Summer loop

Missed that !!!!!!!

Thought we were calling it a SUMMER LOOP -- not a long week. In that case just catch a quick Colorado loop of;

Colorado, and the many options for a trip.


Let me start off by saying that IMHO Colorado offers as much Adventure and Beauty as any part of the country – add to that that is very close to the center of the US and it’s exceptional weather make it a great destination vacation.


In my first dozen plus trips to Colorado I usually traveled to RMNP and Colorado Springs. Having spent most of my life either on the left coast or the right coast I actually only did the touristy drive through when going from one coast to the other. I never really was able to spend much time just being immersed in the culture or the people and land of the state. Having seen the Coors commercials I was under the impression that Golden was a town located deep in the Rockies – not just 15 minutes from downtown Denver. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered this and so much more about the state when my son moved there in 2002.


With my truth in a very limited -knowledge, on the state of Colorado I will move forward with my personal suggestions for a week or two in Colorado – a sort of 7-17 days to see the state.

So let’s start at the obvious spot, Denver/ Golden – you could start with a tour of the Coors brewery catch dinner in the town and then have a great walk along Clear Creek, you will need a little planning to get a site in the CG as it has now been Discovered and is normally FULL.(option is JeffCoFairgrounds)

Peak to Peak drive is the next thing I would insist that you experience – for me I would base camp in Golden and make this drive a couple of times, or make the loop across Trail Ridge and Berthoud Pass – not a drive for the faint of heart as both offer switch backs and areas free from guard rails on some very impressive grades to get over and down from these Passes.(the reason for the base camp is to allow a couple of good drives. (Peak to Peak and Trail Ridge)


Most people will start in Rocky Mountain NP – I am sure most are aware of the Pine Beetle Kill – it has decimated the beautiful green forest of RMNP – making it a very different trip from what it was just 5-6 years ago. Still it is RMNP and it does have some very impressive natural features and hikes to offer. IMHO Estes is (the east side of the park – where most visit) just not that attractive in the tourist season. The Camp Grounds leave much to be desired and the town is much too crowded for my personal taste. With that said I love to visit and spend time on the other side of the park – WEST- at Grand Lake a smaller town with still a sort of quaint feel about it, much more family oriented and not nearly as crowded. The drive from one side of the park to the other over Trail Ridge is not to be missed – the many hiking areas away from the crowds are many and varied – from Longs Peaks- 14,000’+ to many of the hikes to lesser known peaks and lakes, more than enough to spend the entire trip on and only scratch the surface. ( if you were to drive over Trail Ridge you could make aa quick run to The Steamboat area –Lakes –Town State Parks – just lots to see and do in this area then just head down to Dillon and pick up there)


Leaving Golden I would head out Rt 6, driving along Clear Creek to Idaho Springs and the entrance onto I-70 going through the tunnel and getting off on at Rt 91 and heading to Leadville, Highest incorporated Town in the US 10,000’and home of Quincy’s Steak House for a Leadville dinner. Turquoise Lake, 4X4 trails, historic town, and base for a day trip over Independence Pass and a dash to Maroon Bells in Aspen. This trip is good anytime the pass is open but is truly spectacular in the last week of September when the Aspen turn GOLD. (this is taken in the Toad or TV as it is a restricted road)


From Leadville down to Buena Vista – home of the Arkansas River Rafting adventures – great in the early summer with the snow melt. If you have missed the rafting at its, peak not to worry, as the trails and drives in the Collegiate Peaks are again very special, you can get all the way over to Crested Butte – a very neat little ski town – by 4X4 or gravel road. (Home of Bud Light commercials)


Just a note here – the beetle kill is starting to leave its mark in this part of the state – so my advice is to see it NOW, before it changes forever.

If you are into crossing National Parks off a list then the next destination would be Great Sand Dunes NP, this could be Toad drive or a stop but unless you just love sand in your shoes you see most of it pretty quickly.


Now for some difficult decisions – Gunnison area – Lake City – Ouray – Silverton – Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP – Gunnison Lake – Fly Fishing Hikes and 4X4 trails that are hard to believe if you have the time all of the afore mentioned areas are special.


Lake City – Just a special little town that still has a western charm that is hard to match – 4X4 trails to die for – hikes – lakes – 14ers – fish – Creede and on and on – its is just located in something close to an unspoiled paradise. JMHO.


Ouray or Ridgeview SP – would be the logical base camp choice – central location – hot springs – CG – Near Silverton – more trails – Telluride just over the mountain – Hikes -- 4X4 trails just a great location and neat little town/area
.

Silverton – in the middle of it all – if you are really into the back country this might just be for you – they have CG’s in town but you can easily Boondock in the NF – train – 4X4 trails – quaint – beautiful – but isolated.


Now if the weather is really cool you can always bounce over to Utah and warm up if its great and you need more Colorado head up to Delta and Rt 133, catch Marble and Redstone before getting back on I-70 two interesting areas with neat little history’s. If you did not get over to Maroon Bells catch it now – this is a great treat that I will never visit too often.


Now if you are headed west just follow the route into Moab – if you are headed back to Denver just take I-70 back – the over and under highway along the Colorado River just East of Glenwood Springs is considered one of the most beautiful parts on the Interstate Highway system and it will head through Vail and right back into Denver – If you can remember to get off at the exit just east of Idaho Springs you can take Rt 6 back to Rt 58 into the City.


The other Option, if you are headed South is to head down to Mesa Verde NP/Cortez by using Rt 145 or through Silverton Rt 550 to Durango and over (Note that 550 is a road that some love and other just think everyone should stay off -- I’ll drive it every time I have a chance but google it to see pictures)

Well that’ my welcome to Colorado Loop – just to drive it and only see most of it would take the week and just not be fair but if you really push it it can get into the state so you return Often.

BOL,

Busskipper

Busskipper: Good planning but I believe he stated in a later post that he only has 10 days from Amarillo. Perhaps I read it incorrectly.

clnhse wrote:
Looking for suggestions on a Summer loop. I am thinking of using Amarillo as a jumping off point to do a Northern loop. I would like to do Pikes Peak, Tetons, Yellowstone etc.... please offer suggestions.

I can push it to 1000 in one day. I own a 43 mountain aire. I need full hook ups. I want to see the main national parks. I do not need to stay for days on end. Normally I drive to Dallas pull over and hit it hard the next day. I have two teenagers. It would be my wife and two kids. I plan on doing this at the start of June. Thanks for the advice already.

Driving is not an issue- but for the rest of your crews sake might try to limit the long days to a couple going out and coming back, that’s just from quite a few miles and many more years, of traveling back and forth, with passengers like you have.

With you having the summer and doing a loop the question would be where to start – My suggestion is to go to the furthest point and head back to Amarillo before heading home. So put Custer in as the starting point and head out

This will give you Mt Rushmore and couple of Great Caves to explore, along with Custer State Park and the Black Hills. The drive up is long and not a lot of big points but we have found a number of reservoirs and smaller SP’s that are fun along the way. 3 days up and 3 days there to explore – let’s call it week one.

Now head to Devils Tower short drive where you could spend the night or do the quick touristy thing and get out with ½ a day. Then on to Glacier NP, take your time driving as just the drive is fun, Glacier is one of the places that will be interesting, by the time you get there they should have Going to the Sun Road, cleared of the snow, and you will have just so much to see and do – spend some time researching and every drive/hike will be rewarding. Lakes – Rivers – landmarks – just so much in both the US and Canada to see and do. (I’ll suggest you take the time, a couple of nights and stay in the Prince of Wales Hotel and Glacier Park Lodge, to totally understand the history of the parks and to enjoy the FULL beauty) I also suggest getting into the surrounds and the Lakes and Rivers outside the park, the park is Special but the surrounds are not Bad, so take the time to learn and explore.

Now on the road to (again a beautiful drive) Yellowstone, as the first and one of the largest Parks, this might take some time, I usually suggest this be divided into two parts North loop and surrounds outside the West/North/East side of the Park – Beartooth – Chief Joseph – Red Lodge – Cody – Lots of great drives and adventures outside the park. After you finish the North Loop then do the Same on the South (You must spend a night in the Yellowstone Lodge) Then leaving for The Tetons and then on to Jackson Just Soak in the Blue Sky and Shear beauty – hopefully you will get out and Hike and Touch some of the parks as there will never be anything like it again. (until you return, you will return!)

Now on to Flaming Gorge, my suggestion is to come around on the West side and stay at the Marina CG right on the boarder of Utah and Wyoming, will allow you to fish for dinner and camp in a pretty neat spot. With teenaged kids this might be a good time to rent a boat and let them just unwind a little rest up and recharge before you continue on into Colorado.

Dinosaur NM will be the next stop, no matter how old you are the bones are something you never forget so learn a little and then take the time to see the park it has some interesting history, along with the Green River and some good hikes.

OK if I have been a help on this part of the trip let me know, How much time do we have for Colorado – This is my second home so you will need to give me some guidance as to how much time and how broad you want this part of the trip? If I were doing the driving and leading the tour we would be entering week 5 or 6, so let me know and we can send you home or continue on for the rest of the summer in Colorado – with Ski resorts, for fine dining and shopping, White water rafting and 4X4 trails to Die For the trip is just getting going.

Let me know.

You can't take the RV to Pikes Peak but you can drive the car, hike or take the cog railroad. If the OP is passing by, why not experience it?

Pikes Peak is "Up a mountain" go west from Pike to 24 W to I 70. It's pretty country.

I can push it to 1000 in one day. I own a 43 mountain aire. I need full hook ups. I want to see the main national parks. I do not need to stay for days on end. Normally I drive to Dallas pull over and hit it hard the next day. I have two teenagers. It would be my wife and two kids. I plan on doing this at the start of June. Thanks for the advice already.

clnhse wrote:
Looking for suggestions on a Summer loop. I am thinking of using Amarillo as a jumping off point to do a Northern loop. I would like to do Pikes Peak, Tetons, Yellowstone etc.... please offer suggestions.

Time of year?
Amount of time ?
Rustic or full hook ups?
Number of people and ages?
Hiker or just drive by?
National and State Parks?
Tourist Traps?
Little of both?
Miles / day?
Type of Rig?

If you can give us the info we can give you some insight, otherwise it's just like sp**ting in the wind.

JMHO,

He stated he wanted to do Pikes Peak.

We love 550 through Silverton/Ouray but wasn't sure of the OP's mountain experience. He's from Louisiana. :)

Yes, many ways to get to Yellowstone - just depends on time and what stops he's considering. Your suggestion is good though.

2gypsies wrote:
With 10 days I would take 87 out of Amarillo to I-25 north to Colorado Springs and Piles Peak. Then take 24 to Buena Vista and north to I-70.

I-70 west to 13 at Rifle, CO. North on 13 to Craig, CO and into Wyoming on 789 to I-80. West on I-80 to 191 at Rock Springs, WY. North on 191 to Jackson, WY. This is a good place to stock up on groceries and fuel - a couple large groceries just south of Jackson.

Then head into Grand Teton Nat'l Park. Stay at Colter Bay RV if you want full hookups or Gros Ventre or Colter Bay campgrounds if dry camping is o.k.

Grand Teton Nat'l Park

Continue north through Teton NP into Yellowstone. Fishing Bridge RV in the park is the only one with full hookups. There are many dry campgrounds. Madison is nice.

Yellowstone Nat'l Park

Your 10 days will go by fast so plan on heading straight back. If you can squeeze in more time it would be advisable.

Similar, but instead of leaving Amarillo and heading to Colorado Springs, go west on I40 to Albuquerque, then north on I25 to 550 (Bernalillo exit). Take 550 through Durango, Silverton, and Ouray. Drive up the west slope of Colorado to get to Utah, Wyoming, and points north.

With 10 days I would take 87 out of Amarillo to I-25 north to Colorado Springs and Piles Peak. Then take 24 to Buena Vista and north to I-70.

I-70 west to 13 at Rifle, CO. North on 13 to Craig, CO and into Wyoming on 789 to I-80. West on I-80 to 191 at Rock Springs, WY. North on 191 to Jackson, WY. This is a good place to stock up on groceries and fuel - a couple large groceries just south of Jackson.

Then head into Grand Teton Nat'l Park. Stay at Colter Bay RV if you want full hookups or Gros Ventre or Colter Bay campgrounds if dry camping is o.k.

Grand Teton Nat'l Park

Continue north through Teton NP into Yellowstone. Fishing Bridge RV in the park is the only one with full hookups. There are many dry campgrounds. Madison is nice.

Yellowstone Nat'l Park

Your 10 days will go by fast so plan on heading straight back. If you can squeeze in more time it would be advisable.