Honeymoon trip

We’re planning a honeymoon trip to Colorado and the Grand Canyon the first week of September. My plans are to make a loop up to pikes peak,Estes park,down to vail, montrose-gunnsion, down to Durango. I’m not planning on any off-roading this trip, but I was wondering how this route sounds to you guys in Colorado. What am I missing? Places I need to stop that I might not know about? The wife to be has never been to Colorado before. Thanks for the help.

I know it’s summer but will there still be snow in the higher elevations? Are there any areas more likely to see wildlife?

 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is right outside of Montrose, and is well worth the stop. Lots of short hikes from parking to scenic viewpoints (5 minutes or less).

 

Early Sept is one of the best times to be in Colorado, warm in the day cool at night and most of the crowds are gone.

Piney Lake is a nice high alpine lake about 30 min outside of Vail with a nice view of the Gore Range and some easy hiking around it. Often times there's moose up there. Sometimes you'll catch them swimming across the lake, especially in the early evening.

Leadville is a weird old mining town in the Vail area. Has some old cowboy/outlaw history, Doc Holiday used to run around there. There's an old saloon that's pretty cool as well as some antique and thrift stores if that interest you or your lady at all. Check out Melanzana for a hoody (might need an appointment). Leadville is the highest incorporated town in North America and was originally slated to be the capital of Colorado but they opted for Denver instead.

Glenwood Springs Adventure Park is kinda cool. Its a small fun amusement park but the cave tours they do are pretty rad if you like to dork out on that kind of thing.

If you're going to Durango might as well swing by Telluride.

 

"Early Sept is one of the best times to be in Colorado". You hush now!

 

We got snowed on when we were planning on camping at alta lake, south of telluride a few years ago during labor day week. Did a similar trip as you but went to crested Butte instead of Estes park. We ended up coming back to Colorado springs early because the snow kind of ruined our plans. Not sure if you're planning on camping, but snow is possible down there. It was like 100 F in grand junction a couple days before too lol.

How are you planning on going from Vail to Montrose then Gunnison? Then from there to Durango? Crested Butte and telluride could be fun places to stop in.

 

I haven't set the route in stone yet. I was hoping you guys could help me out on the best places to see and routing. I would like to see much of colorado before heading to AZ without having to backtrack routes any more than necessary. I know its gone be hard to cover it all, so much to see. Anything on my list that should be left out and replaced with a better option?

Leadville might be a good place to stay the night, then to gunnison?

Is telluride on the opposite side of the mountain from the Ouray to Durango highway?

 

Sub

 

The route and tourist stops i have planned are just places i have heard i should go see. The route can change if you guys point me to a better plan.

 

@RearViewMirror any ideas?

 

First week of Sept? There may or may not be snow on top of Pikes Peak then. There is no snow up there right now. But I will warn you, it has been the rainiest summer ever recorded in Colorado Springs. It has rained every day here for the last 3 months. It rained more in a 2 month period (May - June) than the total precipitation for an entire year on the front range. That is a record for the state since recorded weather has taken place. Pikes Peak is hit or miss unfortunately. There was an entire week that we never even saw Pikes Peak last month due to cloud cover and rain. If you do decide to go up Pikes Peak? Do it early in the morning as there "usually" aren't any clouds on top of the peak. That is not a guarantee though. But "usually" by the afternoon? It is covered with clouds so you can't see anything off the top of it. If you want to drive up to the top of Pikes Peak you now need to make a reservation.

Estes Park is a very nice town and well worth visiting. Like someone else said, stop at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. You will not be dissapointed. I would HIGHLY recommend staying at least one night in Ouray since you will be traveling 550 down to Durango. Ouray is probably one of the prettiest towns in the country (to me). First of Sept. shouldn't be too hard to get a hotel reservation as the summer season will be over by then.

My wife and I were married right outside of Durango 23 years ago. And back then it was almost like this hidden gem in the San Juans. Now? It's just not the same as it used to be. That's not to say that it isn't worth visiting. It's just not the same. I'm all for the legalization of marijuana and I partake almost everyday. But there are 6 dispensaries in a 5 block radius. And there is one on main street with a big green neon sign pointing the way to the dispensary. It ruins the charm of Durango (to me). If I want weed? I know where to find it without having a big green neon sign pointing on main street. Then for whatever reason, a few years ago the city council decided that it was legal to allow panhandlers in the city. So you will be stepping over panhandlers on each corner. It has just lost the charm that it used to have and we still go there almost every year on our anniversary. If you have time while in Durango, take the Narrow Gauge Train up to Silverton. I would recommend taking the bus up because the bus driver will give you a lot of information about the San Juan mountains. Then take the train back. If you can, book a seat on the bar car because that is "usually" the last car in the line. You will be able to stand on the back of the car and have an unobstructed view of everything. You will need to make a reservation for that car if you want to make that trip. The train is pretty popular.

First of Sept. is a good time to come up here. I would argue that the end of Sept. through the first part of Oct. is the best time to come up here due to the Aspens changing colors. But that might not line up with your timeframe.

One thing about it, there are plenty of good hikes you can take while up here. We hiked Muscoco Trail right outside of Colorado Springs today and it was beautiful. Of course it rained on the way back but that seems to be the way it's going to be this year.

 

One other thing... Bring a bunch of different cloths as the temps can vary wildly. We (so far) have never had any trouble at the end of Sept. through the first part of Oct. with snow. And we have been here every year for 23 years and never had any trouble traveling across the state during that time. Colorado DOT is very good at keeping the roads open over the mountain passes. I-70 might be hit or miss though due to a variety of reasons. If it happens to snow early (which is doubtful) maybe Hwy 550. But that would be very rare. There may be road repair going on, on 550 though. So if there is, just be prepared to wait.

Temps today were high 60's here and the low tonight is supposed to be in the high 40's. Sept? Could be close to the same or it might be wildly different. You just have to pack accordingly and know that if you are in the mountains, it will get cool (cold) at night (and maybe during the day also).

 

Thanks for the info @RearViewMirror. The only reason I was going to Durango was to drive the million dollar highway I was told about. Would it be better to stay in Ouray and then go to telluride? My bride wants to see telluride

 

I like old historic places and try to stay out of bigger populated areas when possible.

 

Ouray, Silverton, Durango, and driving 550 (Million Dollar Hwy) is well worth the trip. Beautiful drive and you need to do it at least once in your life. Telluride is also beautiful and worth the drive over there. But it is VERY expensive. But what place isn't these days lol? Durango is still a really cool place to visit. I just wish you could have seen it 20 years ago when no one really paid attention to it opposed to the other more popular towns in the state. We had planned on moving to Durango but now I'm glad we didn't. It's just not the same. But walking by the Animas River in the evening? I don't see how you could pass that up every day that you are there. It really is a beautiful town. But if it were me? I would plan on spending at least two nights in Ouray. It really is a beautiful town and I can promise you will not be disappointed.

How much time are you planning on spending up here? Reason I ask is if you just have a week or so, it's almost better to stick to one area of the state and explore all that area has to offer rather than trying to see a bunch of things in a short timeframe. We live in Colorado Springs now. But before we did, we used to start every trip in Colorado Springs and then pick a different route across the state. We would always end up in Durango for a few days since that is where we were married. Estes Park for instance is a very long way from the rest of the things that you mentioned.

 

I’m leaving south Arkansas sat morning around 3:00 going through Amarillo. I was planning on staying maybe raton NM that night or maybe a little further on into Colorado if I can drive more. I should have 3 days in Colorado before I need to leave out for the Grand Canyon. Should I skip royal gorge and pikes peak and go to Estes then down to ouray? I like the idea of not driving so much every day and we could come back again to see other parts. I was planning on being in page AZ Wednesday night. I’m open to changing my plans if you suggest a better route or skipping something. The locals always know the area better than tourists coming in and hitting all the popular spots.

 

Okay... That makes sense. We just moved up here from Arkansas back in May. We have been coming out here for years. The way we have almost always done it when traveling out here, we usually stop on the West side of Amarillo for the night. That breaks it up for the next day which is a much shorter drive into Colorado. But... We have also driven to Trinidad and spent the night. The drive through Northern NM through the volcano fields on into Raton is a really pretty drive.

This is just my opinion. Estes park is a long way away from the rest of the places you mentioned. And since you are only going to have 3 days in Colorado? That pretty much knocks out Estes Park and Pikes Peak for that matter. The Royal Gorge is really cool but I wouldn't waste a day on it this trip. I would personally just stick to the Southern part of Colorado. 3 days in Colorado is not a lot of time and you won't be able to scratch the surface. So if it were "me"? I would go up I-25 to Walsenburg and then cut across the state on Hwy 160. If you want you can make a quick trip up to the Great Sand Dunes NP since you will literally pass right by them. Go on through Alamosa and then you will cross over Wolf Creek Pass which is a beautiful drive. Then head on into Durango. You can base your trip out of Durango and drive up 550 to Silverton, and Ouray. You can also make a trip to Telluride one of those days. But that is about all you will really be able to do in 3 days in Colorado otherwise you really won't see anything. When my wife and I were married out here we had a week and that is essentially what we did. And even then we didn't really scratch the surface. We did take the train up to Silverton and we did go over to Mesa Verde. But those were really the only other things we were able to do with a week.

I would also suggest since you are going to the Grand Canyon, plan to spend at least two nights there. I will warn you that it is very expensive there but the first time my wife and I went out there we only spent one night on our way to Vegas. I expected to walk up to it and look at it for a few and say "yep... that's a big hole in the ground". But I was so very wrong. You can't explain to someone that has never been there the sheer scale of what you are looking at. And pictures will never do it justice. You just have to see it. We spent two nights there last year when we took our daughter on her senior trip before moving on to Vegas, Utah, and back through Colorado.

 

Just remember you can always come back. We've been coming out here for 23 years and I still have many places to see that I haven't seen yet.

 

You're coming from Amarillo? I think it's best to come up 287 through my hometown of Lamar. There's not much there however. You could head to Pueblo and then Canyon City to get to the gorge. I think that's quicker than going to Raton. The drive from Pueblo to CC is beautiful. You do realize how far north RMNP is right? It's worth it but you'll do some driving. From CC to Salida and up 285 to Denver is a great drive. South Park, Kenosha pass, I love that area. I'm sure you'll have a great trip

 

Sounds like you don't have a lot of time in Colorado to begin with and you're coming from the south.

With such a limited time, I'd would suggest 2 options.

Sand Dunes -> Pagosa -> Durango.
You could skip Pagosa and go straight to Durango to base camp and make a loop north to Ouray then back through/by Telluride.

Or

Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak) -> Gunnison (Black Canyon or Crested Butte) -> Montrose to Durango.

I wouldn't suggest going north of I70, especially if you're not a fan of bigger cities or a lot of people. I really wouldn't go north of Hwy 24 in Springs if you make it up here. Unless you want to spend all day driving and just going past these places.

I'm planning an Oregon trip and I'm trying to keep day drive time from spot to spot under 4 hours and I still feel like I won't have time to see all the places I want to.

 

Second the staying in southern Colorado and Pagosa recommendation. Make a dedicated trip to RMNP/Estes some other time.