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Started By
Message
Colorado Hiking/Rafting Outdoor long weekend
Posted on 6/14/23 at 1:36 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 1:36 pm
Wife (no pics) and I taking a long weekend for Labor day to do some hiking and rafting. Flying into Denver early Sat Morning and will have all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday flying out Tuesday. Trying to decide whether to head North to RMNP or West on 70 towards Breck. I've been to RMNP for one hike last year (Chasm Lake Trail) and Breck many times during the winter for skiing. Just trying to find a place to spend all three days and not have to be on the road driving from place to place wasting time.
Which area (or another area within a couple hours of Denver) is best suited for what i described? We are intermediate hikers (we like a challenge) and have never rafted (but want something challenging as well). In the evenings we'd want to chill, drink a few beers, catch some music and split a burger. No need for fancy digs or restaurants.
Any suggestions are appreciated.....also accommodation recs would also be appreciated.
TIA
Which area (or another area within a couple hours of Denver) is best suited for what i described? We are intermediate hikers (we like a challenge) and have never rafted (but want something challenging as well). In the evenings we'd want to chill, drink a few beers, catch some music and split a burger. No need for fancy digs or restaurants.
Any suggestions are appreciated.....also accommodation recs would also be appreciated.
TIA
This post was edited on 6/14/23 at 3:57 pm
4
Posted on 6/14/23 at 2:12 pm to failuretocommunicate
Drive to Estes Park through Fort Collins. Raft in Fort Collins. Hike Sky Pond in RMNP
Posted on 6/14/23 at 2:51 pm to failuretocommunicate
you're describing Buena Vista but there are lots of options.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 3:33 pm to specchaser
quote:this
you're describing Buena Vista
labor day might be late for the rafting though, maybe not
Posted on 6/14/23 at 4:11 pm to specchaser
quote:
you're describing Buena Vista but there are lots of options.
Yep, although I would stay in Salida which is about 20 minutes away. Its not as crowded and has more "charm" than Buena Vista
Posted on 6/14/23 at 4:27 pm to cgrand
labor day is late for rafting but Salida/BV will be the best option. We had decent rapids in September a few years ago but definitely the end of the season.
if by chance you have an interest in fly fishing, Arkanglers out of Salida/BV is a good operation.
if by chance you have an interest in fly fishing, Arkanglers out of Salida/BV is a good operation.
Posted on 6/15/23 at 9:44 pm to failuretocommunicate
Don't forget that RMNP has timed entry reservations...
Posted on 6/16/23 at 2:25 pm to Locoguan0
Hundred percent go to Salida and Buena Vista. Other posters right, the river will be pretty low by Labor Day but the dam usually keep a decent flow of water going for a float trip.
Good time to hike as the weather well it started to cool down. Tons of cool little towns around there, Salada is the largest historic district in Colorado in Leadville is a half hour drive up the road and is fun as well.
Good time to hike as the weather well it started to cool down. Tons of cool little towns around there, Salada is the largest historic district in Colorado in Leadville is a half hour drive up the road and is fun as well.
This post was edited on 6/16/23 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 6/16/23 at 8:33 pm to failuretocommunicate
Personally, I would ditch rafting and go to RMNP and hike Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake. Eat lunch in the parking lot, then hike to sky Pond. The next day, or vice versa, drive Trail Ridge Road and do all the little hikes off of that.
Breckenridge has some really good hikes, and we had a great time using a bike rental service from Breck and biking down Vail Pass, but it took about two days for our headaches and fatigue from high altitude to dissipate when we got there. Not really good for a quick weekend if you are coming from low altitude.
Breckenridge has some really good hikes, and we had a great time using a bike rental service from Breck and biking down Vail Pass, but it took about two days for our headaches and fatigue from high altitude to dissipate when we got there. Not really good for a quick weekend if you are coming from low altitude.
Posted on 6/18/23 at 8:29 pm to amgslg
A little disappointing to hear that rafting might be out of the question..... Appreciate the suggestions. Keep em coming
Posted on 6/19/23 at 8:25 am to specchaser
quote:
you're describing Buena Vista but there are lots of options.
yep.
you can stop in Leadville first. There's several lakes around there as well, and going down to Buena Vista.
The rafting in Buena Vista will be the best in the state.
That area has the highest concentration of 14000 footers in the state. Mt. Elbert is around there as well, if you really want to make a real hike.
We rafted the Arkansas about 3 weeks ago. There's still plenty of snow melt i'm sure, although it's probably on the down slope now, but it'll still be better than pretty much any other raft trip you could do.
Didn't realize you said Labor Day. Yeah the river will be pretty tame by then.
There's a RV park just south of BV that you can stay at. They have small cabins you can stay at that are likely going to be a lot cheaper than trying to stay downtown. The views from that site are amazing.
Salida is a nice stop as well, and you might as well make a little loop and hit Canon City and see the Royal Gorge before heading back up.
This post was edited on 6/19/23 at 8:29 am
Posted on 6/19/23 at 9:46 am to amgslg
quote:
Personally, I would ditch rafting and go to RMNP and hike Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake. Eat lunch in the parking lot, then hike to sky Pond. The next day, or vice versa, drive Trail Ridge Road and do all the little hikes off of that.
Unless you're in great shape and used to hiking/running, etc., most people aren't going to be hiking to Emerald Lake (nice easy hike...3.5 miles rt, I think.) and Sky Pond on the same day. Sky Pond is a 9 mile hike and considered strenuous. I'm sure there are plenty of folks who can do this, but it's surely not easy to hike 12.5 miles in altitude.
Posted on 6/19/23 at 9:48 am to failuretocommunicate
quote:
A little disappointing to hear that rafting might be out of the question..... Appreciate the suggestions. Keep em coming
You can probably raft plenty places, but the bigger rapids come from the snow melt in late spring and early summer. So it would me more of a float trip, most likely.
Posted on 6/19/23 at 12:13 pm to LaLadyinTx
The rafting will be better than you think. Its been so damn cold we still have a decent snowpack. The next two weeks, as we finally warm, will be decent rafting still.
ETA: Saw hes doing labor day.
Nevermind. Yeah, you just gonna float. Id get out and hike.
ETA: Saw hes doing labor day.
Nevermind. Yeah, you just gonna float. Id get out and hike.
This post was edited on 6/19/23 at 12:14 pm
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