Colorado in late May

We have a 10 yr old and thinking about going same time. Any info appreciated

quote:

---

We have the last week of May/first week of June available for a family trip (15,13 and 11 year old kids). I was thinking Colorado .

What would be a good place to go and things to do that time of year.

Telluride looks fun, would that be a good option?

---

[/url][/img]

We did the Utah 5 NP & SW CO two years ago; we left Moab and drove to Cortez via Telluride - not the fastest route but we wanted to see Telluride. We had a picnic lunch in Telluride and then took Hwy 145 south.

We did most of the route on this map. One night in Cortez, one in Durango and then Montrose (not on the map but it's north of Ridgeway) before going to Denver and flying out. We did a lot of what TeddyPadillac describes in his post.

That's a great ride and there is a lot to do. This was the end of a 14 day trip and we were not looking to do a lot in SW CO but some of the highlights:
- Cortez; ate at La Casita de Cortez. Kinda of a hole in wall Mexican restaurant the hotel clerk recommended. We liked it and would go back.

- Mesa Verde - to see some of the places you need a reservation that you get on recreation.gov. Seeing MV was our main reason for going to SW CO - I think we saw the Long House. You have to hike to it, more than a mile IIRC.

- Anasazi Heritage Center at Dolores is worth a stop. They have a museum and paved trail to the top of an overlook of the McPhee Reservoir. There are ruins there also. The museum was only open certain days because of COVID, may be different now. It's only 10 miles north of Cortez.

- We drove into the Canyons of the Ancients NM but part of that was an unpaved road that was rough. Saw some ruins.

- In Durango we ate at the Diamond Belle Saloon; it was fun because of the rag time piano player. The food was ok but not great; the beer was cold. Lots of places to eat in downtown Durango - just be aware that when the train gets back all those folks are looking for a place to eat. There is rafting nearby but I don't know anything about it.

- Then we drove up Hwy 550 to Silverton, Ouray and Montrose. Part of 550 is known as the Million Dollar highway. It's a very scenic drive. There is not a lot to do in Silverton. We really liked Ouray; I understand you can rent an off road vehicle and take an unpaved trip over the mountain to Telluride. We ate lunch there; lots of places to eat.

- Just north of Durango is a Hot Springs and we stopped there just to look but you can swim there for a fee. And there is Honeyville; a little store where they sell all kinds of stuff they make of out honey.

- Just outside of Montrose is Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP; we went to the south side and it is worth the time IMO. We were there late in the day and I thought it was a great NP, maybe because it wasn't crowded.

- Duke, a TB poster, recommended taking Hwy 50 to Gunnison (the town) and then Hwy 135 to Almont and then go by Taylor Park Reservoir, then over the mountain to Buena Vista. That was a great ride. People were rafting in the river but it was August; don't know about May. There were folks that had ridden their bikes to the Continental Divide/Cottonwood Pass; elevation > 12,000 ft.

[/url][/img]
You can get whiskey made from honey at Homeyville.

Gonna be a big whitewater season and end of May through June is peak season. Maybe consider staying in Gunnison or Salida.

quote:

---

Day one in Amarillo to split the trip up. next day to the Four Corners (my kid is dying to see this for some silly reason, but whatever, it's what they want to do).
Then we'll stay two days in Durango (take the train one day, and do some hiking)
Then we'll stay two days in Ouray (place looks beautiful and they have a big hot springs public pool with some slides for the kids)
Then we'll stay two days in Buena Vista (hiking and rafting)
Then we are looking to spend a day or two in one of the ski towns. would prefer Aspen, but being in a 30' RV and not having a car is a bit of an issue, and the nicer towns like Aspen don't seem to have RV parks near by.
Probably drive back home through Kansas, stop by Dodge City, although i haven't looked to see if that's worth it yet.

---

Solid plan.
Durango to Silverton to Ouray to Buena Vista will not disapoint.

We stayed in Durango 2 days and hit Mesa Verde instead of 4 corners on one of the days, very cool, and closer than 4 Corners.

Ouray is the coolest town in America(go to Google Earth right now and check it out), spent 5 days there in 2021, lots to do, can do a day trip to Telluride from there(1 hour) Telluride is great but super expensive and limited.

For WWRafting Do the "numbers" or the "narrows" on the Arkansas River just north of Buena vista.

Enjoy.

Honestly,if its scenery you're after, I'd home base in Ouray for 4 days and hit Telluride for a full day. Taking a jeep or a guided jeep tour is a must and there are literally dozens to chose from in Ouray.We did a guided tour to Yankee boy basin and Governor's basin. Highly recommend. Horse back riding there as well if youre into that.


Take the Last Dollar Road to Telluride...its a a beautiful off road drive that is easy for the novice. takes longer but you will not be disapointed...

LINK


Ouray has lots to offer like Box Canyon, perimiter trail, Cascade falls, lots of good restautrants, a Brewery and the hot springsthat you mentioned, etc.

We didn't stay in Buena Vista but did we the "Numbers". best WWR we've aver done and we've done a bunch. Its hairy but we have three teenage boys and had a great guide.

LINK

Have fun

Our kids are 10 (boy) and 13 and 15 (girls) so the white water rafting would have to be beginner/novice.

The girls like outdoors, but won't like long hikes. They are more into the scenery and shopping/restaurants. We did Yosemite and RMNP- Estes Park before and they loved it, but, we didn't to hikes over 3/5 miles.

If we home based out of Ouray we could drive into Telluride for a day and out that night and not even have to stay in Telluride overnight?

Same with Buena Vista? main thing i see out of there is the white water rafting.

Would it make sense to fly into Montrose on a Sunday, drive to Ouray and get settled. Monday stay in Ouray, Tuesday drive to Telluride, Wednesday another day in Ouray, Thursday drive to Buena Vista to WWR, Friday maybe do the jeep tour and then fly out Montroe on Saturday?

quote:

---

Buena Vista for 2 days

---

buena vista is our favorite place in CO.

we've been every year for 5-6 years and usually stay here

LINK

we will be there in september this year.

BV is awesome. rafting, ziplining, st elmo ghost town, hot springs, hiking, etc. theres even an old-type drive in movie theatre. in the summer it is full of vacationing families with kids

quote:

---

Any WWR closer to Ouray?

---

Telluride has to have a few outfitters.

Id do Telluride/Ouray vs BV.

BV has everything you want, but the shopping/good food options.

Plus the views of Telluride are spectacular.

quote:

---

Do not drive a RV over Independence Pass. If the switchbacks do not get you the over hang on the one lane parts on the Aspen side will. There is nowhere to turn around once you get in trouble. The fine for shutting down the pass is substantial. I would rather go back to Four Corners than drive a RV over Independence Pass.

---

This is true...especially for flatlanders... beware that many roads in these parts may provide a considerable "pucker factor" to those not used to elevated travel. million dollar highway (silverton to ouray) is the most beautiful but can be the most terrifying stretch of roadway for tkose that don't like the steep cliff / no guardrail combo.