Hey everyone!

My boyfriend and I are considering a trip out to Colorado in late September. Neither of us have been and we're having trouble deciding where we should spend the bulk of our time. We will be flying in on a Tuesday night and returning home to Boston on the following Sunday. I'm in my mid-20s, he's early 30s. Both into fitness (love hiking, etc.).

We haven't booked our lodging yet, so any suggestions on the areas we should hit? I'm big into photography also so scenery is a plus. We will have a car so driving isn't an issue

Thanks for the help!

I would suggest flying into Denver then a trip up to Rocky Mt. NP for beautiful scenery and hiking.

OR

Fly into Grand Junction and drive over to Moab, UT for Arches and Canyonlands NPs also great hiking and beautiful scenery but very different from RMNP.

Have you read the other posts in here under Colorado. PLENTY of discussions.

Generally - there will be some who prefer to head north of Boulder to Estes Park, etc, - others who would say get thee over to the Aspen area, Summit, and still more who would advocate heading down toward Colorado Springs and hoofing around the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the like.

And if you really were ready to ride - get to the far SW corner and see the jagged peaks of the San Juans and Telluride, et al. http://tinyurl.com/7vrxxlw

It's all good, assuming of course, you don't get hit with an early storm toward the end of Sep. That would leave a great blanket of snow on the ground - but make hiking a bit more challenging.

I've looked at a bunch of threads here, there just seems to be SO much to see/do that I'm having trouble deciding which way to head. Driving over to Moab might be an option! The Rockies are appealing as well though.

If we get hit with a storm, that's okay. Makes for a better story. We like adventure!

Since you will really only have 5 days in Colorado, I suggest that you go to Estes Park and RMNP--since it is so close to Denver. Since the aspen turn gold in September, depending on your specific dates, you could catch that glorious display in the park and September is the time of the elk rut (when the 'big boys' complete with each other to gather their harem-with much bugling and posturing-it is quite a display--and I believe that the rangers lead groups to witness it). The scenery in the park is unmatched at any time of year and the park also provides many opportunites to hike.

If you want to do a loop trip back to Denver, go through the park to Granby, then to Hot Sulphur Springs and enjoy the pools (http://www.hotsulphursprings.com/). Continue to Kremmling then south to Silverthorne to I-70 east and back to Denver.