Upcoming trip Planning TX-NM-CO Sept. 8-17th **Help**

I will be making a trip Sept. 8-17 and was hoping for some help or suggestions, We will be sleeping in the RTT every night and prefer to camp off the grid but a campground for a couple nights would be ok. We are planning on doing the Alpine Loop, Imogene, Black Bear, ect.. If you have any trail suggestions, things to do, cool places to eat please let me know.


Day 1 - Friday, September 8th
· Departure Time: By 9am
· Destination: Red River, NM
· Miles to cover: 650 miles
· Drive Time: Approx. 10.5 hours
· Breakfast: Whataburger on way out
· Lunch: On the road
· Dinner: In town or at camp
· Camping Spot: Just north of Mallette Park in Red River
Day 2 - Saturday, September 9th
· Departure Time: By 9am
· Destination: Silverton
· Miles to cover: 300
· Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours
· Breakfast: At Camp
· Lunch: In Durango
· Stop: Electra Lake
· Dinner: Brown Bear Café - Silverton
· Camping Spot:
Day 3 - Sunday, September 10th
· Departure Time:
· Destination: Alpine Loop
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time: 4-6 hours to cover entire loop????
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 4 - Monday, September 11th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 12th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 13th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 7 - Thursday, September 14th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 8 - Friday, September 15th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 9 - Saturday, September 16th
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:
Day 10 - Sunday, September 17th- GET HOME!!
· Departure Time:
· Destination:
· Miles to cover:
· Drive Time:
· Breakfast:
· Lunch:
· Dinner:
· Camping Spot:

 

I will be doing your 1st half of the trip about a week before you. I could leave you a sign on the trails, should still be there when you go through there! haha

 

We're going back out there this next week and will be doing some of the trails again that you mentioned. There is a decent amount of "off grid" camping spots around Ouray and even off of some of the trails like yankee boy basin (which I highly suggest) and red mt pass. If you run Imogene pass and black bear pass then that will put you in telluride 2 separate days. I'd suggest running Ophir pass one day to loop around and last dollar road another day; of course you can always run black bear and Imogene as a big loop. Check out the Pavillion camp ground in Ouray. Really nice area and might have some spots open. Also fun treks guide to Colorado back roads in a pretty invaluable book.

 

Thanks for the input I cant wait!!

 

When are you going to nm?

 

Well be there Sept. 8th evening time.

 

Sounds like great trip. Those are all beautiful drives. Just remember black bear pass is one way East to west. You could also do bolam pass and ride the alpine slide at purgatory ski resort it's a lot of fun.