Sluggo27

This is my third and hopefully last iteration of Colorado trip planning questions, and you all have been a great help. In the first, I asked whether to stay in one place or take a road trip. In the second I asked about a proposed itinerary. In this one, I am asking about proposed daily activities (such as moderate to easy hikes and scenic sites & drives) and lodging. As with the previous two questions, this one is based on lack of personal knowledge, so feel free to correct anything that looks funny or unworkable. I think the overall travel itinerary is pretty much set unless someone spots something really wrong. This is for a July trip with spouse and two teens.

I have accepted that lodging will cost more than I want to pay. By that, I mean that it looks like getting something nice will cost between $165 and $200 (at a hotel) per night. If anyone has any tips or tricks for mitigating the costs, such as with frequent flyer miles or Hotwire or Priceline, etc., please let me know. I am open to all lodging options. Hotels seem like the most likely option, but the idea of staying in a cabin, etc. on a beautiful mountainside is also appealing. Also, does anyone have any ideas about the most economical way to visit the various national parks below? Is there an annual pass that would beat the entry fees for each of Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Gunnison for 4, or is the per location price better?

1) Arrive Denver late.

2) Travel to Colorado Springs & stay overnight.
A.M: (Previously Scheduled Activity)
P.M.: Garden of the Gods
Lodging: To be determined.

3) Travel to Pagosa Springs & stay overnight.
A.M: Great Sand Dunes NP (Drive through only).
P.M.: Travel time with a possible late afternoon/early evening spring soak.
Lodging: To be determined.

4) Travel to Mesa Verde NP & stay overnight.
A.M: Visit Mesa Verde NP sites
P.M.: Visit Mesa Verde NP sites
Lodging: Far View Lodge.

5) Travel to Durango & stay overnight.
A.M: Visit Mesa Verde NP sites (Is a day & a half too much?)
P.M.: Durango activity???
Lodging: To be determined.

6) Remain in Durango second night.
A.M: Durango activity?
P.M.: Durango activity?
Lodging: To be determined.

7) Travel to Ouray & stay overnight.
A.M: Million Dollar Highway/Ice Lakes hike
P.M.: Box Canyon Falls
Lodging: To be determined.

8) Remain in Ouray second night.
A.M: Grizzly Bear Mine hike (Anything better than this suggestion???)
P.M.: Visit springs???
Lodging: To be determined.

9) Travel to Glenwood Springs & stay overnight.
A.M: Black Canyon, Gunnison NP (visit canyon only???)
P.M.: Drive thru Colorado National Monument on way to Glenwood Springs.
Lodging: To be determined.

10) Remain in Glenwood Springs second night.
A.M: Hanging Lake hike
P.M.: Activity???
Lodging: To be determined.

11) Travel to Denver/airport area & stay overnight.
A.M: Vail
P.M.: I-70/Route 6 over Loveland Pass
Lodging: To be determined.

12) Depart Denver.

DebitNM

A day and a half is NOT too much time at MVNP.

National Park pass is $80 for 1 year. It covers everyone in car. You can price out the individual fees for each park and see if pass makes $$ sense.

Box Canyon Falls may not have much water(but we've been having decent rain so maybe it will be ok) but is still nice climb?

There is a great trail along The Animas River that is nice.
Have you considered the train? I'd do it one way only and take the bus the other way.

You can rent a pontoon boat on Viacito Lake which is nice.

Durango Mountain Resort has an alpine sled track and a zip line ad lots more.
Purgatory resort.com

Ouray has big hot springs which looks like a pool; Jeeping ( 4 wheel drive tours)
There is also an odd little museum with all sorts of things your teen might like.

Virginia1990

Glad to see you found an itinerary that works for you

The entrance fee for each park is $15, so the annual park pass won't save you money unless you plan on using it somewhere else in the next year.

In Durango, you could raft/float/kayak the Animas River for half a day. From what a friend of mine who leads rafting trips in Durango has been telling me, the water level is pretty low this year for rafting, but you could still do an inflatable kayak or inner tube. If you do that, then you could do the train as DebitNM mentioned as well. Also, I always like taking time to walk through the towns. Ouray and Durango were interesting to me to walk through, especially Ouray.

Get an early start on Ice Lakes. In July there could be potential for thunderstorms in the afternoon and you don't want to be on top when that happens. I would try to get there no later than 9am. I'd also plan to pack a lunch/snacks to eat on top.

If you decide on a 4x4 jeep tour, Ophir Pass is beautiful. A friend and I drove that from Telluride to Silverton one evening and the sunset looking back towards Telluride was by far one of the most beautiful that I have seen anywhere.

In Glenwood Springs there is also the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, but your kids may be too old for it. Research it a little and see what you think. Either way the tram to the top of the mountain makes for a nice view. There is also a cemetery (can't remember the name right now) where Doc Holliday is buried (though they aren't sure where, you can find his headstone). It's an old cemetery that could be interesting to walk around. I wasn't too thrilled with it when I was there, but if you like that sort of thing it's an option. Also, Glenwood Vaudeville Revue (I may have already mentioned this in your previous thread, sorry if I did!) is a great evening entertainment option. And don't forget the springs here as well. If you are looking for some suggestions for lodging here, we stayed in the Quality Inn on the river and it was nice and well-priced. It's not actually in the downtown area, so you would either have to take the bus in or drive, but that wasn't an issue for us.

Gretchen

The maybe BIGGEST reason to concentrate on SW CO this trip (as you decided) was to spend MORE time in MV. And the best way to do that is to stay IN the park if you can for at least 2 nights.
From Glenwood, you might visit Maroon Bells.

DebitNM

FWIW - the Animas was at almost flood level as recently as a few weeks. That may not stick around but several people had issues in/on it.

If you decide on a 4x4 off road, please DO NOT try it on your own. 1st, you should have a high clearance SUV. If you were to rent one, going off road would void your contract and if you got in trouble, you'd really be in throughly with rental agency.

More importantly - if you don't have experience driving these kinds of roads they can be daunting at the least and dangerous at most. Do the 4x4 on a tour; there are several companies that do these out of Durango, Ouray and Silverton. Ophir is probably the easiest but still....

You've never mentioned how old the teens are - that might a difference in some of the suggestions since 13 is quite different from 18/19.

Nelson

Looks like a good trip. Have fun:

Re Day 11): What day of the week is that? If Sunday there could be massive traffic on I-70. There is construction so there could be traffic jams in any case. You are smart to just be going to a hotel and not trying to catch a flight that day, like many people.

Two good options along the way that day: Georgetown Loop Railroad (mentioned in your other thread), and drive up Mount Evans to the top of a 14'er for superb views. Keep an eye on the weather, go back down if thunderstorms are around.

Have a great trip.

wtm003

I'm going to throw out another suggestion for Day 11.

After spending the night in Glenwood Springs, my return route to Denver is usually through Aspen where I have ribs and eggs for breakfast at the Hickory House and a walk through town. Continue on over Independence Pass with a stop at the Fish Hatchery in Leadville and a cookie stop at Cookies with Altitude. From Leadville Highway 91 to I-70 and back to Denver.

Also, the Great Sand Dunes are not a drive through type of park. The road into the park takes you to the parking lot at the base of the dunes and you'll exit the same way. You need to get out of your car.

Gretchen

I agree that the Sand Dunes take a drive in, but I think what he means is that they aren't going to run up and down the dunes/spend much time there.

frenchtoile

Are you still without lodging booked? I'd be careful doing that in GSprings. It's not that big and things book up. Of all the places to stay two nights, Glenwood would not be where I'd spend two nights. I'd pick pretty much any other town you mentioned first.

Tabernash2

Sorry, but that itinerary looks miserable, especially with two teens. Too much packing up and spending time in the car. Too much drive-by sightseeing.

I suggest you drop Glenwood Springs, and enjoy the southwest part of CO. There's so much to enjoy in and around Durango and Ouray, especially.

Slow down and enjoy the great outdoors.

Sluggo27

Thanks for the great tips and ideas. I dont want to drive 12 hours on the second to last day, so I intend to get at least about half way back to Denver from Ouray on Day 9. Glenwood Springs seems like a good call based on its location, but it seems like a lot of people are bad mouthing it. I guess it would be possible to go towards Gunnison and then up Hwy 285/91 toward Leadville, but I do want to stay in a place for 2 nights in a row. I dont know anything about Leadville, but there look like a lot of ski resorts in the area, so Im sure that there could be things to do there if I switch from Glenwood.

wtm003

I think you will be okay with two nights in Glenwood especially since you are planning on stops at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Colorado NM on the way and will arrive late that day. You'll only have one full day in Glenwood Springs, so if you hike Hanging Lake in the morning you can spend the afternoon and/or evening at the hot springs pool. Or rent bikes and cycle along the Colorado River bike path.

I usually stay at the Courtyard Glenwood Springs. There is also a Residence Inn next door.

Gretchen

The road through Leadville would be a real treat for you--and Leadville also.

Tabernash2

Don't switch Glenwood Springs for Leadville. Especially for two nights. That would be boring. We've been through Leadville many times. Really don't get the recommendation to make it a destination.

Just stay put in the CO southwest. Make those three-night stays instead of two.

BetsyG

Agree with Glenwood over Leadville. Besides Hanging Lake & the pool, there are the caverns which is an interesting tour. We just did the drive from Glenwood to Gunnison, & on to Crested Butte, the Black Canyon is amazing. Paonia is on the way & if you are interested, there are a few wineries there. Azura had a beautiful setting. Worth a stop.
We have stayed at quite a few hotels in Glenwood over the years, most recently at the Courtyard. At the Residence Inn, you will get free breakfast, maybe more space in one room. Hotel Colorado is old, historic, that's about it. At the Lodge by the pool you get free passes to the pool but will pay more. There are many more hotels & since you are there so little time, may not matter which one a lot. Look at reviews & pick your favorite chain.
The best part of the drive from Glenwood to Denver is Glenwood Canyon, IMO. I wouldn't bother with Loveland Pass, after where you have been. If you have any interest in wildflowers, the Betty Ford garden in Vail is lovely. Frisco would be a good spot for lunch.
Have a great trip!

Gretchen

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting STAYING in Leadville, but that road would be more interesting/fun than Loveland.
And Frisco is a fun place for dining.
Agree about Glenwood Canyon--they could do the bike ride. The exhibit is very worth a look.

Sluggo27

Thanks for the tips, and keep them coming. I have now locked in lodging on most of the first part of the trip, except for Pagosa Springs. My schedule has been slightly adjusted due to lodging. I have currently gotten 3 nights (including final night) through Hotwire, and I am happy with what I got, but good deals are rare on my itinerary. There were a few good leads on Priceline which lead me to get some lodging directly from the source. Lodging on Days 5 & 6 is at Purgatory Resort, 25 miles north of Durango. Days 7 & 8 are now in Telluride, not Ouray, which is somewhat of a disappointment but not that big of a deal. I am now considering what to do with days 9, 10 & 11. Possibly sticking around the southwest more or going up in the Gunnison, Buena Vista, Leadville direction and staying there instead of Glenwood Springs. Any ideas on where to stay in that vicinity, that would cut down on the second to last day drive to Denver? Is Gunnison worth staying at? Also, Is it worth paying an overpriced amount to stay at the Springs Resort & Spa in Pagosa Springs that has all the fancy springs, or are there better lodging/springs options there?

Tabernash2

I can't help with lodging but wanted to assure you that Telluride is very nice town. Don't be disappointed to stay there. I recommend two or three nights there.