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Started By
Message
Colorado Mountain Towns
Posted on 4/29/24 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 4/29/24 at 12:59 pm
I'm heading to Colorado in July with a few friends from college (all in our mid-30s, no kids, no wives). This is our second consecutive summer trip there - last year was a blast, but I'm all ears for anything fun to do that might fly a bit under the radar.
Last year we were there for 4 days, stayed in Dillon - we did a few hikes, whitewater rafted in Buena Vista, spent a day in Denver, hung out a bit in Frisco and Breckenridge.
This year we're staying for a week in Fairplay. We're not planning on spending any time in Denver. We're definitely hiking, whitewater rafting (probably twice - Numbers and Royal Gorge). We're also probably heading towards Colorado Springs for Pikes Peak and/or Garden of the Gods. Appreciate any additional recs for fun stuff in that area for our demographic.
Last year we were there for 4 days, stayed in Dillon - we did a few hikes, whitewater rafted in Buena Vista, spent a day in Denver, hung out a bit in Frisco and Breckenridge.
This year we're staying for a week in Fairplay. We're not planning on spending any time in Denver. We're definitely hiking, whitewater rafting (probably twice - Numbers and Royal Gorge). We're also probably heading towards Colorado Springs for Pikes Peak and/or Garden of the Gods. Appreciate any additional recs for fun stuff in that area for our demographic.
This post was edited on 4/29/24 at 1:03 pm
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Posted on 4/29/24 at 1:48 pm to BRPelican45
Drive around to the Leadville side and climb Mt Massive or Mt Elbert, depending on your experience and ambition. They are the two highest peaks in CO. I'm 1 for 2 with Massive, failing the first time due to altitude headaches, but succeeding the second time by camping at tree line for a couple days before taking the summit. Most locals can do it in a single day hike. I even saw some insane super marathoners run up the damn thing, which was pretty humbling.
Posted on 4/29/24 at 2:02 pm to BRPelican45
I see Estes Park mentioned on here quite a bit when folks have inquiries similar to yours
Posted on 4/29/24 at 2:26 pm to YourHuckleberry
Looks rad! But as a group I'd rate our fitness level as "average" and our ambition perhaps a bit lower than that 
Posted on 4/29/24 at 3:44 pm to YourHuckleberry
quote:
Drive around to the Leadville side and climb Mt Massive or Mt Elbert
hike
Posted on 4/29/24 at 3:51 pm to BRPelican45
There's always stuff going on in mountain towns during the summer. Not sure when yall we be up in July, but Telluride Americana Music Festival and Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival (we go every year to this one and love it) are in July off the top of my head. Honestly just go to each town's official page and look at their calendar of events. Salida, Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Telluride, Steamboat, Vail, Breck, Blackhawk, Cripple Creek, Aspen, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Estes Park, etc.
ETA: I would definitely stay in Salida or Buena Vista over Fairplay if yall will be running those sections of the Ark. If you're making you way towards the Springs, swing through Cripple Creek to hit the small casinos.
ETA: I would definitely stay in Salida or Buena Vista over Fairplay if yall will be running those sections of the Ark. If you're making you way towards the Springs, swing through Cripple Creek to hit the small casinos.
This post was edited on 4/29/24 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 4/29/24 at 4:59 pm to BRPelican45
Fourth of July in Silverton is a can't miss. Bring a blanket or some chairs, sit in the huge field with 1,000's of others, and watch the fireworks being shot off the side of the mountain. The light and sound reflects off all the surrounding mountains. I wish we would've rented a Jeep during the day to go explore some old mines, but they were all booked up.
Garden of the Gods was beautiful, but I could've skipped it. There's plenty of that scenery out that way.
Rafting the Royal Gorge was another can't miss.
Take a ride out to Mesa Verde.
Posted on 4/29/24 at 5:39 pm to BRPelican45
I’m not sure that there is anything g left in Colorado that is under the radar…
If you like the 14er idea but Elbert/massive look like too much, Sherman is close to FairPlay and may be the easiest 14er. The Lincoln group and quandary are also close by.
I didn’t see fishing in your post, plenty of decent guides in that area that could handle a small group. If wadding/fly fishing isn’t your style, you can opt for a boat on dillon reservoir which has the distinction of hosting a Kokanee salmon population.
I’ll second coloradoag’s suggestion that there is always a mountain town having some sort of festival/to do.
If you like the 14er idea but Elbert/massive look like too much, Sherman is close to FairPlay and may be the easiest 14er. The Lincoln group and quandary are also close by.
I didn’t see fishing in your post, plenty of decent guides in that area that could handle a small group. If wadding/fly fishing isn’t your style, you can opt for a boat on dillon reservoir which has the distinction of hosting a Kokanee salmon population.
I’ll second coloradoag’s suggestion that there is always a mountain town having some sort of festival/to do.
Posted on 4/29/24 at 6:30 pm to BRPelican45
quote:
This year we're staying for a week in Fairplay. We're not planning on spending any time in Denver.
Knock out Mt. Sherman. Easy from that side.
Can do the DeCaLiBron too. Recent legislation should allow the whole damn thing to be open to the public this summer, since landowners cant get sued if using the right signage.
If you want to do Elbert or Massive like some suggested, Im going to hike those multiple times this summer. Happy to let you know trail conditions.
I live a little south of Leadville in Twin Lakes, so pretty familiar with this area.
This post was edited on 4/29/24 at 6:37 pm
Posted on 4/30/24 at 4:39 am to Duke
quote:
I live a little south of Leadville in Twin Lakes, so pretty familiar with this area.
Get me a melly
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:00 am to BRPelican45
if you are driving straight to fairplay from Denver be aware that it is 1,000 feet higher than dillon and higher than Breck. Drink lots of water.
I prefer Garden of the gods over pikes peak in Colorado Springs.
I prefer Garden of the gods over pikes peak in Colorado Springs.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:04 am to Hermit Crab
quote:
I’m not sure that there is anything g left in Colorado that is under the radar…
Creede - best place in Colorado to go back in time. Hasn't been overly commercialized as it's too hard to get to.
This post was edited on 4/30/24 at 10:05 am
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:12 am to MAROON
quote:
Creede
I see yours and will raise you - Platoro
This post was edited on 4/30/24 at 10:14 am
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:52 am to Hermit Crab
quote:
I prefer Garden of the gods over pikes peak in Colorado Springs.
I think Pike's Peak is just one of those things you do to say you've done it.
Posted on 4/30/24 at 11:54 am to h0bnail
quote:
Pike's Peak is just one of those things you do to say you've done it.
It’s still a 14’er to mark of you list, if you are in to “collecting” those.
I have 3 now. Going to do Sherman this August.
This post was edited on 4/30/24 at 11:59 am
Posted on 4/30/24 at 1:08 pm to h0bnail
If you drive to the top of Pike's you can't count that as bagging one of the 14ers
Posted on 4/30/24 at 1:24 pm to ColoradoAg03
we'll I'm keeping Evans on my "skied" list even though we drove to the top and then hitched back to our car
Posted on 4/30/24 at 1:42 pm to ColoradoAg03
quote:
If you drive to the top of Pike's you can't count that as bagging one of the 14ers
I did. Don’t tell anyone!
Posted on 4/30/24 at 2:10 pm to BRPelican45
But yes, Sherman, DeCaLiBron (4 summits, some don't count Cameron because the saddle is so shallow), and Quandary are all right there close to Fairplay. I've done them all, none of them are hard, you just want to make sure you're acclimated for high altitude hiking. There's also several 14ers in Chafee County when you cross west over the Ark. If yall fish, Spinney, the Dream Stream, and 11 Mile are close by as well.
ETA: If yall are set on doing a 14er, do your route research and check recent trip reports for trail conditions intel at 14ers.com
ETA: If yall are set on doing a 14er, do your route research and check recent trip reports for trail conditions intel at 14ers.com
This post was edited on 4/30/24 at 2:14 pm
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