Colorado / Red Rocks Trip Review

My wife and I Just got back from a short trip out west to Colorado. This was our first trip to Colorado and really enjoyed it. Our main reason for the trip was to go see Brit Floyd at Red Rocks but we did incorporate a few days in the Rockys while we were there. We tried to cram as much as we could into a few days. Overall it was a excellent trip and we tested the waters enough to know we will probably go back to both Red Rocks and Rocky Mountain National Park.

We flew out of Atlanta and arrived in Denver mid day on Wednesday. Our fist two nights, we stayed at the Sheraton Denver West. This was very close to Red Rocks which allowed for a quick return after what ever we would end up getting into at the concert. Now we have seen Brit Floyd a bunch of times in Atlanta so we knew what to expect from them but have had Red Rocks on the bucket list for many years so finally just sit down one night and booked this trip.

The Sheraton Denver West was excellent. Roughly $175 a night and was worth it. 10 mins from Red Rocks and I70 which we used a lot. Had a very nice restaurant there as well, Beau's Kitchen and Taven. Had one meal there and it was excellent. Pretty much settled in on Wednesday since we arrived late.

Thursday morning headed out I70W to Frisco and Dillon Reservoir. A friend had told us about this little town. It was very nice. Had a great mountain feel to it, very clean and the people were excellent. Did some shopping, lunch and checked out the lake. They were stocking the lake while we were there with rainbow's. Mostly for bait for the other fish but cool never the less.





Left Dillon and headed to Mt Evans on the way back to west Denver. This was a excellent drive up the mountain. Over 14,000 feet to the top and tons of scenery. Wish we would have had a day to spend there. Saw a few different groups of mountain goats and a few other small animals. Marmots I believe. We quickly learned that the roads in the highlands in Colorado are not like Yellowstone. NO guard rails and some serious drops right off the shoulder. Made for excellent viewing




Left Mt Evans and headed back to get ready for the concert Thursday night. Headed into Red Rocks about 2.5 hours before the event not knowing what to expect. It is general admission so we wanted to get a good seat. Place was just awesome. Everything we had looked forward to and more. The walk from he lower parking lot up to the stadium and in reminded us that we are not mountain people We were breathing pretty hard making that up hill walk.

The concert was excellent. Brit Floyd did not disappoint as usual and the venue was amazing. Drinks were reasonable and the people there were excellent. Weed is legal in Colorado. And make not mistake, everyone knows it. I will pretty much leave it with that. Plus, it was a big group of old people listening go Pink Floyd music. Enough said. The scenery from the stadium once it got dark were amazing.






Friday morning we checked out and headed out I70w in route to Rocky Mountain National park. We took a little longer route up through the mountains instead of Denver for the scenery. We took I40 north up through Winter Park and Granby to enter the park on the west side at Grand Lake. We drove the Trail Ridge Road all the way around the park, taking a few short hikes and overlooks eventually ending up near Bear Lake at the end fo the day Friday. Not really much I can say about that ride except spectacular. We were very fortunate on our trip as the weather was perfect. Sunny and not a cloud in the sky for the entire trip. The views up at the top and along the way were unreal.

As far as wildlife, we saw a few Antelope coming in the park, 4 different Moose and a ton of Elk. They pretty much went and did what the hell they wanted. Also saw a few deer and some smaller stuff. No sheep or bear on the trip for us. Late in the day near Bear Lake was the best animal viewing. We found a big field with over 300 elk in it at once and they pretty much walked around us feeding... Was excellent.







During the day on Friday we also hiked up to Alberta Falls. This was about a 1 mile hike in and 1 mile out. The falls was excellent and the trip in was not bad. Its at altitude so we were winded at times but we are both out of shape, have zero experience hiking and just kinda winged it. No problem and the falls was beautiful.



Friday and Saturday night, we stayed in Estes Park at the Appazella Inn. Had no real info on this place other than pics on the internet. It was a OK place. Just way over priced for what we got. The room was decent but very tiny. The shower was in the bedroom and the bathroom was tiny. Clean but not worth $190 a night. Id look elsewhere next time. Estes Park is a little mountain town. Kinda cheesy like Gatlinburg but there are a few cool things there. We did not spend anytime in the town as we were on a short trip.

Saturday we got all confident and took a hike out of the Wild Basin trail head up to Ouzel Falls. This was a 2.9 mile in and 2.9 mile out straight up hill hike. Not sure what we were thinking. Just a note, that area is extremely popular so get there early to get a parking place. We had to park 3/4 of a mile away from the trial head so it added 1.5 miles to our already tough hike.

On the way to Ouzel Falls, you pass two other falls. Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades. All were fantastic. We packed a lunch and plenty of water for the trip and had lunch along the way. That hike was a big bite for us. Especially my wife. I think it gains 1000 feet along the way and is already pretty high so it is not easy hike. In the end it was very worth it and I am glad we did it. Took us about 4 hours round trip taking plenty of time at each Falls for pictures and rest. We a good test for a couple of old, out of shape beach bums.








Home on Sunday Morning. Ride to the airport from Estes Park is about a hour and a half. No issues getting in and out of the airport. It is so easy compared to the disaster that is the Atlanta Airport.

Loved the short trip. The people everywhere were excellent. Very different but extremely nice. No issues at all over the entire trip and will be going back at some point....