Lorenky1

Hello there. I received a great amount of help from this forum several months back in planning our Colorado vacation. Just wanted to put out our itinerary and see if anyone had any final suggestions. We leave mid July, can't wait. Here it is:
Day one - arrive Denver around 11 AM, drive to Aspen via Independence Pass. Stay overnight Mountain Chalet. (I see that Loveland Pass is very close as we drive into Summit County from Denver on the way to Aspen. Is that worth a detour?)
Day 2 - Maroon Bells in the AM, try to get there around 8:30 AM before the road closes. (We CAN leave our car in the parking lot and stay as long as we like if we get there before 9 AM, correct?)
Gondola to top of Aspen Mountain for free Sunday concert in the afternoon. Maybe fish in the evening. Overnight Mountain Chalet.
Day 3 - Drive to Vail via Glenwood Canyon. Take Gondola up Vail Mountain, hike Eagles Nest or Ridge route, OR, rent bikes and bike the 7 miles down the mountain. Maybe fish Gore Creek in evening.Overnight Sitzmark Lodge.
Day 4 - Drive to Frisco, rent bikes and take 10 AM shuttle to top of Vail Pass, bike back down to Frisco, 14 miles.
Free concert Tuesday evening in Vail. Overnight Sitzmark Lodge.
Day 5 - Drive back to Frisco, and depending on how we feel, either kayak Lake Dillon, hike Mayflower Gulch, hike Tenderfoot Mountain, ride Leadville Train, or some combination of the above.
Fish Blue River in evening. Overnight Galena Street Mountain Inn.
Day 6 - Drive to Rocky Mountain NP, stop for short hike at Coyote Valley, hopefully see moose. Drive over Trailridge Drive, stopping at overlooks and short hikes. Short hike to Dream Lake, see Moraine Meadow again(love that meadow). Maybe fish Fall river. Overnight Castle Mountain Lodge.
Day 7 - short hikes in the AM, drive back to Denver for 4 PM flight.
We know it's a short stay in beautiful RMNP but we've been there before and wanted to do mostly new things, we added a day there because I just couldn't get that close and not see it again.
Anyway, any last minute suggestions on the itinerary are appreciated, thanks again for all the help.

Bill_H

Maroon Bells in the AM, try to get there around 8:30 AM before the road closes. (We CAN leave our car in the parking lot and stay as long as we like if we get there before 9 AM, correct?)

In the past yes, you could leave the vehicle there. Getting in before the lot fills and the shuttle takes over is the key. This was 'in the past', they sometimes change the regulations because this place is so popular.

Lorenky1

Bill_H, are you saying there's a chance if I get there around 8 or 8:30 AM that the parking lot could be full? It will be a Sunday, so I guess that is a possiblity. Hadn't considered that, but I guess I need to look into it; if there's a chance the lot could be full that early in the AM we'll take the bus.

Bill_H

Bill_H, are you saying there's a chance if I get there around 8 or 8:30 AM that the parking lot could be full?

Dunno exactly when it might fill up ... we always went at sunrise to photograph and the lot was sparsely filled, so it wasn't a problem for us but for sure it filled up a bit later in the AM. 8:30 AM sounds late to me to be certain of getting a spot but I dunno for sure.

Lorenky1

Maybe better to just get the bus, I'd hate to drive all the way up there and not get a spot. I think I'll call the ranger station and see what they advise. I wasn't planning on sunrise, just on getting there right before the road closes. Maybe not such a great idea. Well, it gives us time for a more relaxing morning and breakfast at least.

fmpden

Your trip is a bit busy and not sure you can work everything in given travel times but -- Some comments --

Aspen via Independence is a five hour drive plus you are blowing by some interesting stuff. You don't have time for Loveland. I would reverse it somewhat unless you are locked into reservations at the moment. I would go straight to Glenwood Springs (3 hrs) and spend the night there. Now there is a great biking/hiking trail that is at river edge along the Colorado river through the canyon. That is a great place and from river edge the canyon is awesome. Rent bikes to ride the path and hike to Hanging Lake about half way through the canyon. Doesn't get dark till 8:30 so you have time.

Day 2, Afternoon to Aspen and concert that evening.

Day 3 -- M Bells. Early PM to Vail via Independence pass. Stop in Leadville. Rent bikes in Leadville for the Mineral Trail Loop -- 12 miles, somewhat uphill for 6. But a hidden gem and far more interesting that you planned day for Vail. Into Vail that evening.

Day 4 -- OK, stop in Copper Mt for lunch.

Day 5 -- Swing up to Breckenridge -- Alpine slide, Cowboy gold mine. The Georgetown Loop Railroad and silver mine is much better than the Leadville train. Beside you will have been to Leadville by that time.

Day 6 -- Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown and on to RMNP.

Lorenky1

Well we are locked into reservations, but if it's a bad idea to go to Aspen via Independence Pass, we can go via Glenwood Springs the first day, and get up to Vail on the third day via Leadville and Independence Pass if that seems to work better, perhaps we can do the bike ride you suggested then. It looks on Mapquest like it's a difference of 3 3/4 hours and 4 1/2 hours drive time without stops. That was our back-up plan anyway in case weather or plane delays didn't cooperate. We'll check into the Georgetown train. Thanks.

Lorenky1

Oh, and thanks for reminding me that I forgot to add Breckenridge in there somewhere. Probably on that flexible day five. Thanks again.

fmpden

It is not a bad idea to go over Independence pass -- it is just long and slow at the end of a long day for you. Do know where you are flying from. Mapquest is reasonably accurate but doesn't account for traffic or that slow truck you cannot pass because of the winding roads. I just think it would be a more enjoyable trip for you if you were fresh. I frequently go to Aspen and find it to be a four trip via I-70 from downtown Denver to Aspen. Some people report that Independence Pass can be very scary because of the narrow road and lack of guard rails == no room for them in many places. You ask for opinion. I gave you mind as a local resident. Do with what you like.

Lorenky1

We're just flying from Sacramento so it's a 2 1/2 hour flight with no layovers, getting in at 10:30 or 11 AM, not too bad. I did worry about Independence Pass being scary for me, I think one of the reasons we chose to drive Independence Pass from Denver to Aspen rather than the reverse direction is because then we drive on the side nearer the mountain rather than the drop offs and have been told that direction is a bit less scary. I think your suggestions are good and I appreciate them, input from local residents is why Tripadvisor is so incredible. We can't really change reservations but changing what we do on a particular day is no problem. I think at this point we'll probably keep the plan as it is, it leaves us more time to explore Glenwood Canyon area on the way to Vail on day 3, but if we are too tired or delayed the other option sounds great too. Thanks again!