Aug Weekend Colorado - Stay in Carbondale, Snowmass or Redstone
 

It is already hot here in the Southeast, so I'd like to plan a long weekend getaway for somewhere cooler in August. I love mountains for the scenery, the moderate hiking among the trees and streams, and cooler temps. I don't like high altitude in terms of lack of sleep and headaches, but will manage for a long weekend. It is just my husband and me, two 50-year-olds who like to enjoy nature, walk in the woods, eat a picnic, enjoy the view, and recharge before my busy work season starts.

We can book low cost airline tickets to DEN or else use FF miles to get us to Vail/Eagle for a Friday-Tuesday or similar. We've been to RMNP, national forest along the front range, Winter Park, and Vail in the summer plus Breckenridge/Keystone and Steamboat for skiing. I'd like to go somewhere new, so I am looking at where we can get to in a relatively short drive from Vail airport that also has affordable lodging and access to trails.

I've found a Comfort Inn with good reviews in Carbondale. The pros are lower elevation, access to a couple of different destinations. The cons are the drive to get anywhere to hike, etc.
For about the same price I can get a condo type place in Snowmass Village with mixed reviews. The pros are closer to the mountains and trails, cons are aging property, no a/c (hope not needed).
Then the Redstone area caught my eye. Is it a really neat place or too isolated? It is more expensive, but is it worth it for atmosphere?

I haven't been to any of these areas and am trying to get a feel for the scenery, quiet locations we might enjoy in the evenings and the destinations we might head to during the day. Most everything I have found about trails and views are in Aspen or further east. Anything I should be looking at up around Redstone? Is there another destination I should be considering with a couple of hours of EGE or DEN?

Try for something in Glenwood Springs. Easy to get to, right on I-70 and the end of Glenwood Canyon. Thirty minutes from the Vail'Eagle airport. You could day trip to Aspen, and the Maroon Bells -- less than 40 miles. Terrific natural springs outdoor pool in GS. An hour further west is Colorado wine country. If you bike, there is a 22 mile trail along the Colorado river through the canyon that should not be missed. There is also a couple of entry points/parking that would let hike part of that trail in the canyon. It would be rare to find any property in the mountains with a/c.

I remember driving through the canyon and how beautiful it was. Does the hike/bike trail run along the highway--seems like it would have to. What is the status of that part of the Interstate and the trail after the rock slide in March?

We will pass on the pool and wine.

I am thinking we want to be more remote rather than in-town for this experience. I found a traveler's photos from their trip in 2008 that showed beautiful views from Chair Mountain Ranch cabins near Redstone. That looks like the type of place I am thinking of. Marble quarry looks interesting to see.

I will also look in the other direction toward Leadville. Totally unfamiliar with that area, but see it mentioned often. Maybe better to visit than stay for me because of the higher elevation.

The trail runs along the river edge and sometimes close to Interstate 70, and some times not but always well below the highway. The rock slide repair was completed a couple of months ago.

Well, if it's remote you want, the closest of the three in your original post is Redstone.

I'm kind of partial to the Redstone/Marble area area myself and have written about it before. The Crystal River Valley is very pretty. I've never been to the Chair Mountain Ranch, but I must have driven past it numerous times, and its website makes it look nice.

The Crystal Mill on the Crystal River just upstream of Marble is probably one of the most photographed sites in Colorado. Unfortunately the marble mine is closed to all non-employees due to regulations from the Mining OSHA.

We have not stayed at Redstone, we some friends of ours did, for their honeymoon. It is a remarkable property. It is remote, but that sounds like what you want. I don't know how well-managed it is nowadays, but you could call them and get a sense for their helpfulness.

Otherwise, we love Aspen in the summertime. Great music festivals and concerts. But you said no in-town experience. We have stayed at The Gant, near 'downtown' Aspen several times, and also at Aspen Square (but that is right in Aspen proper). But those are both a walking-in-town experience, which I don't think you want.

Another property near Redstone is Avalanche Ranch.

www.avalancheranch.com

It has been years since I have stayed there so you will need to research and check current reviews.

The Redstone Inn is in "town" and has a pool.

www.redstoneinn.thegilmorecollection.com

Again, it has been awhile so do your research.

I really like the Redstone area, quiet & pretty, but not too remote.

Thanks for the advice. We are still deciding what to do. Unfortunately, no place makes for a "quick" trip for us to substantial mountains and my husband wants to keep this one to a long weekend.
I thought using FF miles to fly to EGE would shorten the trip, but with the indirect routing and layover, it would take longer than flying to DEN and driving up I-70 to the same area. So it is probably not worth cashing in the miles when DEN is on sale if I buy tickets this week.

It's been fun exploring this new to us area. I've learned about Maroon Bells, Leadville's Boom Days, Twin Lakes, basalt and coke ovens, and the Crystal River mill. I think we can find a cabin or small motel, get away from the crowds if we get out and about early and avoid the festival days and concerts. We really want hiking, picnicing, and nature rather than people and entertainment on this trip.

Any other tips about national forest trails, good lakes to chill beside, etc. are still appreciated.

Just an update--
I never could get my husband excited about going the Aspen area for this trip. Maybe because we have been to Colorado so many times to other destinations.

So, we are compromising and going instead to Montana at the beginning of September. Billings airfare was on sale and the lower cost of the rental car there offset any remaining difference in airfare. We plan to drive the Beartooth Highway and visit Lamar Valley in Yellowstone. (We have been to Yellowstone once, but not out the Beartooth exit.) It should be cold, even possible snow. The scenery is supposed to be gorgeous. I know we can find solitude. Now I have to find the cabin, the trails.

I am sure we will use the helpful information you provided for a future trip. I am now quite interested in seeing the Marble area.

Yes, I am returning to my old post. We are finally taking the trip to Aspen area this August, so thanks for the advice. Same general purpose for trip. I have decided on Snowmass Village rather than the cabin type accommodations near Marble or Twin Lakes to have better access to the trails and services in Aspen area.

One question I have is Independence Pass. I have read (only one person) that the drive from Twin Lakes to Aspen puts you on the inside rather than the outside of the curves with no guard rails. Is this correct?

I have info on Leadville as a possible historic stop plus a couple of short trails along the route, but we will probably just do the scenic view thing enroute--stop at pass, view of ghost town, cascades waterfall--that sort of thing. If you have suggestions of good stops enroute, please share.

I've got info on several trails in the Aspen area (Hunter Creek, River Run, Conundrum Creek lower, grottos). We will drive up to Maroon Bells early on Sunday morning before the buses start arriving to beat the crowds and walk to Crater Lake, maybe Maroon Creek. Once crowded leave. We could always drive back up in the evening to look again. We could take the gondola above Aspen for views, but I am unsure if worth it.

We'll drive back via I-70; maybe I'll find a good stop for Glencanyon trail that is not right by the road, but I doubt it since they share the canyon. I don't want to climb to Hanging Lake. Maybe Grizzly Creek. I'd like to drive up Mt Evans if the road is open to look for mountain goats and bighorn sheep, but that may be too much mountain driving in one trip for my husband.

At Snowmass Village I can get good deals at Westin, Stonebridge Inn, Viceroy, or a condo suh as Capitol Peak, Snowmass Mountain Chalet, Timberline or Aspen Meadows in Aspen. Leaning toward Westin and heavenly bed.

In terms of restaurants, we will be looking for an early breakfast place (I've only found 7am so far), pizza (lots to choose from), and some place, preferably with nice view or quiet atmosphere for Sunday evening dinner.

Well, I'm sort of sorry you've decided on Snowmass--great for skiing, but to me, very blah for staying.
Hadn't looked at the date until your last post.

We loved the Westin Snowmass in the summer.

Gretchen,
If you know a place to stay that has a nicer atmosphere--nice grounds or on a stream where we could go outside to relax while at the hotel/condo--please share.

Good to know, Gabriele. They have some specials + from Hotwire, etc. Sounds like the Alpine wing would suit us. We can handle elevators and long corridors.

I agree that Snowmass can be a good base camp; a day trip to Redstone and vicinity would be nice.
Early start is the key for the Bells; I also love the grottos Trail on Independence.

Snowmass is fine. I've stayed there several times at the old Silvertree Hotel (now the Westin) when I didn't want to pay Aspen prices. I agree with a daytrip to Redstone as well as Marble. We stopped at an art gallery in Marble last fall and the owner/artist invited us to take a look at the work site of the Marble Carving Symposium held every summer near the river. What an inspiring location to learn how to carve!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei7319oNPJc