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Started By
Message
Family Trip - Western Mountains
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:11 am
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:11 am
Starting to plan a family trip (2 adults, 2 kids ages 7-10) for July of this year and looking for ideas on where to go. Open to spending 7-12 days and budget is not a huge concern. I would prefer to be able to drive to avoid uncertainties associated with Covid and to have more flexibility. Would like to be somewhere relatively small (IE - not Denver), but somewhere with a few restaurants/things to do. Open to hiking, white water rafting, ATV renting, etc. Considering parts of Colorado/Southern Utah, but the wife is thinking about Montana/Glacier, which rules out driving from La.
Ideally, we could rent an AirBnb to use as a base for at least a week of the trip. Suggestions would be appreciated.
Ideally, we could rent an AirBnb to use as a base for at least a week of the trip. Suggestions would be appreciated.
11
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:40 am to craazyjose
Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods.
Next day, drive to Durango. Take the steam train up to Silverton.
While in the area, go see Mesa Verde.
Next day, drive to Durango. Take the steam train up to Silverton.
While in the area, go see Mesa Verde.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:46 am to craazyjose
Posted on 1/14/21 at 12:45 pm to cgrand
quote:
buena vista, CO
I second this area. We actually stayed in Salida. We did the rafting and ATV rentals.. it was awesome.. From BTR our overnight stays were in Kerrvile right outside of San Antonio then went to Carlsbad Caverns and stayed in Carlsbad. The return trip we went through OK & TX
Posted on 1/14/21 at 1:08 pm to craazyjose
Moab, Telluride/Ouray, Aspen, Breckenridge would all be amazing. Glacier is a bit more remote than those areas but would also be great. Flagstaff and Sedona would also be a great area.
Glacier might be halfway closed again like it was last year. I would prefer Colorado or Utah if half the park is closed again. The east side of the park is the best part!
If it were me, and budget isn't a concern, I would 100% go to Telluride and Ouray. That's one of the most beautiful areas in the US. Lots of outdoors stuff to do there for the family. And it's fairly remote (6 hours from Denver) and also not as well known as the national parks so doesn't see as much of the same crowds as you do in Glacier, Moab, Estes Park.
Glacier might be halfway closed again like it was last year. I would prefer Colorado or Utah if half the park is closed again. The east side of the park is the best part!
If it were me, and budget isn't a concern, I would 100% go to Telluride and Ouray. That's one of the most beautiful areas in the US. Lots of outdoors stuff to do there for the family. And it's fairly remote (6 hours from Denver) and also not as well known as the national parks so doesn't see as much of the same crowds as you do in Glacier, Moab, Estes Park.
This post was edited on 1/14/21 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 1/14/21 at 4:47 pm to craazyjose
quote:
Would like to be somewhere relatively small (IE - not Denver), but somewhere with a few restaurants/things to do. Open to hiking, white water rafting, ATV renting, etc.
It's not the mountains, but Sedona, AZ checks a lot of those boxes, and is a good home base to get to a lot of other places. Flagstaff has some mountain hiking and is about an hour away. Grand Canyon is a couple of hours. Tons of hiking around Sedona, and lots of good restaurants.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 5:30 pm to craazyjose
Don't mean to hijack thread, but I'll be going to Durango area this year. Is the altitude difficult to tolerate for flatlanders? I am worried about trying to hike at that altitude and keeling over. 
Posted on 1/14/21 at 5:37 pm to ChenierauTigre
Durango isn’t bad for low oxygen, only 6500’ or so. One trip we flew to Denver from New Orleans and that day drive to the top of Mt Evans (14100’) and I wasn’t able to climb 150’ to the top due to the lack of oxygen.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 5:47 pm to wickowick
Thank you. Sorry for the hijack OP. 
Posted on 1/14/21 at 6:12 pm to craazyjose
Durango, Telluride area. Just do it
Posted on 1/14/21 at 7:07 pm to ChenierauTigre
You’ll definitely feel it on hikes the first couple days even at that elevation. When we first moved here we tried to do a relatively easy hike in Boulder at about 5500 feet and died haha. But in terms of normal walking around you probably won’t feel it
Posted on 1/14/21 at 7:14 pm to Shexter
quote:
drive to Durango. Take the steam train up to Silverton. While in the area, go see Mesa Verde.
I 2nd and 3rd this. Went when I was in 7th grade. Loved the train ride and silver ton. Mesa verse was cool and finished off the trip by going to the Grand Canyon
Posted on 1/14/21 at 7:19 pm to bulldog95
Make sure the cliff dwelling tours are open with Covid before you visit Mesa Verde. That is the best part of that park. Also the hotel on the grounds is great to stay for a night. It is about 45 minutes from the gates and close to the cliff dwellings
Posted on 1/14/21 at 8:04 pm to The Spleen
quote:
It's not the mountains, but Sedona, AZ checks a lot of those boxes, and is a good home base to get to a lot of other places. Flagstaff has some mountain hiking and is about an hour away. Grand Canyon is a couple of hours. Tons of hiking around Sedona, and lots of good restaurants.
i would usually agree, but sedona is balls hot in july. flagstaff is lovely, but every single arizonan who is not in san diego will be in flagstaff in july. interstate 17 becomes a parking lot, and every local in flagstaff's chip on their shoulder about phoenicians in their town gets a bit heavier.
OP, i agree that durango is a great home base to explore sw colorado. if the covid restrictions weren't so insane in new mexico i might recommend santa fe or taos. southern utah is even further for you - just to get to durango you're looking at a 20+ hour drive. as someone who's flown during this shite, it is honestly more pleasant and less stressful to fly now than pre-covid (besides having to wear a mask in the airport and on the flight).
Posted on 1/15/21 at 9:02 am to Bunsbert Montcroff
Thanks guys. Would you recommend staying near Durango or Telluride? We are ok with moving a couple of times, but would like to stay in one of the two for 4-5 days and then maybe move.
Posted on 1/15/21 at 9:13 am to craazyjose
Durango is nice but Telluride is much nicer. You are in a mountain town at about 8700'. The million-dollar hwy drive between Durango and Telluride is awesome. It is one of the top scenic drives in the country.
Posted on 1/15/21 at 9:34 am to wickowick
Agreed. Telluride is what I’d go with. If you’re going to move around, I’d move between Telluride and Ouray, not Telluride and Durango. Silverton would also be very nice. But Telluride as the home base is definitely the best pick.
This post was edited on 1/15/21 at 9:37 am
Posted on 1/15/21 at 10:22 am to craazyjose
quote:
Thanks guys. Would you recommend staying near Durango or Telluride? We are ok with moving a couple of times, but would like to stay in one of the two for 4-5 days and then maybe move.
i like durango just fine, there are tons of hiking trails, creeks, and the animas river if you want to fly fish or raft. there are fun summer activities at purgatory (the ski resort) as well. if you plan to visit telluride you can go up 550, check out silver ton and ouray and then swing around to telluride. plus you have the luxury of being in a (small) city rather than just a resort town like telluride.
of course, telluride has all these sweet attractions. but telluride will also be crazy expensive compared to durango for accommodations. but if you can swing it, go for it!
Posted on 1/15/21 at 10:26 am to Bunsbert Montcroff
I'll throw out Crested Butte as another option in that general area. Pretty much everything that there is to do in other mountain towns. I like Salida and Buena Vista as well. Durango is awesome, too, but it's been a while since I"ve been.
Posted on 1/15/21 at 11:08 am to hogfly
OP has a wealth of amazing options!
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