Honeymoon trip

should add it's just this section where width is issue, most of trail there is no issue.

 

service is generally fine in the cities. its hit or miss everywhere else

 

This was early in the Spring and we were trying to just make it up to Camp Bird mine outside of Ouray. It is a shelf road and we had to turn around because we really shouldn't have been up there in the first place. Driving back down the shelf road back into Ouray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSKddP-_Mow

 

Imogene Pass is also an option to get over to Telluride, again great views and one of the highest passes around.

Most do Black Bear (one way only) into Telluride and Immogene out but Immogene can be run either direction.

They Call Her Imogene. Traversing Colorado’s Classic High-Mountain Pass | DrivingLine

 

We haven't even ventured up that way yet. We've just stuck to the snowies and Laramie area. Definitely an overlooked state.

 

I agree. Beautiful state.

 

I mean...it's terrible, don't go

 

Wyoming is next trip lol.

 

Wyoming is beautiful no doubt. It is the least populated state in the lower 48 with 5.85 people per sq mile compared to Colorado with 55.7 per sq mile. There are a lot of factors for that considering that Wyoming and Colorado are very similar in size and landscape. But if you want to get away from the crowds then Wyoming is your state (as long as you stay away from the Northwestern part of the state).

 

https://www.9news.com/article/traff...stuck/73-f4c45aee-27e9-4e14-a239-ea10fcfda5c4

Oh and this, Wonder if it will even open this year.

 

do they give tickets out for this?

 

I recommended Leadville as I do think its a really cool town with some neat history, old time character and funky houses but I probably wouldn't spend the night there. Its more of an interesting stop for 1-4 hours of walking/driving around on your way to someplace else. Its a mining town and a bit rough around the edges. If you do go, I'd recommend The Mining Museum, Old Tabor Opera House, check out The Saloon and the Manhattan bar for a drink if you part take. Treeline Kitchen is probably your best bet for food and they have a nice rooftop area. Twin Lakes is right there as well if you wanted to do a picnic or something. I stand by my recommendation as its an interesting historical town that I find charming in a strange way but there's nothing swanky about it. Worth a stop, yes. Worth a stay, probably not.

And as others have said since you have limited time I'd suggest focusing on one region of Colorado knock that out and come back to see more another time. It's a big state with lots of cool stuff, you don't wanna spend your entire trip driving and not really see or experience anything.

 

I was gonna make it up to Leadville but I don’t think it will fit into the schedule. Although I wanted to cross over independence pass just because.

so far I’ve got Trinidad as the first night(Saturday) but I can’t decided if I want to go to black canyon route down to Durango or pagosa-Durango up to ouray. I just need to head out of Colorado and make it close enough to the Grand Canyon by Wednesday night. Ouray to GC is gonna be a long drive.

 

I guess I could go GC first and then come back up through Colorado but I was trying to avoid the Labor Day crowds Monday at the Grand Canyon.

 

Going to be hard not to enjoy the trip, no matter how you schedule it. Colorado just has so much fun stuff to do. Wouldn’t sweat figuring out what the “right” itinerary is. Recommend on focusing on what trip 1 will be with follow on planning for future trips.

 

^^ This right here ^^

My wife and I had a week when we got married. And that wasn't enough to do anything we wanted to do. We started our trip out on a Saturday. and we got back home the following Saturday. We left from AR. just like you are. We spent the first night in Trinidad then drove over to Durango. I had already been to the Great Sand Dunes so we saved that for another trip. We were married on Monday. Tuesday we took the bus up to Silverton and took the train back. Wednesday we went to Mesa Verde. Thursday we drove the big loop up to Ouray (which I really wish we would have known about). We would have skipped Mesa Verde since I had already been there. We only spent a couple hours in Ouray but we made sure to put that on our list the next times that we came out here. Drove over to Telluride and then back to Durango. Left on Friday and got home on Saturday.

We didn't even scratch the surface of anything Colorado has to offer that trip. I had been out here many times before but mostly for skiing. But we knew we wanted to move here after that trip. We have spent the vast majority of our time in the San Juan Mountains. You can get lost there and it will take you many years just to explore that area. Fun fact... The San Juans was originally considered for the location of Rocky Mountain NP but it was decided that the San Juan Mountains were too remote. So Rocky Mountain NP is where it is today because of ease of access.

Again, I would just stick to the Southern part of the state since you have so little time here. And it will be easier to get to the Grand Canyon. You can (and should) come back when you have more time to spend here.

From our hike today:

Colorado Springs on the right, Garden of the Gods on the left, and Manitou Springs directly below us



Colorado Springs



Pikes Peak




I guess what I'm saying is we have been living in Colorado Springs since May and we still have so much to do around here. Imagine what the rest of the state has to offer?

 

Trinidad to durango on sunday, then up 550 to ouray monday morning. Stay in Ouray monday night and tuesday night. Leave out going through Telluride to AZ. Now if i can find a good hotel that's not crazy expensive that weekend. Any ideas there? @RearViewMirror you have been a huge help!

 

Prices very much depend on if it is past summer or not.

Durango? Doubletree. It is more expensive but not terrible. But it is downtown and you can walk to anywhere you want in Durango.

Ouray? Twin Peaks. We've stayed there multiple times and is about the nicest hotel we have stayed in Ouray. We have stayed in a few others but Twin Peaks has been the nicest so far.

As far as Grand Canyon??? There is NOTHING cheap in Grand Canyon. Expect to pay around $100 per meal no matter where you eat while up there if you are staying in Tusayan (which I assume you are). The best hotel there is The Grand at Grand Canyon. We stayed there last year and it is an exceptional hotel.

It should be noted that I DO NOT stay at cheap hotels. I will not stay at a bargain hotel. I know that most hotels are all the same. But I will pay more to stay at a nicer hotel.

 

Probably book doubletree and twin peaks. I was thinking about coming into GC from the east side road but I'm not sure if there is lodging inside the village