mesa Verde)
Well, everything in Colorado is UP! Boulder is pretty much at 6,000 feet ... but you must drive into the mountains - anywhere right now - as the seasonal leaf change is stunning this year. Rocky Mtn National Park, or any of the other destinations - you cannot go wrong with. Enjoy!
When in Boulder just head up into the mountains, you’ll not be disappointed.
oh yeah - 6,000 feet is called “West Kansas”
just drink lots of water, move slower, and carry some tylenol
Estes Park..........fantastic. And there is a BBQ place just off the main street that is to die for. Estes Park is so beautiful, especially this time of year.
Estes Park or Ouray
My favorite is to stay near Lake City and rent a jeep to make the Alpine Loop (weather permitting). The mountains are so majestic and breathtaking!
Altitude is way up there, but who needs to hike when you have a jeep.
Dine at Django’s Restaurant in Crested Butte.
From SLC go south into Canyonlands and the and from Moab (both in Utah)and go to Durango, CO and Pagosa Springs and over Wolf Creek Pass and up the west side of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains through the San Lius Valley and north into metro Denver and north into Boulder.
This is from memory so consult a map. Have fun!
“What do you recommend we do in CO? Should we stay on the Western Slope? Visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison? Crested Butte? Head more into the Rockies? We love to hike, but probably 6,000 feet tops because we live at sea level in CA.”
You won’t see much in the way of mountains that way. I live south of Denver east of the foothills. Our house is over 6,000 feet. We look up at the foothills. Just drink a lot of water and take it slow. You’ll be OK hiking much higher than that.
Some highlights:
Trailridge: Rocky Mountain Nat Park
Mesa Verde:
Ouray
Maroon Bells Lake
Hanging Lake (nice day hike)
Great Sand Dunes
South Park area
Leadville
You won’t go wrong with any of them.
Go to Durango and take the narrow gauge railroad to Silverton. It’s one of the best day trips my wife and I have ever taken.
Coors Brewery Tour in Golden Colorado. Mmmmm... Free Beer...
We live in Ca and camp every year there. We always drive to flagstaff from so. california. This way the first night is getting used to the altitude. Stay at Little america, go through travelocity for lodging. Eat at cracker barrel off butler road. This is I 40 route.
Once along that route you can pick up mesa verda.
From there you can catch Ouray, or Glenwood hotsprings, soak in the springs (especially at night) Drive through durango silverton. (beautiful highway) The greatest will be the aspens turning. Crested butte is beautiful. Telluride is stunning. A free gondola that is worth the drive. There is really 2 towns in telluride. The old mining town (where you can get a rustic room or the resort at mt village) ride bikes, fish, hike. All is good. From there you can hit glenwood hotsprings (soak at the springs)and be on I-70 for your trip into denver. Make sure you hit some mountain bakeries.
On your return stay on I70 catch zion on the way through Cedar city utah. Freep mail me if you have other questions.
LOL, RF.
Yes, be careful not to wear your “Proud Conservative” button in Boulder...
Come on up to Steamboat Springs: beautiful now.
We drive to Colorado from California and always stop at Glenwood Hot Springs for a couple of hours in the mineral pool there. Talk about feeling rejuvenated!
For a scenic, old highway route, you could take US-40 from SLC all the way to Empire, CO, I-70 to Idaho Springs, north on CO-72 to Blackhawk/Central City for some blackjack, then to Nederland, and down Bolder Canyon CO-119 to Boulder. Within ten miles difference from the all-interstate route across I-70.
Oh pack clothes for snow, extra blankets and water in the car.
The Cliff House in Manitou Springs is the best kept secret in Colorado. About 75 miles south of Denver, minutes from Pikes Peak.
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