10 days in Colorado in June

tatest wrote:
RMNP and Estes don't even make my top 10. Most of my favorites are in southern Colorado.

1. Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument
2. Gunnison Valley: Montrose, Black Canyon NP, Curecanti NRA, Blue Mesa Reservoir.
3. Cortez to Durango to Silverton, including Mesa Verde NP
4. Upper Arkansas valley, Canon City to Poncha Springs.

My top 10 list wouldn't even include most of those places. But I have lived, worked, and played in every corner of Colorado for more than 50 years. My list might include places like Monarch Lake above Granby Reservoir, Trappers Lake in the Flattops, Lake San Cristobal near Lake City, the Dolores River canyon south of Gateway, and the town of Marble during the fall aspen "leaf-peeping" season. In short, I don't like to camp where there are crowds, so my summer camping in national parks and monuments is limited.

But the OP has only 10 days to see a wide variety of Rocky Mountain scenery in as short a time as possible. So, driving 350 miles out of his way to get to SW Colorado might be difficult with that time constraint.

RMNP and Estes don't even make my top 10. Most of my favorites are in southern Colorado.

1. Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument
2. Gunnison Valley: Montrose, Black Canyon NP, Curecanti NRA, Blue Mesa Reservoir.
3. Cortez to Durango to Silverton, including Mesa Verde NP
4. Upper Arkansas valley, Canon City to Poncha Springs.

Pike's Peak. Rode a motorcycle to the top many years ago. Incredible views.
Keep in mind too that high altitudes, such as found in RMNP, are rough on us flatlanders. At 10,000 feet, even a brisk walk can take your breath away.

Why only 10 days? Are you limited on time or are you retired and free to stay longer?

Enjoy Heaven on Earth I don't think you can go wrong with any of the suggestions.

fanrgas wrote:
My additions to his route would be to leave US 285 at Antonito and take CO 17 over Cumbres Pass to Chama. Ride a C&TS narrow-gauge train over Cumbres Pass to Osier and back to Chama via bus. From Chama, drive US 64 to Taos with a short photo stop at the very impressive Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Spend a day or two visiting some of the art museums and the Taos Pueblo.

I agree that this would be an excellent alternative. Just shows you can't go wrong with such great choices in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

Everyone, thanks again!

Snowman9000 wrote:
But to answer your question the best I can, let's say Santa Fe, NM. We're not interested in the four corners area, I don't think.

Thanks, that helps a lot. I agree with much of the route that padredw suggests. In fact, we just camped in that area last fall when the aspen were changing. And we have also stayed at Taos Valley and Santa Fe Skies RV parks.

My additions to his route would be to leave US 285 at Antonito and take CO 17 over Cumbres Pass to Chama. Ride a C&TS narrow-gauge train over Cumbres Pass to Osier and back to Chama via bus. From Chama, drive US 64 to Taos with a short photo stop at the very impressive Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Spend a day or two visiting some of the art museums and the Taos Pueblo.

From Taos, take the "High Road" (NM 518/76) through Trampas, Truchas, and Chimayo to view some of the scenery that was immortalized in "The Milagro Beanfield War" movie and stopping at a few of the wool weaving shops along the way. That route will put you back on US 285 and take you straight into Santa Fe.

Another slight detour would be to go up to Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument. We also did that last fall--you can stay at beautiful, but dry camping, Juniper Campground at Bandelier or with hookups in the paved "parking lot" right next door to the visitor's center in White Rock, where you have to take the bus to Bandelier if you will get to their entrance gate after 9:00 AM.

Have fun!

There are many good answers to your original post. I'll just highlight one of them:

+> Take the Peak to Peak Highway from Estes Park to I-70 W. (I can give details on this route if you wish.) Turn at Copper Mountain onto CO 91 through Leadville to Buena Vista for your base campground (many to choose from).

From Buena Vista you can make day trips to Aspen, Salida, Leadville, St. Elmo, or even over Cottonwood Pass to Taylor River and Crested Butte.

This would fulfill your request for three places, but . . .

+> you come on down US 285 to Monte Vista and drive over to South Fork US 160. Either stay there or go on up to Creede. Great campground at Mountain View in Creede. One of the best repertory theaters in the country in Creede.

From Creede you would have a choice: go back over to 285 and down to Santa Fe (220 miles) or go west on 160 over Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs then down through Chama, NM to Santa Fe. A bit longer, but also a nice drive.

I haven't even included a stop in Taos, NM which would always be on my list of great places to visit.

We stay at Arrowhead RV Park in Buena Vista, Mountain View in Creede, Taos Valley in Taos, and Santa Fe Skies in Santa Fe.

None of the trip is planned, it's all seat of the pants. Plus we don't mind driving sideways if there is something worth going to.

But to answer your question the best I can, let's say Santa Fe, NM. We're not interested in the four corners area, I don't think.