Planning our first big trip this coming late July. I've picked out some spots to visit, but with so many options in Colorado it may be easier to limit our options by eliminating routes we shouldn't probably be pulling a 24' trailer. Any advice where to get information on the best routes to travel in Colorado? We would like to start in Colorado Springs - Ouray - Vail - finish in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thanks for any response.

Don't overlook the southwestern portion of the state: Durango and Mesa Verde National Park.

Just to stick with the specific points on your itinerary:There are two good possibilities from Colorado Springs to Ouray:1> Take US 24 West out of C.S. to the intersection with US 285 near Buena Vista, then 285 to US 50 West at Poncha Springs through Gunnison to Montrose where you take US 550 South into Ouray. or2> Take Colorado 115 to intersection with US 50 near Canyon City. From there stay on US 50 West as above.I have been over both routes several times towing a 34' fifth-wheel trailer. I can't see any problem with these routes in July.There would be nice overnight stops in Buena Vista and/or Gunnison, and Ouray is a great destination.From Ouray to Vail you would take US 550 back north all the way to I-70 East at Grand Junction. Follow I-60 E. to Vail.One possibility from Vail to Estes Park would be to pick up US 6 near Central City, then CO 119 North. This route is called the "peak to peak highway." It is very winding and up and down, but I always enjoy it. It will be slow but scenic. The highway number changes a couple of times as you get near Estes Park, but I won't go into that detail here. If you are interested, I'll be happy to respond to a PM.I've never had much interest in Vail, but you may have good reason to make that a stop. Anyway, it's on the way to Estes Park.Remember that Estes Park was devastated by floods last year; many roads were completely cut off. Be sure to check all that out before going into E.P.Let me know if I can make further suggestions or comments.

LewBob, my concern going that far SW was getting out of the mountains and into the summertime heat.

Padredw, thank you for the good info and comments. As for Vail, no real reason to go there other than a name I recognize. Your comment about flooding makes me realize I should also incorporate that info into my planning. Wasn't there also a huge fire in the Northern part of the state? We will be staying at a relatives property near Poncha Springs for a few days, and then have a week to travel Colorado. Any more recommendations you think my wife, 2 young kids and I might enjoy would be greatly appreciated.

Your choice sites could be done easily enough. One rough U shape trip from CoSpgs with a side up to Ouray. Lots of Sites & Sights in the Colorado Springs Area. Normally, we have stayed in the Woodland Park Area to see CO Springs Area.One could drop by Cañon City on the way to Ouray via US 50 or bypass Cañon City via US 24 out of CoSprs (through Woodland Park). We enjoyed the Royal Gorge Rail Road Train ride in 2012.North of Montrose, Colorado Nat'l Mon't by Grand Junction..has a nice small campground (no hookup or showers very Scenic. We have enjoyed seeing it as well as camping there. :C Sights & Sites. Should be worth the drive to see it. A day trip could work. We drove from the Telluride area to Ridgeway to Montrose, toward Gunnison & the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Prk (but didn't go to it) on US 50. lack Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park sounds like something worth see as well. Ouray is a nice area, never stayed in Ouray (spend a few day at Ridgeway State Park). Silverton is a must see to see & the drive is really neat to get to it. Never ridden the Steam Train down Durango, but have ridden one in Chama, NM much like it & really enjoyed it. A day trip (or longer) would be nice from Ridgeway over to Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound after Lizard Head Pass. http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/campingI've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ DittoWe camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton. Video Just Cruisin' - Uncompahgre Gorge Just remember speed is the enemy, do not get into having to ride your breaks, use lower gears, do not let the rig get going too fast. Keep calm. Be happy. Enjoy. Take it S L O W. Montrose Elevation: 5806 feet, Ridgway elevation 6,985 feet, Ouray Elevation, 7,792 ft, Silverton Elevation 9,308 ft & Durango is 6,512 feet.Never been to Vail. Rocky Mountain NP was very neat (only did a day trip to see it from Loveland, but did drive across to Grand Lake). From Vail one could very easy enter the Park via Grand Lake. But can also be done via the east side at Estes Park.

1st big trip will be Colorado, but what route?

littlemo
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Southern Colorado is so beautiful. I think northern parks,( RMNP and Estes Park have been damaged by different plagues the last few years},

The areas around Durango, Silverton, Ouray are gorgeous and have lots to see and do.

San Juan Skyway

Hot Springs pool in Ouray

Durango-Silverton Train

There are several RV parks in Ouray, Silverton and Durango but there are NF campgrounds around too, if you don't need hookups.
coloradotallman
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I'm with the 4RunnerGuy on the beauty of the Arkansas River Valley (Poncha Springs to Leadville). Some things I left out are the Georgetown Loop Railroad and mine tours, the chance to "climb" a 14'er from Georgetown, the Mtn. Museum and a chance to innertube or raft Clear Creek in Idaho Springs - along with Beau Jo's Pizza or the Tommyknocker Brewery, the Breckenridge Rodeo with free parking afterwards, free music on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights in Summit County, or even to backtrack to the Glenwood Canyon, hike Hanging Lakes or Grizzly Creek, bike the bike path and then soak in the hot springs. Tallman
BillMFl
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
So if you go to Mesa Verde and Durango head north towards Red Mountain on 550 for some of the best scenery in Co. And the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is spectacular and has a nice camp ground right on the way. From there head over to Aspen, then take the back road thru Independence Pass to Leadville. All great scenery and no Interstate type traffic. Vail is a short ride from Leadville and from there you are very close to the back entry to Rocky Mtn NP.
Ron_Butler
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Just some random thoughts from our 2 months spent in CO. several years ago.

Use a wagon wheel approach to visiting places. Pick a somewhat central location and then use car to tour out from there. Saves a lot of frustration with the mountains and rig.

RMNP is a must of course. We dry camped in the campground for a week and had a great time.

The state parks of CO. are outstanding. Cheyenne Mt. SP outside of Colorado Springs is spectacular. The problem with their state parks is that for many/most of them, you have or should make reservations ahead of time just to be safe. The only other problem with CO is the lack of oxygen in the state!! :B

Great Sand Dunes NP and Manasa - Jack Dempsey's birthplace - are worth the visit. Also, Old Fort Bent is like stepping back into the old west.

Go to our travel blog to see more specific information and Picaso website for our pictures.

Enjoy your trip.

Go to our travel blog link to see accounts and pictures of our 2 months there.
likesadvice
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Vemilye, beautiful pictures, too bad my little ones aren't up to a hike that extreme. Coloradotallman, thanks for the tips. Copper Mountain sounds awesome, we like "free".
coloradotallman
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
For a bit of small tourist to large tourist as long as you are in Poncha Springs, I would head to Salida (river bike path), Buena Vista, Leadville (the Timberline Train) and then north on CO 91 (stop at Clinton Res. for an easy, scenic hike) to Copper Mountain(free boondocking and free chairlift rides and right on the bike path) I-70 and Summit County with Dillon, Frisco and Breckenridge. Yes, then onto I-70 and Denver to MN. Check out ColoradoInfo.Com for weekly event calendars.
vermilye
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
If you are in the area around Glenwood Springs, a hike I enjoyed was to Hanging Lake. Photos from my visits.
DesertHawk
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Yep, I saw that about crossing off Independence Pass from your plans. I wouldn't advise driving it towing a TT, but it would be a nice day trip using a TV for sightseeing if in the area.

Seems like you guys have been having some very fridge temps up your way last few days. Stay warm.

Good time to plan summer trips.
4runnerguy
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
likesadvice wrote:
Funny thing, my wife uses 4runnergirl as here username on various sites. The kids are going to be nearly 10 and 8 by the time of our trip. I really appreciate your idea of not spreading ourselves so thing and just concentrating on one area. Any favorite campgrounds in the Buena Vista/ Leadville trip? We are more than ok going a few days off hookups if you have any boondocking suggestions.

I told my wife about 4runnergirl and all she could say was "another girlfriend, eh?" ;)

As far as NFS campgrounds near Salida/BV, here's some things I've written from some of my posts in the past:

For kids, the Salida/Buena Vista/Leadville area is tops in the state IMHO. There are so many activities there, both free and pay. We take our nieces there a couple of times a year, and they love it, even though they already live in the mountains. The river rafting is some of the best in the state (for all ability levels), there are many ghost towns to explore, a variety of lakes and rivers to fish, both road and mountain biking (rentals available), jeeping for all levels, and several nice hot springs pools for the kids to swim and the adults to relax (check out the stream-side pools at Mount Princeton Hot Springs). For more info on Chaffee County, look here. Don't miss the St. Elmo ghost town (easy graded gravel road). In Leadville, there is a paved bike trail all the way around the town with many stops with information signs showing historical points of interest. On a rainy day, the Mining Museum there is a great place to spend a few hours. Downtown Salida has really improved in the last 5-10 years. Some really interest shops and off the wall art galleries, along with a variety of restaurants from burgers to upscale. What kid wouldn't want to visit an art gallery that looks like this?

In terms of places to stay, O'Haver Lake is a NFS CG near Salida with no hookups, but right on the lake. The kids can go fish or skip rocks anytime they want. And views of the mountains reflecting in the water is a nice benefit. Cottonwood Lake CG is another NFS CG a little further from its namesake lake, but refurbished in the last few years. There are a number of boondocking locations above Cottonwood Lake but get there by Thursday noon or they'll be full. There are several nice CG's around Turquoise Lake up by Leadville, but can be some snow until mid June. On the road up to St. Elmo along Chalk Creek, there are more great NFS CG's (esp. Chalk Lake CG), although Iron City CG, up by St. Elmo, wouldn't be high on my list for an RV.

Plan on at least several days there. Great river rafting opportunities for all skill levels in the Arkansas River. Another day you can drive up to the St. Elmo ghost town. Day trip over Cottonwood Pass to Taylor Park Reservoir and visit Tin Cup Ghost town. Try your luck at fishing at O'Haver Lake near Salida or Cottonwood Lake near BV. Grab some grub at K's Drive Inn in BV and eat in the park. Day trip up to Leadville to take in the mining museum and other sights in this two mile high mining town. Another day trip over Independence Pass and through Aspen so you can view Maroon Bells and see why they end up on so many calendars. Using the Salida/Buena Vista area as a base, one can easily spend a week and barely scratch the surface of things to do.
likesadvice
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Deserthawk, thanks for the San Isabel link. I was looking at google earth near Twin Lakes and think I saw those campsites. Independence Pass has already been crossed off my map. Our cooks night out is letting our crockpot do the work.