Advice on Trip to CO

Got back on Saturday and had a great trip! Thank you all for helping me to plan it!

We stopped in Monument Valley on the long drive to the San Juans, camping the first night outside of Rico. The first morning, we made our way to Telluride, up to Alta Lake, then over Ophir Pass to Silverton. That night, we camped in Velocity Basin, then woke up and did the Alpine Loop east, stopping in Lake City to kill a rainy afternoon. We camped, then came back over Engineer Pass and Mineral Creek trail to Ouray the next day. We did a mountain bike ride in Ridgeway and then went for a swim in the reservoir and hotel-ed it in Ouray where our camp box got savaged by a bear! I guess I let my guard down at the hotel. I loved all the towns but Ouray was my favorite. The Beaumont Hotel was a highlight (not that we stayed there, but toured it). The next day we explored Box Canon and then headed south, stopping for a bike ride in Purgatory before meeting up with some friends in Durango. Then a quick 18 hour drive over a day and a half to end up back in the Bay Area. Over 2600 miles in 7 days.

What beautiful country! I had high expectations and there was no disappointment! Thank you so much for the good advice, which was invaluable. Here are some pics: