Colorado 2016

Busskipper,

Completely agree with you on Estes. It is not the Colorado experience anymore as they seem much more interested in how much money the town can draw in than anything else. I have no plans to ever return there myself.

Fortunately there are many, many other places in Colorado to get that experience and you did a great review.

If I were to recommend a location other than SW Colorado (Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton, Telluride and Durango) I would recommend the Buena Vista/Salida area. Lots of great things to see for that Colorado experience using BV/Salida area as a base.

I think Yogi was referring to Estes when he said " nobody goes there anymore, it's just too crowded."

The Great thing about Colorado is that there is always the other side of the Mountain, plus there are a LOT of MOUNTAINS - just a Beautiful State.

So much to see its hard to make a mistake.

BOL,

Busskipper

If you are worried about elevation I wouldn't recommend going to the western slope. I'm pretty sure there is not a pass under 10,000 feet unless you drop down into New Mexico and then come up.

Someone posted about Mueller SP and I would recommend it if you want to be close to the front range area of Colorado Springs. Most of the sites have no hookups but there are quite a few with electric only.

Many things to do and see in the area, though you might want to make reservations early as the park is pretty full during the fall colors.

Cripple Creek has casinos if you are into that but a historic mining town none the less. Victor, though no casinos, also has a rich history. Woodland Park has a number of restaurants and beautiful views of Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak, of course. You can either drive up or take the railroad out of Manitou Springs. Colorado Springs has many attractions and is not that far of a drive.

If you want full hookups the is the tiny little town of Lake George that has a couple of RV parks, though far from the "resort" types. They cost less than Mueller, though, and are just a close to everything.

If you want to try some fishing there is Eleven Mile, which is also a state park with camping available, again most sites no hookups but more than enough with electric. Spinny Reservoir is not too far from Eleven Mile.

The western slope has much to offer yet so does the area between the front range and the Continental Divide.

I'm guessing by now you are figuring out there is ALOT to see in the state and I can tell you that a month is not nearly enough time to see it all. I would suggest to pick an "area" of the state, set up a base camp and then explore to your hearts content.

BTW, I hate going to Denver and only go there to visit family or to DIA. I try to stay away from Colorado Springs as much as I can but have to go there now and then for doctors and such, plus visiting family. There's a reason we chose to live where we do. Far enough out from the front range to not have to put up with it but close enough when we need it!

I've lived in Colorado since 1980. The first 31 years we lived and worked in Estes Park. So, Rocky Mountain National Park was out our back door. RMNP is a beautiful, beautiful place. However, it has become so congested that it took the fun out of living there. Since you are not hikers, you will be in the thick of it. Bear Lake has become gridlocked. You have to be there by 7:30-8:00 am to get a parking space. Otherwise you ride the shuttle buses which are efficient and timely. We were there this past summer for 10 days. Campgrounds are overpriced like everything else.

After retiring in 2010, we moved to Buena Vista, Colorado. It reminds us of Estes Park in bygone days. Lots to see and do and not overcrowded. Nice campgrounds and spectacular scenery. Don't miss Leadville north of Buena Vista. Sort of a summer tourist trap. But it is worth walking the downtown area. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is certainly worth the visit. Durango is busy and crowded in the summer, but the Durango and Silverton Railroad trip is spectacular. The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad in of Antonito or Chama is fun. The Ouray area is busy in the summer but has beautiful scenery.

I just come back from Colorado and New Mexico.Just keep in mine that a lot of campgrounds will close for business start in early October.When I left Eagle nest NM(Oct 3) 4 days latter they shut down the camp.Check to be sure the campground are still open.

concord 05 wrote:
My husband and I travel the month of September each year. Beginning to plan for next year and Colorado is where we are heading.was wanting to get some suggestions. We travel in a 31 foot motorhome with a tow car. My husband enjoys seeing wildlife and we both enjoy beautiful scenery. We are not hikers and at our age don't relish driving a MH over 12000 foot mountains. We like setting up in one place for several nights and touring in our car. Coming from Missouri and would like some ideas. Looking at highway 14 over to Walden but not sure of the road. Also liked the look of Rifle state park. I know any trip to Colorado includes mountain driving but just don't want any of the white knuckle driving and narrow roads, Which are fine in the car just not in the motorhome.

Looking at highway 14 over to Walden but not sure of the road.

The road is fine, albeit in need of some repair work on the lower stretch through the Poudre Canyon. Keep in mind that, a goodly portion of that drive will be in the Poudre Canyon. While there are twisties, it's not overly steep. The main twisties are in the Narrows sections of the canyon, primarily in the lower part near Poudre Park and again near Rustic. Once you get to Rustic, the drive is probably similar to what you've experienced in the Missouri hill country. It's a steady climb, very subtle for the most part. When you get to Chambers Lake, from that point up to Cameron Pass, it will be somewhat steeper, but it's certainly not a bad drive. You'll top out at about 10,400 or so, then downhill (again not bad) to the Colorado State Forest SP area, the visitor's center, and Gould, before you get to Walden. It's 22 miles from Gould to Walden and can be a grand drive as the colours in the area begin to change.

And since it's September, keep in mind that campgrounds will begin to close. In the Poudre Canyon, if you're interested in USFS locations, there's an abundance of them, but they begin to close around mid-September. The further west you go in the Poudre, the sooner they close. Some of the CG on the lower stretch will stay open until late September.

On the west side of Cameron Pass, there's the Ranger Lakes CG, which is part of the Colorado State Forest SP. There are electric hookups at all sites, and a central water source near the entrance (have at least 50ft of hose). Sites are nice, but are open, since trees have been cut down due to beetle kill. There's 2 other CG nearby in the SP system there, but they are boondocking sites, and in my opinion, not as attractive.

Commercially, there's a former KOA campground (North Park CG - they apparently lost their franchise with KOA) in Gould. It's somewhat run down, but they do offer full hookups. Again, lots of trees cut down due to beetle kill. Not much available in Walden as far as camping, there's a new CG/RV Park in town, but it's very small. Don't know much about it. And there's a place out by Lake John, that's gotten terrible reviews in the past and is way out in the boonies. Caters to the fishing crowd.

Fuel. It's few and far between. Make sure you have a full tank before entering the Poudre Canyon. There's fuel in Rustic and further up at Archer's Resort (hard to get to the pump) and that's about it. It's 56 miles from Archer's to Walden, where the next available fuel is located -- at the only 2 fuel stations in the area.

The area is renowned for fishing and hiking. Since you're not into hiking, that leaves fishing. And there are some nice drives if you want to take your toad out once you find a place to your liking. That whole area of North Park, around Walden, is very beautiful, and they get some early colour change due to altitude and latitude.

There's a wonderful drive up the Laramie River Road, with lots of big ranches and forests and great views of the Never Summer Mountains. There's also a drive you could take from the Laramie River Rd up the Deadman Road (not as bad as it sounds!) to Red Feather Lakes, and then down the Manhattan Rd to Poudre Canyon...a loop drive, if you will. Lots of beautiful scenery.

I sound like a travel brochure! But I spend a lot of time up in that area and know it intimately. It's well worth a stop and time to explore.

There is Rifle State Park and Rifle Falls State Park just absolutely love Rifle Falls. Electric at site but no showers and vault bathroom but a 500 foot walk can have you at the falls.
Would recommend the KOA at Cortez as a great base camp for exploring Mesa Verde and Durango. Be sure to ride the Durango Silverton Railroad and eat at Pepperhead Restaurant in Cortez.

Ridgway SP & Mueller SP

We just stayed at the Riverside RV Park in Bayfield. It's a gorgeous park that we would return to again. It is 18 miles east of Durango and does not involve mountain driving to get to it.

concord 05 wrote:
My husband and I travel the month of September each year. Beginning to plan for next year and Colorado is where we are heading.was wanting to get some suggestions. We travel in a 31 foot motorhome with a tow car. My husband enjoys seeing wildlife and we both enjoy beautiful scenery. We are not hikers and at our age don't relish driving a MH over 12000 foot mountains. We like setting up in one place for several nights and touring in our car. Coming from Missouri and would like some ideas. Looking at highway 14 over to Walden but not sure of the road. Also liked the look of Rifle state park. I know any trip to Colorado includes mountain driving but just don't want any of the white knuckle driving and narrow roads, Which are fine in the car just not in the motorhome.

I'll copy and re-post a similar reply from an earlier thread,

As for the mountain driving - if you are smart and use a Hub and Spoke approach to base camp and explore you should be able to limit the stress from Passes and Narrow roads (Limit not eliminate) just take your time and plan and this will be a place to visit again and .

September early October are the PERFECT times to be in Colorado (But IMHO everyday is GREAT) If at all possible try to time the high mountains for between the 20th of September and the first week in October - as this is usually high season for ASPEN color.

Busskipper wrote:
Just me getting out in front for when you visit Colorado,

Might give you too much but will also give you some things to put into the plan.

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 – Close to Yellowstone and Utah - 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. In the 90’s my son was invited to Vail for a July 4th sports tournament, so we visited every summer while he was in College, arriving in Vail from, Colorado Springs – Albuquerque – and Salt Lake – Denver – Giving me an opportunity to learn a little about the state and the many drives/areas it offers, this started to Open my eyes, exposing me to the many attractions and so much more about the state. Then when my son moved there in 2002 and I discovered that I had only scratched the surface and would spend the next 5 years learning more about the state.


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 month) or two in Colorado – a sort of 7-17 days to see the state. You need to Understand that I believe this is one of the last great Wild Places in the US, and is IMHO a National Park, once you hit the Foothills. You need to set aside twice the time you think if you really want to, enjoy, see, touch, Love this state the way it deserves. If you take the time, you will return again and again – Discovering that it has just so many surprises – all of which just continue to amaze me.

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 (Clear Creek CG)as it has now been Discovered and is normally FULL. (an option is JeffCoFairgrounds). Because I have 4 Granddaughters in Colorado and this is the closest CG I am slightly biased as to how great it is. It is within walking distance of – restaurants/Main Street – Community Center – Library – Coors – Downtown Golden.

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 (In the RV)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) Along with these drives are an unlimited number of areas to take great hikes – just do a quick search and you will not be disappointed, almost every jurisdiction will have dedicated Open Space areas with great trails /hikes.


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. (a personal Bias as I tend to go where and when the crowds are not) 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 (actually a number of tunnels – 6?) 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 length 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 and Crystal Mill)


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 a 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. Gunnison is the center geographically, and will allow you to resupply, Lake City – wild – beautiful – isolated – 4x4 trails – Ouray – must see – the Alps in Colorado – hot Springs – Hikes Drives – Silverton – the middle of the San Juan’s – many of the 4x4 trails will bring you here – just a great area – Black Canyon – Surprising! – must see – on and on as you travel in this area. Notice I have left out mesa Verde and Durango, so you certainly should/could include these, as both are interesting, just – for me again Durango is to Large/crowded – mesa Verde is IMHO more of a to be included in Utah, and can be seen in a later time of year when the rest of Colorado is immersed in Winter.


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 – it 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 it’s great and if 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 histories. 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 (exit 243) 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)

The other popular option is to head to Utah – either from Grand Junction (Colorado Monument) or 141 or 90 over to Rt 191 – if you take I-70 try to remember to get off at exit 214 then follow Rt 128 into Moab –just a Special Drive.

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 can get you into the state so you return Often to Hike – Bike – Drive, many of the wild and Beautiful areas that are offered. Or you can take your time spending weeks in every location and still return to discover more adventures.

Hope this helps to get your interest up for Colorado.

Bill

BOL,