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Short Trip to Colorado
Posted on 8/23/26 at 10:04 am
Posted on 8/23/26 at 10:04 am
Will be making a short trip to Colorado this week for a wedding. We are flying in Wednesday morning. Wedding is Thursday night. We fly back Saturday.
That gives us a big chunk Wednesday, half a day Thursday, and all day Friday.
We are staying in Blackhawk which is about 50 minutes west of Denver.
First time in Colorado although we are likely planning a longer trip in the future. Need recs on activities and any restaurants along the way. A friend recommended driving north to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. He said both offer excellent views while driving through and ample spots to pull over and take pictures.
TIA
That gives us a big chunk Wednesday, half a day Thursday, and all day Friday.
We are staying in Blackhawk which is about 50 minutes west of Denver.
First time in Colorado although we are likely planning a longer trip in the future. Need recs on activities and any restaurants along the way. A friend recommended driving north to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. He said both offer excellent views while driving through and ample spots to pull over and take pictures.
TIA
8
Posted on 8/23/26 at 10:24 am to Mister Bigfish
To get to Blackhawk take highway 6 thru the mountains it will take quite a bit longer but the drive is worth it. Since you will go thru golden you can stop and take the coors brewery tour which is pretty cool
RMNP is obviously awesome but that’s way out of your way. You could also take a detour to Idaho springs, or go thru Morrison and Evergreen there’s plenty to see and do there
Have fun we are in CO right now for another week and a half. It’s gorgeous weather
RMNP is obviously awesome but that’s way out of your way. You could also take a detour to Idaho springs, or go thru Morrison and Evergreen there’s plenty to see and do there
Have fun we are in CO right now for another week and a half. It’s gorgeous weather
Posted on 8/23/26 at 11:25 am to Mister Bigfish
If you're up for a long day of mountain driving then you could drive to Estes Park through RMNP via trail ridge road and then down to Black Hawk, but that would likely be an 8 hour adventure. (Google Maps says 5 hours driving)
I noticed several of the popular ski towns are in that area. It would probably be easiest to check one of them out.
I noticed several of the popular ski towns are in that area. It would probably be easiest to check one of them out.
Posted on 8/23/26 at 11:30 am to armytiger96
quote:yes, vail, Breckenridge, frisco, Dillon, etc. we are leaving Dillon right now
the popular ski towns are in that area
Posted on 8/23/26 at 11:34 am to Mister Bigfish
It's about an hour's drive, but the Butterhorn Bakery & Cafe in Frisco has fantastic cinnamon roll French toast.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 8/23/26 at 1:34 pm to Mister Bigfish
IF you fly fish the rivers are terrific out there.
Also consider Golden CO. The Coors brewery and the railroad museum are both cool.
Also consider Golden CO. The Coors brewery and the railroad museum are both cool.
Posted on 8/23/26 at 11:56 pm to Mister Bigfish
Blackhawk is fairly close to Golden which I like a lot. Some good hiking in Golden for various endurance levels. Winter Park isn’t that far up 70 from there either.
If you really want to do RMNP I’d enter through Grand Lake which is on the west side. I’d return from that entrance/exit as well because it’s closer to Blackhawk. I do like Este Park way more than I do Grand Lake and that is on the other side of the park.
Actually going into the park and driving through takes some planning as there are limitations and reservation requirements.
Driving from Blackhawk to Estes Park without going through Grand Lake feels real out of the way to me, but that could just be my perception.
If you really want to do RMNP I’d enter through Grand Lake which is on the west side. I’d return from that entrance/exit as well because it’s closer to Blackhawk. I do like Este Park way more than I do Grand Lake and that is on the other side of the park.
Actually going into the park and driving through takes some planning as there are limitations and reservation requirements.
Driving from Blackhawk to Estes Park without going through Grand Lake feels real out of the way to me, but that could just be my perception.
Posted on 8/24/26 at 8:56 am to tadman
quote:
IF you fly fish the rivers are terrific out there.
Just be aware that, currently, most of the rivers (that aren't in the extreme high country or tailwaters) are under voluntary "hoot owl" restriction due to low water and high temperatures, which means you shouldn't really fish them past noon as it leads to a high mortality rate for released trout.
Posted on 8/24/26 at 1:05 pm to hogfly
Beat me to it.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:23 am to hogfly
quote:
Just be aware that, currently, most of the rivers (that aren't in the extreme high country or tailwaters) are under voluntary "hoot owl" restriction due to low water and high temperatures, which means you shouldn't really fish them past noon as it leads to a high mortality rate for released trout.
So I make sure to ask the local fly shop for their input. What they're fishing and what the unspoken rules are. Supposedly the Blue River out of Dillon-Silverthorne is not applicable due to the cold water out of the dam. This is per Cutthroat Angler, the local shop.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:26 am to tadman
Thank you everyone for suggestions. I am a big fisherman but we won’t be fishing this trip, unfortunately. Mostly just gonna be laid back sight seeing and hoping to find some good food.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:56 am to tadman
quote:
So I make sure to ask the local fly shop for their input. What they're fishing and what the unspoken rules are. Supposedly the Blue River out of Dillon-Silverthorne is not applicable due to the cold water out of the dam. This is per Cutthroat Angler, the local shop.
Yep! Most of the tailwaters are good, at least close to the dams. As you said, consult with the local shops to find out what's recommended at the moment. We were in Durango for Fort Lewis College movein for my son last week, and the Animas was in terrible shape and alot of the high country creeks were also pretty shot. Duranglers was recommending hitting high country lakes for the most part.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 10:49 am to hogfly
we are in basalt right now I saw in the paper they have lifted some of the restrictions in this area due to a reservoir release. As always ask at the local fly shop.
This area is fantastic btw. Way better than the posers in aspen, very laid back and friendly
About to go take a quick hike then a drive up the frying pan river to the reservoir
This area is fantastic btw. Way better than the posers in aspen, very laid back and friendly
About to go take a quick hike then a drive up the frying pan river to the reservoir
Posted on 8/25/26 at 10:54 am to Mister Bigfish
OP I saw in your restaurant thread you are going to go to Co Springs first…garden of the gods is nice don’t get me wrong but I wouldn’t drive 2 hrs out of the way to see it. You are needing to go NW out of Denver to get to Blackhawk. If it were me I would spend the first night in golden or evergreen or Morrison. Spectacularly beautiful and all three towns are worth the visit with great bars and food options and also plenty of short hikes, scenic drives, various mountain activities.
Just a suggestion
Just a suggestion
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:07 am to cgrand
Thanks
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:44 am to Mister Bigfish
There are some rafting around Blackhawk. Water should be perfect.
Did the peak to peak drive to Boulder. The city is interesting (very liberal city). A nice city strip with a bunch of arts and stuff to see, roof top resturants with stunning views. University of Colorado is beautiful
Did the peak to peak drive to Boulder. The city is interesting (very liberal city). A nice city strip with a bunch of arts and stuff to see, roof top resturants with stunning views. University of Colorado is beautiful
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:52 am to Mister Bigfish
Posted on 8/25/26 at 12:01 pm to Mister Bigfish
Better call now if you plan to take the Coors tour, usually 2-3 weeks out. I would try to do the vail pass bike ride, path runs through Copper Mountains. Believe it is 18 miles but 17 is downhill but end in Frisco. It is absolutely beautiful. Have a great trip and enjoy the weather.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 3:45 pm to freececil
quote:
would try to do the vail pass bike ride, path runs through Copper Mountains. Believe it is 18 miles but 17 is downhill but end in Frisco. It is absolutely beautiful. Have a great trip and enjoy the weather.
Thank you. Looking at this now.
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