Colorado 5 day trip Recommendations

checking out all these locations and its getting pretty hard to decide, it seems like its hard to go wrong here...

 

Thanks thats really helpful

 

I have a truck mounted tent setup and have no problem roughing it, thanks for the tips

 

Exactly what I was gonna say!

 

Tin cup pass is nice, nothing extreme but beautiful views, can go from Buena vista to the old historic town of tin cup(can travel in either direction). Also if you are already that far Moab is really only like 3 more hours

 

Sounds a lot like my tentative itinerary for August from S.C. I may get a bit more time than 5 days. Mostly scouting for fishing destinations. I suppose I should expect more crowds??

I would rather go in September myself but work...

 

Worst 14er out there

 

Yeah I agree don’t waste your time, you’ll get way better views with the recommendations in here. Big whoop I’m up 14,000’ in a tourist trap

 

Just in case you haven't heard it from enough folks already, I'm on the Ouray, Telluride, and the Alpine loop bandwagon. Unless you're in a sports car or on a bike, which you obviously aren't, Pike's Peak would be at the bottom of my list. You're not driving all the way the hell out here in your tacoma just to take a paved road to the top of a mountain.

Here's your 5 day trip planned start to finish, hitting all the passes in and out of Telluride, followed by the Alpine loop run counter clockwise.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-and-b-s-thread.356319/page-18#post-18214387

Some other thoughts...if you're going to stay towards the eastern part and can handle off-camber, I'd recommend Red Cone, Radical Hill, and SOB hill. They can be done in a long day and have some incredible views with a 10 outta 10 pucker factor. There's a few other easier trails in that area as well if you wanted to start with easier ones like Georgia and Argentine pass before attempting the trifecta. You could spend another day or two in the northern sand dunes and run Middle Saint Vrain and Coney Flats up towards Wyoming. Closer to Boulder there's also Kingston Peak which offers a nice hike up to James Peak or if you want to take it easy then Rollins Pass East is a long ride on a bumpy dirt road that ends at Needle Eye Tunnel and has some great views of that area as well. Tons of stuff in that area between Rollinsville and Central City.

 

YES, Red Cone, Radical Hill and SOB hill are great suggestions (RedCone has quite the pucker factor, despite how "mild" it is), and I 100% agree on Kingston Peak and Rollins pass, great areas to explore.
My wife nearly left me when I took her over Kingston Peak shortly after we were married (excuse her, she grew up in the Pittsburgh area), the views above Loch Lomond are AMAZING.


Another fun area to check out (if your nearby) is Argentine Pass (just outside of Georgetown).
A great trail, you can spend the day checking out the old Santiago mine and the 4x4 trails around it.


Damn, now I have to plan another trip West (yes, my photos from a trip 10 years ago)

 

To add onto this one, after you come back down from Schofield in Crested Butte, detour through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the coolest spots I ever explored around. Then come back down 285 through SouthPark and hit North Twin Cone on your way back down.
You may need to add more days to your journey, and maybe take me with you (extra Tacoma for good luck, LOL).

 

omg CB is just amazing.

i don't have anything to add regarding routes & destinations. but i do highly recommend that you stop along the way and enjoy some of the thermal hot springs. you have many choices and they're all a bit different, but you'll be glad you went.

 

We camped at golden gate canyon state park. Very nice campground and it was cool at night. About 9800ft up.

 

The drive up the road was s worth it.

 

there is a lot to see and do out here, I would look at what everyone is saying and pick one area, maybe a second close by and concentrate on that.
but this is is another option,
https://ridebdr.com/cobdr/


One of my favorite is Stoney Pass, seems to be less traveled.
Sept should be good weather, but if you camp up high, it could freeze at night

 

Also Weston Pass from 285, south of Fairplay, over to 24 just south of Leadville is smooth.

 

Where’s the photos?

 

Pulled off the CORE https://www.keeptrailsopen.com/ Facebook page

"Trail Report - 6/18/19

*Please read the full report*
All of Fourmile North - Open
All of Fourmile South - Open
Aspen Ridge - Open
Chinaman Gulch - Open
Carnage Canyon - Open
Mineral Basin - Open for 6 miles until just after the FS 344G junction for stock/slightly modified rigs. Open for another mile for built rigs capable of deep snow.
Ptarmigan Lake - Open for 1 mile with snow on the road.
Tincup Pass - Closed due to Forest Order
Hancock Pass - Not accessible
Alpine Tunnel to Hancock Town Site - Open for stock/slightly modified vehicles to just past the Allie Belle Mine at 4.5 miles. Open to Hancock Townsite for built rigs capable of deep snow.
Pomeroy Lake - Open for .75 miles to the Mary Murphy Mine.
Grizzly Lake - Open for 1.5 miles, blocked by snow and avalanche debris.
Mount Antero - Open for 2 miles, blocked by snow and avalanche debris.
Clohesy Lake - Open for 1.5 miles, blocked by snow and avalanche debris.
Kelly Flatts - Open
T33 - Open
**We report on, and around, our adopted trails first. If we get credible information concerning other popular trails, we will include them in future reports. If you don't see a trail listed, we don't have a conditions report or you simply can't get to the trailhead yet. These reports are from first hand accounts and are accurate on the day published. 'Open with snow on the road' means, to get to the point in the update you have to drive, on trail, through snow. This is not recommended for stock vehicles, know your limits. Conditions are constantly changing. If/when you venture out, do not go off-trail to go around snow. Stay the Trail at all times.**
***Travel at your own risk, conditions can change. This is only an informational post. You are responsible for your own vehicle and your actions***"

 

Great posts on here, going to borrow a couple of recommendations. Living in Denver eats dicks, desperately trying to move to the Western Slope, just waiting on clearance from my handler, oh and that whole job bullshit.

 

Telluride, Ouray, Silverton makes for a nice day.