Colorado Trip May/June - Specific suggestions needed

Went rafting in CO last summer. Your two youngest will likely not be allowed to do class 3 rapids. 14 is the age requirement. We had to a 'beginner' course since my son was only 12. This was in Idaho Springs fwiw

On the Durango/Silverton train, I see diesel and steam, is one better than the other?

Also, the diesel leaves for 815am and steam 9am. Schedule says 3 1/2 hour train ride, 2 hour walking around silverton and then 3 1/2 hours back. So 9 hours total. Drive to station from telluride is 2 hours and 13 minutes. So would have to leave Telluride for either 6am or 645am and then return 730pm or 815pm. How difficult is that drive in the dark?

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I see diesel and steam

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They didn't have that option when we went.

The steam is 100% the way to go. There's just something about the sounds and seeing all the moving parts on a stream engine. A diesel moves, but a steam engine is almost like a living thing from a century ago.

I am shocked that steam is still an option. Coal from the steam train burned down half the San Juan National Forest a few years ago. I figured the entire train was done after that.

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driving from Ouray to Silverton

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If you don't like heights or shear drop offs, make sure and check out some of the 'million dollar highway' vids on youtube. Of course they don't do it justice. Having about a foot of road with no guardrail between you and assured death is tough. First time I did that road, I had no idea what was coming. Pulled over 3 times having a panic attack I suffer from a bit of vertigo, so your mileage may vary.

Not a ton of stuff to do in either downtown Ouray or Silverton besides shop and eat/drink. There is a cool 6 mile hike around Ouray that is great, but I wouldn't take my kids unless you are confident they won't go over the side (more cliff drops). I do like Silverton more than Ouray because it feels a tad less touristy and its a bit more chill.

Telluride is super clean and expensive, of course. Beautiful town, plenty to do. Make sure you do the Bear Creek hike up to the falls. Its a great hike for kids and not very technical with some fantastic views. You can park downtown off S.Pine St and probably knock it out in 3 hours unless you are not very athletic. Keep in mind the altitude will slow you down.

Its also still likely to still have snow on trails and be pretty cold at night, especially in may.


YT vid of road

Haven't done the Yosemite drive. That YT video in my last post shows the worst of the drive. Its like 25 miles to Silverton and the butt clenching stuff is only a couple of miles near the start. Next time, I might stop for a pint or two in Ouray before doing it haha.