Rocky Mountain National Park and the Colorado Plateau
Rocky Mountain National Park and the Colorado Plateau
Start / End
Denver, Colorado
States Covered
National parks
Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes
Total Distance
1,100 Miles
Suggested Days
At least 14
Suggested Seasons
Spring through Fall
#ThisIsMyRoute
Overview
This Colorado route is perfect for those who want to experience the beauty of the open road and some of Americaās most untamed areas. In other words, you will get to experience a true American road trip that includes old western towns, intriguing American culture and unimaginable scenery. You will begin by arriving at Denver International Airport.Ā Denver is an amazing town, and you should plan on spending a few days here, but not until the end of your trip. The reason why is because after your epic road trip, youāve earned the right to spend a few days pampering yourself in style in this oasis of the mountains. But we would recommend getting your trip started by hitting the road and heading straight to Rocky Mountain National Park. After your trip through this amazing place, you will begin working your way down along the western slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is largely made up of high desert, with scattered areas of forests and tumbling rivers. Get in, buckle up and shift that car into drive, this is going to be the trip of a lifetime.
Preparation
We recommend approximately 14 days for this trip in order to experience each town and activity without feeling too rushed. You have a lot of miles to cover, but we suggest spending at least one day in each stop. This itinerary is full of suggestions of some of the best places to stop, especially during your longer days on the road. Leave some days unplanned as youāll want to spend extra time in the places that you find most interesting. These areas can be crowded in the summertime, and for good reason. There are lots of events and the weather is beautiful. If you want to avoid crowds we suggest traveling at the end of spring or the beginning of fall. If you canāt make that happen, then we suggest visiting the smaller towns on the weekends and the National Parks and bigger towns on the weekdays. Wintertime is still beautiful in these places, however, many roads are closed and you cannot drive into some of the parks. One thing to keep in mind as well, is that in the Four Corners region, the summertime temps can often exceed 100 degrees.
Itinerary
ARRIVE IN DENVER, EXPLORE THE FRONT RANGE
We suggest arriving early into Denver, renting your car from the airport and setting out east on Highway 7 towards Boulder, Colorado. This area of Colorado, known as the Front Range, can get congested. We recommend leaving the city and heading out to explore smaller towns like Boulder, Longmont and Loveland. Donāt worry, youāll have a chance to roam in Denver at the end of your trip if you choose. Boulder is well known as a laid back college town with plenty to do and lots of eclectic shops and restaurants. Tucked into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, acres of vast open space roll into Boulderās quaint cityscape. Explore pine-scented trails, taste the flavors of āAmericaās Foodiest Town,ā tour 24 craft breweries, stroll historic Pearl Street and soak up this creative communityās lifestyle. Donāt head towards Estes Park without checking out Longmont and Loveland. Everything you love about Boulder will be similar in these communities, except with less people. You may even want to spend a night in one of these towns, as thereās limited lodging near Rocky Mountain National Park during the busy seasons.
ESTES PARK & ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
1.5 HOURS ā 72 MILES/115 KM
Estes Park is a quintessential Colorado Mountain town with stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park, which it borders. Spend some time inĀ Estes ParkĀ itself, visiting the City Center and the river walk along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park is full of festivals in the summer, soĀ plan your tripĀ accordingly. Later, hop back in your car for a tour through Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding Arapahoe National Forest. Driving through the park will give you views of the majestic Rocky Mountains, tumbling streams and towering ponderosa pines. If youāre able, we recommend going on a long hike in the park to one of theĀ many alpine lakes. Plan on spending a night in Estes Park before continuing on. There are many options (you can never go wrong with camping), but for a more comfortable experience, we recommendĀ Nickyās ResortĀ orĀ The Stanley Hotel.
SILVERTHORNE & DILLON
2.5 HOURS ā 107 MILES/172 KM
After exploring the park, youāll head southwest and go for a scenic tour through the Arapahoe National Forest to a pair of towns on a lake. Dillon and Silverthorne sit next to Dillion Reservoir, surrounded by beautiful mountains. This area is going to be your base to explore some of the most famous resorts in the world, as they are within striking distance of world-famous towns like Breckenridge,Ā Vail,Ā Copper MountainĀ andĀ Keystone. But first, spend some time getting to know Dillon and Silverthorne. In their own right, they are fantastic mountain destinations, lake destinations, fishing destinations, and music destinations! In fact there is so much to do in this area, that you may want to seriously consider a few days here before looking anywhere else on the map.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS & ASPEN
1.5 HOURS ā 90 MILES/145KM
The road to Glenwood Springs can either be a short direct route (taking about an hour), or a longer, much more scenic route throughĀ Leadville, overĀ Independence PassĀ and throughĀ Aspen. It is up to you, but both routes have their benefits. If you want to take advantage of all the fun things there are to do in Glenwood Springs, then take the more direct route. If you want to stand on the Continental Divide at 12,000 feet and get a great view of Coloradoās 14,000 foot peaks, then take the pass. This route, at 3 hours, will still give you plenty of time in Glenwood Springs, or allow you to roam the streets of Aspens if you so desire. If you do take the Aspen route, take time to see the majesticĀ Maroon Bells, and afterward grab a bite to eat at theĀ White House Tavern. Regardless of when you arrive in Glenwood Springs, your first stop should be to theĀ Visitorās Center. They can help you on your visit, and even tell you where notorious gunslinginā lawman,Ā Doc Holiday, is buried.
GRAND JUNCTION AND THE COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
1.5 HOURS ā 87 MILES/140 KM
From Glenwood Springs, itās a very short drive into Grand Junction. Which means you will have plenty of time to explore the wonders ofĀ Colorado National Monument. This is an area of desert high land on the Colorado Plateau, with pinion and juniper forests. Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and graniteāgneissāschist rock formations. The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes. Nearby are the Book Cliffs and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa. Before you head off, however, you need to make two stops in Glenwood Springs. The first is toĀ JilbertitosĀ to get the best breakfast burrito on the plateau, and the second is toĀ Deja BrewĀ to get yourĀ morning coffee fix. Then, itās time to lace up your hiking boots.
DELTA, MONTROSE AND THE BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
1.5 HOURS ā 88 MILES/141 KM
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the most underrated national parks in the US, which makes it a great place to enjoy solitude. First we recommend finding a place to stay.
BothĀ DeltaĀ andĀ MontroseĀ are within striking distance to the Black Canyon, and both are great towns that are each worth a visit. If you choose Delta, a great place to stay would be theĀ Riverwood Innāitās right along the river. If Montrose is your huckleberry, grab a steak at Ted Nelsonās Steakhouse. When you get to the Black Canyon, you can make the day as strenuous or as moderate as you choose, but the first place you should stop at is theĀ South Rim Visitor CenterĀ to get you acquainted with park.
THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY
1.5 HOURS ā 75 MILES/120 KM
To hit the next stop on the itinerary youāll want to head toward Ridgeway, then keep going towardĀ Ouray. Walking around this small town youāll feel like youāre in Switzerland, with beautiful snow-capped mountain peaks. Ouray also has amazingĀ hot springs. There is one brewery that is famous for its āOuray Beer.ā Keep heading south and take the famousĀ Million Dollar Highway, a narrow and steep mountain road that connects Ouray with Silverton. It is one of the most scenic mountain roads in North America, with great views into the majestic San Juan Mountain range. When inĀ Silverton, take a quick walk throughout the mining town and explore an old western town that is still connected via theĀ Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.Ā When arriving inĀ Durango, enjoy the downtown area and experience the Old West by staying overnight at theĀ Strater Hotel.
CANYON OF THE ANCIENTS AND THE CORTEZ
2.5 HOURS ā 118 MILES/189 KM
Next you are going to see the amazing Canyon of The Ancients. The monument contains the highest known archaeological site density in the United States, with rich, well-preserved evidence of native cultures. Before you head here, we would recommend finding a place to stay inĀ CortezĀ for the night. There are a number of great options, but theĀ Retro InnĀ is just the about the coolest place to stay in the four-corners region. From Cortez, itās a short drive to the monument, and you should plan to spend most of your day there, as there is a number of things to see. This cultural landscape contains more than 6,355 recorded sites that reflect all the physical components of past human life: villages, field houses, dams, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, agricultural fields, petroglyphs and sweat lodges. Some areas have more than 100 sites per square mileāso donāt forget your camera!Ā After getting your fill, head back to Cortez and check outĀ The Farm BistroĀ for dinner.Ā
SOUTH FORK AND THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
3.5 HOURS ā 174 MILES/280 KM
From Cortez, you will head back through Durango to the little western town of South Fork. First, you should get some coffeeāandĀ Fahrenheit Coffee RoastersĀ in Cortez has some of the best. As you work your way along Highway 160, youāll be driving through some of the most quintessential Colorado Plateau landscape. Upon entering the town of South Fork, nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande, you will notice one thing: this is an outdoorsy town. There are a lot of things to do here, both inside the city limits and in the surrounding mountains, so perhaps your best stop will first be theĀ South Fork Visitorās Center. From here you can get all the info you need to make the most of this charming Colorado mountain town. As always, there are a number of places to stay in South Fork, but theĀ Foothills Lodge and CabinsĀ is be our #1 pick.
ALAMOSA AND THE GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
1 HOUR ā 48 MILES/77 MILES
This may seem like a very short driving day, but with good reason. After the short drive, your day will be spent traversing the enormous sand dunes inĀ Great Sand Dunes National Park. In order to get to the sand dunes you will pass throughĀ Alamosa, which will give you a chance to find a place to stay and drop off your gear. Our recommendation would be to get a room at theĀ AlamosaĀ Inn. From Alamosa, itās a 40-minute drive to the park. One not-to-be missed experience in the park is to takeĀ a ride down the dunes. Itās called sandboarding or sand sledding, and there are a number of places you can rent boards and sleds from.Ā Kristi Mountain SportsĀ in Alamosa is one local place to rent from and theyāll give you all the advice you need.
COLORADO SPRINGS
3 HOURS āĀ 165 MILES/265
Colorado Springs is a beautiful city just south of Denver. The town is nestled near the base of Cheyenne Mountain and Pikes Peak, which the highest summit in the southern Front Range. Colorado Springs is also known for the Garden of the Godsāa geological wonder that resembles dinosaur backs coming out of the ground. You donāt want to leave town before at leastĀ taking a strollĀ through the park. Since Colorado Springs will be your last stop before hitting the big city of Denver, we recommend that youĀ take a floatĀ down some rapids, if you havenāt done so already. The Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River is just the place to do this. There are many outfitters waiting to take you down the river, butĀ Raft MastersĀ is among the best. Donāt feel like rafting? Thatās okay, there areĀ numerous other activitiesĀ for your stay in Colorado Springs.
BACK TO DENVER
1.5 HOURS ā 70 MILES/112 KM
Exchange your country boots for your city shoes because you are now in the Mile High City.Ā DenverĀ is known for its foodie paradise, vibrant neighborhoods, music scene, thriving beer culture, amazing art and sporting life. During your visit you may hear many expressions such asĀ LoDo,Ā SoDo,Ā RiNoĀ and many more. That is because Denver is broken up intoĀ ten different neighborhoods. So whatever you are looking for during your vacation, you will find it within one of the neighborhoods, each with its own unique style and flair.