re: Telluride, Ouray, Estes Park Recs (Summer)

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More days in Ouray and less days in Telluride. More to do (off road, hiking) and Ouray is more rustic.

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Thanks for this - I'll look into it. The reason we chose Telluride for three (3) and Ouray for two (2) is because we thought Telluride was more rustic/smaller/authentic and Ouray had more of an overgrown feel.. We've booked rooms, but can get a full refund so the trip can be adjusted.

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Chasm Lake, Black Lake and Ouzel Lake in RMNP are great hikes. Lily Mountain and Twin Sisters Peaks are also both great hikes slightly outside of the park in Estes. Mt. Ida and Hallett Peak are great peaks that are significantly easier than Longs.

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Will look into all of these. Thank you!!

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Hike Sky Pond in Estes Park. My favorite

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Excited for this one! Had friends who did it last year (all from South/lowland) and they said it was very, very tough, but so worth it at the end!

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Glenwood Springs

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Will look into Glenwood Springs! Other than wife wanting to stop through Vail (could be adjusted if we find something else worthwhile) this part of the trip is wide open.

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You could stay in Grand Lake which is near the west side entrance to RMNP. Then take Trail Ridge Road, which goes through the park, to Estes Park. Regardless of where you spend that night that’s the route I would take to get to EP.

Stop at the visitor center at the entrance and the ranger can tell you about hikes on that side of the park that you will be driving by.

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Noted! I've read about Trail Ridge Road and we'd planned finding time to make the drive while in Estes. Haven't considered driving it on our way in. It definitely makes the most sense.

I'd mapped the trip from Ouray to Estes a few times and that route hasn't come up, it looks like Highway 34 (is this Trail Ridge Road) is closed? Assuming this is for the winter and will be available in the summer.