Colorado Activities in April
 

After the great advice from my previous thread, I've realised that we need to be careful about what to expect when traveling in April... particularly throughout Colorado.

We'll be renting a car :) and driving to Colorado Springs from Albuquerque, and hope to stay there for around 2 days.
What options are available to us? We'd like to do things such as:
- Horse riding (total beginners!!)
- ATV tours
- Hikes
- Scenic Drives
- Maybe a Dude Ranch experience? (although I know only 2 days would be tough to find)

Thanks

Relax at Red Crags Bed and Breakfast Inn near Colorado Springs - Visit Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak ... Within walking distance is the historic town of Manitou Springs ...

www.redcrags.com/attractions.htm

Nicest area with activities there 2 days is little time...

Relax enjoy... may still be chilly so dress warm...

You realize that in April it will probably be still snowing? And even if it is not, there will still be snow on the ground? not sure how much snow Colorado Springs gets but you should check into it.

You may be able to do horse back riding tours.

On your trip up to CO; you can take Turquoise Trail from ABQ to Santa Fe instead of I25. Stopping in the little town of Madrid is a fun, quirky thing [it's where they filmed "Wild Hogs"] and if it's lunchtime, grab a bite at an authentic old time bar/tavern, The Mine Shaft. Continue up the trail to Cerrillos and go riding at Broken Saddle, really nice folks there and they do great with beginners.

http://www.brokensaddle.com/
http://www.turquoisetrail.org/

Or, take I 25 north and stop at Tent Rocks for some amazing rock formations before continuing north. You can do one of 3 hikes, ranging from flat and easy, to moderate, to a bit of a challenge.

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...ent_rocks.html

On average, April is the snowiest month along the front range so you do need to prepare for a wide range of weather. Any thing in the mountains will have lots of snow. Don't know when Easter is next year but the ski areas typical shut down on the two weekends following Easter. Half on the first weekend and the other half the next weekend. So plan accordingly.

I meant to add that there can be snow here in NM too in April, but mostly on elevation. Tent Rocks could have snow.