Vacationing there this summer. Will be staying one night in Alamosa, visiting the Great Sand Dunes early the next morning for a couple of hours, then driving to Glenwood Springs for three nights. I would like to drive from Alamosa to Gunnison, then to Crested Butte, and across CO-12 (Kepler Pass) to join up with (I think it’s …) Hwy. 133 to Glenwood Springs.
Maps are showing me that’s about 6 hours drive time, but obviously we’d be stopping often to ooh and aah at the scenery. Is that a do-able drive? This would be in late June, so from what I’ve read, CO-12 should be open by then. We have a Ford Escape, not 4-wheel drive, but higher than a sedan, so I don’t think the gravel road will be a problem.
Second question: When we leave Glenwood Springs, we will head to Aspen and across Independence Pass, up to Leadville, and then up to Grand Lake to spend a night before heading on to Estes Park. Another “ooh and aah” day. I’m thinking lunch in Leadville.
Finally: I already have a hotel reserved in Estes Park; when we leave there, we are headed to Denver for two nights, July 3 and 4. We are planning on going to the Rapids’ soccer game the night of the 4th. What area of Denver (or surrounding cities) should I look at on that north/northwest side of town?
We have enjoyed the Hampton Inn at Cherry Creek. We got reasonable rates as National Jewish patients. The area is near a lot of nice restaurants and shopping, plus parking is free and shares the lot with Barnes&Noble. We haven’t driven much so can’t answer your driving questions. Denver and CO is very pretty, but the altitude is high so be sure to take it easy if you’re coming from sea level.
Colorado resident here. Are you used to mountain driving? If not, it might take longer. It’ll probably take longer anyway. Keep in mind that mountain driving can be exhausting. Not all roads are difficult of course, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy driving from Glenwood Springs to Grand Lake in one day. There are just so many stops to enjoy on the way. Aspen is a very cute (and expensive) town you might spend a few hours exploring or go to see Maroon Bells. Independence Pass is breathtaking (and terrifying for some). Leadville and Georgetown are also nice. I haven’t done CO-12 or Crested Butte, but it looks reasonable.
You can stay in Boulder for one night if you’d like, plenty of things to do there.
You won’t have trouble with Kebler pass in the summer. We did it in a rental minivan one summer lol. I enjoy the seasonal passes especially in the western slopes but give yourself time!
Agree, the plans sound ambitiously tiring. Are there several drivers and ones that are used to mountain driving? How many days? And are you coming from low altitude? Perhaps look at the itinerary and have options of not going via some cities if you get tired. And prioritize the towns.
Thanks, @HImom the Cherry Creek area looks like a good one.
@yucca10 while we are in Glenwood Springs, we are going to Aspen for a day to ride the gondola, etc. I’ll look into Maroon Bells too. We are from Texas so no mountain driving here! However, we’ve been to Colorado multiple times and have driven up and down Pikes Peak, on Trail Ridge Road, the Peak to Peak Highway, etc.
@rockymtnhigh2 we will have two drivers. And believe it or not, this itinerary IS prioritizing the towns, LOL.
I am bothered by altitude but DH and DS are not; I know to take things easy, stay hydrated, etc. while adjusting. My family went to Pikes Peak when I was probably 12 years old, drove up to the top, and I remember feeling really bad, headachy, etc. I didn’t really know why but my dad said “it’s the altitude.” I didn’t understand for several more years exactly why that was a problem.
We were in Colorado the same time last year. One thing to recommend if you aren’t doing this, is to get regular exercise. It will help with the altitude, IMO.
I had very little problem and I feel it’s because I’m pretty active. The only time I really felt the altitude was at the top of Rocky Mountain National Park. The rest of the time I was fine. But do hydrate a lot, it’s very drying.
If you are exercising regularly and still feel the altitude, disregard and accept my apologies.
Also be sure to pack pants and a jacket. It’s much cooler in the mountains than in Denver. Honestly the heat in Denver bothered me more than the altitude. It was hot, in the 90’s when we were there.
I went to Pikes Peak around the same age and was bothered with the altitude but last year I wasn’t.
Alcohol can make altitude sickness much worse. Altitude sickness can also strike anyone, so be aware. The best thing to do when it’s bad is get to a lower elevation and sleep/rest while waiting for your body to recover.
I live in Eagle, CO (30 minutes east of Glenwood Springs) and do lots of driving up here. Your plans make me tired just reading them! I would hazard a guess that your driving times will be longer than projected as you aren’t a regular mountain driver. However, summer in Colorado is amazing! Enjoy!!!
Glenwood to Aspen over Independence Pass to Leadville to Grand Lake is a LONG trip, especially near the 4th of July One accident or rock slide will throw your whole day off. There could be a festival or bike ride going on that slows everything to a crawl. I assume you are taking Hwy 9 from Silverthorne to Kremling and then to Grand Lake? It can take hours to make that trip and there is a lot to look at along the way so it should take hours.
Cherry Creek isn’t really near the stadium where the Rapids play. That is closer to the airport. There are a lot of newer hotels out that way or you can look at the older hotels by the old airport (on MLK Blvd and Quebec). You can search for terms like Northfield (it’s a mall), Stapleton, DIA, Tower Rd
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Second question: When we leave Glenwood Springs, we will head to Aspen and across Independence Pass, up to Leadville, and then up to Grand Lake to spend a night before heading on to Estes Park. Another “ooh and aah” day. I’m thinking lunch in Leadville.
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Husband, MIL and I drove from silverthorne to independence pass last fall. We used the Porto potties at the pass and I will say it was memorable and not in a good way-
Some years ago was in Leadville, remember having lunch at the Mexican restaurant on Main Street.
Also, the National Mining Museum was worth a stop- uncrowded on winter visit.
Can’t imagine the traffic for July 4th on those switchback turns, with spectacular views, but could be very slow going. Late last fall past peak very uncrowded roads.
Based on some of your recommendations, I tweaked the plans a bit. Hotel reservations are now all made.
Day 1: Austin to Clovis; Day 2: Clovis to Great Sand Dunes Lodge (was going to stay in Alamosa but found this place; the pics and reviews are great); Day 3: visit the Dunes early a.m., then to Glenwood Springs for 3 nights. Day 4 and 5: hot springs, river rafting, and a day trip to Aspen; Day 6: leave GS-Aspen-Independence Pass and instead of pressing on to Grand Lake, we’ll stop in Dillon for the night (hotel is on the lake and has nice views). Day 7 and 8: drive from Dillon to Grand Lake to RMNP, staying two nights in Estes Park; Days 9 and 10 in Denver (reserved Holiday Inn Express East, very near soccer stadium and a good price); Day 11, start home to Texas.
