Rocky Mountain National Park

Old Mar 27th, 2017, 06:51 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rocky Mountain National Park

My husband and I are in our mid sixties and live in Baltimore. We are attending a wedding in Vail Colorado in August. We are hoping to be able to visit Rocky Mountain National Park during our brief stay. Our intention is to leave Vail on a Sunday and drive to Grand Lake to spend the night. We would like spend the better part of Monday driving the Trail Ridge Road and stopping for dinner in Estes Park. We could either spend the night in Estes Park or drive to Boulder, in order to be closer to the airport for our flight out on Tuesday, We have traveled throughout Montana and Wyoming but have never been to Colorado. Does this seem like a feasible itinerary?
'Thanks for your help!
gloriboss is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 07:17 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The drive through Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road can easily be one in one day. In other words, you can leave Grand Lake in the morning, drive & sight-see along this road, and arrive in Boulder or Estes Park that evening, without major rushing. Spending an extra day to visit the Bear Lake area is better, but one day in RMNP is better than zero.
PaulRabe is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 10:20 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is a reasonable plan. You can take the toll road back to the airport so that should limit any traffic delays. Depending on your dates in August you might run into back to school at Boulder if you are in the second half of August.
fmpden is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 08:15 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dill...40.2522073!3e0


Sorry for the long link!

The drive from Vail to Grand Lake is pretty, if you get off of I-70 and take scenic Hwy 9 at Silverthorne. (Make sure it's open, from the construction they were doing last summer.)

In Grand Lake, visit the Grand Lake Lodge. Have a meal on their front porch, overlooking the lake. It's fantastic.

Enjoy your time in Colorado! Sounds like a good plan.
Tabernash2 is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 09:54 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just so everyone hears about this:

If you have a long link you'd like to post on this site -- or any other -- you can go to
www.tinyurl.com
and change the link with a big name into one with a smaller name. The latter is unique and will never expire. There is no charge for this, you do not have to register with TinyURL, and there is no advertising that I could see.

You can suggest a name for your link, but TinyURL.com has the final say on what it will be called. Because links have to be unique, if someone else has used the wording you request, TinyURL will (instead) assign a name that is random letters & numerals. Here's the link that Tabernash gave, in a MUCH smaller form:
http://tinyurl.com/Vail2GrLake
PaulRabe is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 10:26 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 1 Post
Also, Google Maps itself lets you generate a short link. Click on the "Share Link" icon (they keep changing where that is located) and then there is a "Short Link" box.

So here is another short link version of Tabernash's map:
https://goo.gl/maps/UiEjuqwHVXm

But PaulRabe's suggestion works on any website.

OP, your plan is a good one. You should see a lot of elk on Trail Ridge in August and possibly some moose down in the Kawanechee Valley as you leave Grand Lake. The short nature trail by the Rock Cut is worth a stop. It's 12,000' in elevation, so you'll be feeling that, but it's a wonderful slow stroll along the path. There you'll probably see marmots and if you are lucky some pika. Enjoy the drive.
Nelson is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 05:35 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for the tips.
I will probably forget them by the time I need them again. Ha
Tabernash2 is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2017, 10:46 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the advise and the links!
gloriboss is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2017, 02:30 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just be aware that many websites refuse tinyurl URLs (Craigslist is just one that comes to mind) because some people use the shortening of a URL as a way to not just conveniently shorten but to disguise things. So if it doesn't work, don't blame PaulRabe - try instead the similar shortener at https://bitly.com
michelhuebeli is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pantanal
United States
38
Aug 21st, 2013 08:52 AM
happytrailstoyou
United States
9
Jun 10th, 2011 09:09 AM
sweens66
United States
21
Aug 26th, 2009 04:15 PM
Donna1185
United States
15
Jun 26th, 2006 05:31 PM
cleo9340
United States
8
Jul 28th, 2004 08:22 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -