Late-October Colorado: Itinerary ?s and RMNP day hikes
Sep 21st, 2016, 12:28 PM
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Late-October Colorado: Itinerary ?s and RMNP day hikes
My husband and I will be in the Denver/Boulder area Oct 20-23. We will be in St. Lucia for our honeymoon immediately before and decided to tack this on as we got a great deal on flights and have never been to Colorado before.
I would appreciate any critique on our itinerary. We our young (24) and enjoy exploring cities by foot, trying new beers, fun restaurants,& fairly challenging hikes. I know weather is questionable in RMNP at this time of year but I was told we would likely be safe on the Estes Park side. What are some scenic yet challenging hikes in the 5-8 mile range that could be doable in late October? Obviously we will check in with the park rangers about the weather conditions, but I would like to have a plan in mind.
Any other great places/experiences in the area I am missing?
Our itinerary is as follows:
Thursday:
Fly into Denver 10:45am & pick up rental car
Lunch near Union Station- something quick (recommendations?)
Explore LoDo area- Larimer Square, Millennium Bridge to Confluence Park
Wynkoop Brewery
Walk by Coors Field to Great Divide Brewery
Drive to Boulder & check into air b&b
Explore Pearl Street
Dinner: Centro Mexican Kitchen
Friday:
Early departure to Estes Park
RMNP hike
Possibly Indian Peaks Wilderness
Dinner: Mountain Sun
**would have LOVED to do New Belgium brewery tour but only able to get 11am tour which probably won't allow enough time in RMNP
Saturday:
Breakfast: The Buff
Hike Flatirons and Royal Arch trail from Chautauqua Park
Hike Mount Sanitas
Dinner: Avery Brewing Company
Sunday:
Early flight Denver >> Chicago
I would appreciate any critique on our itinerary. We our young (24) and enjoy exploring cities by foot, trying new beers, fun restaurants,& fairly challenging hikes. I know weather is questionable in RMNP at this time of year but I was told we would likely be safe on the Estes Park side. What are some scenic yet challenging hikes in the 5-8 mile range that could be doable in late October? Obviously we will check in with the park rangers about the weather conditions, but I would like to have a plan in mind.
Any other great places/experiences in the area I am missing?
Our itinerary is as follows:
Thursday:
Fly into Denver 10:45am & pick up rental car
Lunch near Union Station- something quick (recommendations?)
Explore LoDo area- Larimer Square, Millennium Bridge to Confluence Park
Wynkoop Brewery
Walk by Coors Field to Great Divide Brewery
Drive to Boulder & check into air b&b
Explore Pearl Street
Dinner: Centro Mexican Kitchen
Friday:
Early departure to Estes Park
RMNP hike
Possibly Indian Peaks Wilderness
Dinner: Mountain Sun
**would have LOVED to do New Belgium brewery tour but only able to get 11am tour which probably won't allow enough time in RMNP
Saturday:
Breakfast: The Buff
Hike Flatirons and Royal Arch trail from Chautauqua Park
Hike Mount Sanitas
Dinner: Avery Brewing Company
Sunday:
Early flight Denver >> Chicago
Sep 21st, 2016, 01:35 PM
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3 hikes that come to mind, all in the Bear Lake area,and all about 6 miles round trip:
Mills Lake
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/mills-lake.htm
The Loch
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/the-loch.htm
Bear/Dream/Emerald/Haiyaha loop - you can extend this hike by also making a little sidetrip to either Mills Lake or the Loch (or both)
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...lakes-loop.htm
By late October the park shuttle is no longer running, so if you choose to do the loop hike, you would probably want to start at the Glacier Gorge trailhead, finish at Bear Lake trailhead and then walk downhill back to your car at Glacier Gorge. Either way you would hike the same distance and same amount of elevation gain/loss, but most people would rather finish with an easier walk downhill than hike uphill back to their car.
If Trail Ridge Road is still open (even if just partway), drive up as far as you can go. Bonus if you can get out on the Ute Trail or Rock Cut and hike above treeline for a short distance (not as the 5-8 mile hike).
Mills Lake
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/mills-lake.htm
The Loch
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/the-loch.htm
Bear/Dream/Emerald/Haiyaha loop - you can extend this hike by also making a little sidetrip to either Mills Lake or the Loch (or both)
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...lakes-loop.htm
By late October the park shuttle is no longer running, so if you choose to do the loop hike, you would probably want to start at the Glacier Gorge trailhead, finish at Bear Lake trailhead and then walk downhill back to your car at Glacier Gorge. Either way you would hike the same distance and same amount of elevation gain/loss, but most people would rather finish with an easier walk downhill than hike uphill back to their car.
If Trail Ridge Road is still open (even if just partway), drive up as far as you can go. Bonus if you can get out on the Ute Trail or Rock Cut and hike above treeline for a short distance (not as the 5-8 mile hike).
Sep 21st, 2016, 02:43 PM
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Thanks! The four lake loop looks great. What time would you recommend getting there?
Do you think its worth going to Indian Peaks Wilderness or alternatively going to New Belgium, even if we won't get a tour?
Or any other suggestions? Just want to make the best of the short time we have.
Do you think its worth going to Indian Peaks Wilderness or alternatively going to New Belgium, even if we won't get a tour?
Or any other suggestions? Just want to make the best of the short time we have.
Sep 23rd, 2016, 09:09 PM
#6
New Belgium is great fun, but not worth the detour for you. In any casy Highway 34, Loveland-Estes will be closed in October, kind of a show-stopper for doing that.
Ditto MidwestHiker's suggestions. Brainard Lake road in IPW is worth a short detour if it's open and you have the time.
Good choices on Wynkoop, Mountain Sun, and Avery.
Ditto MidwestHiker's suggestions. Brainard Lake road in IPW is worth a short detour if it's open and you have the time.
Good choices on Wynkoop, Mountain Sun, and Avery.
Sep 26th, 2016, 08:53 AM
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At Union Station, there are several places to grab a bite. Try The Kitchen, which we have liked. http://thekitchen.com/next-door-union-station/
Sep 26th, 2016, 09:39 AM
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Your choices look like you're well-researched and know what you want to do. Good job. Sounds like fun.
I just noticed you are hiking in Chautauqua. I suggest you have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Dining Hall at Chautauqua. We make a special trip to Boulder when we have a guest in town. It's a great restaurant, with an innovative menu, great service and prices, and wonderful views from the patio.
In fact, Chautauqua Park would serve you well for an all-day visit. Hiking is great there.
Their very vintage rental cabins are cool, but I think you have lodging resies already.
https://www.chautauqua.com
https://www.chautauqua.com/dining-hall/overview/
Also, check out any concert that might be happening at the Chautauqua barn-style theater, Boulder Theater, CU, etc. You never know who might be performing.
Being 24, you might enjoy walking around the CU-Boulder campus, over the Celestial Tour. You sound more active than the tour is, although it's good if weather is bad.
CU is the epitome of a gorgeous campus, with red rock walls, and tile roofs, and Flatiron views. No bias, of course.
I'm not sure I am understanding your question about Golden, but unless you like moving around that much, adding a night in Golden probably isn't what you want.
I believe Trail Ridge Road is already closed. We are getting early snows in the mountains now. DH is thrilled.
I just noticed you are hiking in Chautauqua. I suggest you have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Dining Hall at Chautauqua. We make a special trip to Boulder when we have a guest in town. It's a great restaurant, with an innovative menu, great service and prices, and wonderful views from the patio.
In fact, Chautauqua Park would serve you well for an all-day visit. Hiking is great there.
Their very vintage rental cabins are cool, but I think you have lodging resies already.
https://www.chautauqua.com
https://www.chautauqua.com/dining-hall/overview/
Also, check out any concert that might be happening at the Chautauqua barn-style theater, Boulder Theater, CU, etc. You never know who might be performing.
Being 24, you might enjoy walking around the CU-Boulder campus, over the Celestial Tour. You sound more active than the tour is, although it's good if weather is bad.
CU is the epitome of a gorgeous campus, with red rock walls, and tile roofs, and Flatiron views. No bias, of course.
I'm not sure I am understanding your question about Golden, but unless you like moving around that much, adding a night in Golden probably isn't what you want.
I believe Trail Ridge Road is already closed. We are getting early snows in the mountains now. DH is thrilled.
