Colorado Trip - part 2
AsSiMiLaTeD
Posts: 11,725
I started a thread a while back about heading up to Colorado and wanting advice on what to do in terms of a road trip.
Plans have changed, and we're going to have to shorten our trip by a couple days and we'll have someone with us, so we'll have to do the full road trip thing next year. There is lots of good information in that other th4read, and I've got it bookmarked for when I make the trip next year...
So...my question has changed a little. If I were going stay in any place in Colorado for two full days, in the middle of October - where should that be? We're looking to take in some views, relax, and maybe some hiking, but no skiing or anything too exerting along those lines.
I'm going to get my fill of Colorado Springs the week before, so I'm looking for another place to stay for a couple of days. We're going to be driving from Pueblo to whereever this place is, then back into Texas on October 15.
Right now I'm thinking of a couple places, Estes Park and Ouray. Several of you guys seemed to indicate that Estes is touristy, I'm leaning more towards Ouray personally, but am looking for any input.
Thanks for your input
Plans have changed, and we're going to have to shorten our trip by a couple days and we'll have someone with us, so we'll have to do the full road trip thing next year. There is lots of good information in that other th4read, and I've got it bookmarked for when I make the trip next year...
So...my question has changed a little. If I were going stay in any place in Colorado for two full days, in the middle of October - where should that be? We're looking to take in some views, relax, and maybe some hiking, but no skiing or anything too exerting along those lines.
I'm going to get my fill of Colorado Springs the week before, so I'm looking for another place to stay for a couple of days. We're going to be driving from Pueblo to whereever this place is, then back into Texas on October 15.
Right now I'm thinking of a couple places, Estes Park and Ouray. Several of you guys seemed to indicate that Estes is touristy, I'm leaning more towards Ouray personally, but am looking for any input.
Thanks for your input
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
Comments
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We spend two weeks in Colorado most summers hiking and Jeeping. Rocky Mountain National Park and also Ouray are two of my favorite places on Earth! We were there in July this summer.
The town of Estes Park is very touristy but there are places in Rocky Mountain National Park to hike that are spectacular and not very crowded that time of year, especially if you start early in the day. I'd recommend researching hikes starting at the Bear Lake Trailhead. Lots of trails to pick from. Emerald Lake, Mills Lake, Loch Vale for example.
Ouray is beautiful and less touristy. When in Ouray we usually rent a Jeep Wrangler and go back country 4-wheeling over the Imogene Pass from Ouray to Telluride. Not for the faint of heart but great fun if you do it. Another option is a drive by car from Ouray south on Rt. 550 to Silverton and back. Spectacular views along the way.
Either way, I don't think you will be disappointed if the weather cooperates. Snow could be a problem at those altitudes that time of year and limit your access to trails for hiking and Jeeping.
PM me if you have specific questions about either place. We've stayed in both a bunch of times. Also have a kazillion pictures if you'd like to see any.
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I guess it depends what kind of activities you're into. I've got a vacation house in Crested Butte. Its touristy during the ski season of course but otherwise its a great little town in the off season with around 2000 people I guess. Some amazing hiking, back packing, white water rafting, cycling etc. Lots of rentals too. Probably a ~4 hour drive from Colorado Springs. If you're a coffee drinker then you'll have to make sure you hit Camp 4 Coffee each morning. Best Americano I've ever had.Pioneer VSX-1018
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Is one place or the other going to have a greater probability of having bad weather? We're talking basically two and a half weeks from now, so if I were going to make reservations today, would one be a better choice based on the weather?
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Ouray is a longer drive than you think, especially in October (~4+hrs in October), and I would personally get kind of bored stuck there for 2 days. But if you do go, hmm, there's walking around downtown, driving to Telluride and walking around there, Jeeping, hotsprings pool, hop over to Silverton and visit velocity peak (worth the $10 for the chairlift ride up and down), fishing....
Just a warning: in Silverton last year they had a little over 30 feet of snow last winter and it started in October sometime...There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin -
AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »Is one place or the other going to have a greater probability of having bad weather? We're talking basically two and a half weeks from now, so if I were going to make reservations today, would one be a better choice based on the weather?
Estes Park would be a better choice based on weather. Ouray get's MUCH more snow than Estes. However, you may encounter snow as you go up in elevation in Rocky Mountain National Park. I haven't checked with the park service but Trail Ridge Road in the park may be closed part way up. I'd recommend driving up Trail Ridge road as far as you can, then come back down towards Estes and take the turn off to the right that takes you to the Bear Lake parking area. This is where there are numerous trail heads for some fantastic hikes.
There are very nice visitor centers at both entrances to the park near Estes Park and they can give you details as to Trail Ridge Road conditions and maps of the trails in that area. All told there are over 375 miles of hiking trails in the park so you'll need to come back again and again.
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