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Colorado in Summer - Need Suggestions (Updated)

Posted on 11/3/20 at 9:39 am
Posted by TheJunction
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2014
1003 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 9:39 am
UPDATE (1/19/21) - decided to fly into Montrose and drive to Telluride where we will stay for three nights. Then we'll drive to Ouray and stay for two more nights. We will then drive to Estes Park - plan to break the drive up into two days and stay in Vail/Breck for one night.

As the title says - looking for suggestions for a summer trip to Colorado. We'll be in Colorado from June 1st to the 12th. The only portion that has been set in stone is Estes Park and we're tentatively scheduled to be there from June 6th - June 12th - the 12th is a hard date, but we could get to Estes Park on the 7th or 8th if needed.

Our plan right now is to fly from NOLA to Denver and then onto Montrose. Once in Montrose we will drive to Telluride and stay until June 4th. We will wake up early on the 4th and drive to Ouray where we will stay until the 6th. On the 6th we will begin the drive to Estes Park and stay somewhere on the way - not sure yet - and then we'll be in Estes Park for the remainder of the trip.

Just typing it out, it seems like we will need to the extend the Telluride and Ouray portion of the trip because it doesn't seem like it'll be enough time in either?


We're open to looking into alternatives to the first leg (Telluride and Ouray). We've stayed in Denver and loved it, but are not interested in spending more than an morning/afternoon there on this trip. We've thought about spending a few nights in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge before going onto Estes Park.

We are outdoorsy people and will be looking to spend most/all of our trip outdoors, but we'd like to break up the hiking. What else can we do during this time of year? Some things we've tentatively scheduled include - a guided fly fishing trip, renting ATV's, horseback riding, and mountain biking. We'd also like to visit a hot springs spa one day. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, or specific recommendations from what I listed!


Sorry that was kind of a ramble, very early in planning this trip. Let me know if I need to provide any additional info...
This post was edited on 1/19/21 at 3:47 pm
Posted by pjab
Member since Mar 2016
5655 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 9:43 am to
How set in stone is set in stone? Like need to be there for a wedding?
Posted by kciDAtaE
Member since Apr 2017
16022 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 9:56 am to
I liked Fort Collins better than Colorado Springs. Garden or the Gods was nice but that can be done in half day.
Posted by Bunsbert Montcroff
Phoenix AZ / Boise ID
Member since Jan 2008
5523 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 10:49 am to
quote:

June 6th - June 12th

quote:

a guided fly fishing trip

look for a tailwater like the uncompaghre because that time period is usually runoff season.

may still be snow at higher elevations like in RMNP or engineer pass, just keep that in mind with planning.
Posted by TigerSaintInDallas
Denver
Member since Sep 2012
654 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 1:12 pm to
Telluride and Ouray are amazing and I’d spend as much time there as possible. Only thing w that area is that it’s very isolated and pretty far from Estes. I think I might prefer Frisco/Breck or Grand Lake (assuming it’s still nice after the fires...) and getting rid of the 16 hours of driving from Denver —> Telluride —> Estes, especially since you only have a few days before Estes. Even staying in Aspen over Telluride would save you about 6-7 hours of driving.
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45846 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 2:50 pm to
White water rafting
Posted by dallastiger55
Jennings, LA
Member since Jan 2010
27980 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 4:04 pm to
I did a ton of research on stuff you’re interested in last summer (19) and ended up choosing Breckinridge

It was amazing and I can’t wait to go back. Loved the mountain biking and zip lining. Also I dug the downtown scene. They had some cool bars and restaurants

Also had a river through town and had live music every day. I also liked that it wasn’t crowded at all.
Posted by Hat Tricks
Member since Oct 2003
28634 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 4:41 pm to
Rafting in the Buena Vista area.
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
8825 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 5:27 pm to
I’d just spend as much time in Estes as possible and do day trips from there to both sides of Rocky
Posted by specchaser
lafayette
Member since Feb 2008
2596 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 6:21 pm to
I’d skip Colorado Springs. The mountain towns are where you want to be.
Buena Vista is a cool small town with great hiking , fishing and rafting. Others recommended Breck, a solid choice.
RMMP is awesome, Def spend a lot of time in the park hiking and sightseeing.

I’ve never been to Telluride due to it being so far out the way. I’m sure it’s great but there are lots of great towns much closer to Estes, your destination.
Posted by HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Member since Jul 2011
29783 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 7:32 pm to
Estes Park
Durango
Granby
Boulder
Aspen
Vail

Posted by 8thyearsenior
Centennial, CO
Member since Mar 2006
4280 posts
Posted on 11/3/20 at 8:00 pm to
Sounds like you know where you are going but I will play along. I will assume you have never been here before and won't come back.
Not sure when you arrive in Denver on the 1st but you should head south to the Springs. Drive through Garden of the Gods and hit up Pike's Peak. Dinner in Manitou Springs at Crystal Park Cantina.

2nd head south to Sand Dunes National Park. From there head over to Pagosa Springs for the night and a soak.

3rd head over to Durango then take 550 north up to Ridgeway then west over to Telluride.

4th, just stay in Telluride and relax for a day.

5th head over to Crested Butte with a quick detour to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

6th head south out of CB then go east towards Spring Creek and follow the Taylor River to Cottonwood Pass then over into BV. Here is where things get tricky. If Independence Pass is open you need to go over into Aspen and up to Maroon Bells then up valley to Glenwood for the night. If it is still closed then head up through Leadville and Minturn then Vail and over to Breck for the night.

7th you can head over to Estes through Winter Park, Granby, Grand Lake then through the park to get over to Estes.

As far as fishing, early June usually sucks unless you are fishing below a damn. I would do a float trip instead of a wade trip. I have caught some hogs on the upper Colorado in May/June.


Anything high elevation will hopefully be snowed in with lower elevations mud. You will see most of the state on this route, only really missing Steamboat and Grand Nothing. It sucks here and you should tell your friends.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
14137 posts
Posted on 11/4/20 at 8:40 am to
Skip Colorado Springs an stick to the mountain towns.
Take the train from Durango to Silverton
Mesa Verde is amazing, but that's a bit of a drive

ETA: and definitely take a rafting trip. We did Royal Gorge. It and the Durango train were the highlights of our trip.
This post was edited on 11/4/20 at 8:42 am
Posted by ColoradoAg03
Denver, CO
Member since Oct 2012
6234 posts
Posted on 11/4/20 at 2:13 pm to
quote:

June 6th - June 12th


Salida, FIBArk Whitewater Festival time.
Posted by Lsutmorg
Member since Jun 2015
327 posts
Posted on 3/24/21 at 7:14 am to
Did 14 day summer trip last year in Colorado, Utah. Colorado Springs by far the worst place (not bad) but compared to everything else was the bottom. Ouray was our favorite and plan on going back. Black Canyons worth the detour and make time to drive to the bottom and swim in river. Estes Park is 2nd. Wish would have done Telluride. Mount Princeton Hot Springs was really neat. Stopped for half day on our way to St. Elmo ghost town. Wish we would have known about it and booked room. Glenwood Springs was another favorite town we visited. If have time try and visit Royal Gorge was a really awesome site and sky coaster over the gorge was fun. If like thrills do the tyrdactyl at cave of the winds on way to pikes peak. Million Dollar highway is a great ride.
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