Southwest Colorado ideas please
 

We have a free trip on Delta. They fly into Durango. Any thoughts on a 4-5 day trip in that area in Oct. We are two 61 year olds who like to hike, bike and relax.

oops - mistake. They only fly into Grand Junction.

You can drive from Grand Junction south to Telluride, Ouray, Durango, Mesa Verde NP, Dolores and Cortez.

You can also fly into ABQ [Albuquerque] and drive 3 hours to Durango.

Where are you coming from? Altitude here makes it harder to hike and other outdoor activities.

Durango is a great area, and October is best season. Do a search here, I have lots of threads with info on area.

Flying into Grand Junction, you are also well positioned to visit Colorado National Monument, Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Canyon, Aspen, and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It's all good. Enjoy.

HTTY

we are coming from Richmond, VA. I will look into these suggestions. thanks!

Gunnison Gorge.

I would concur with all of the suggestions above. Altitude can be an issue for flat-landers. Also, mountain driving can be a challenge, particularly the stretch south from Ouray to Silverton. It is know worldwide as the Million Dollar Highway. It is singularly one of the most spectacular drives in Colorado, but is narrow and has steep drop-offs. If you are a nervous mountain driver, I would consider an alternate route. Check out the YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idXrlV3aWgo

And, if you want to see the view northbound from Silverton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idXrlV3aWgo

Fly into GJ early, take the loop road through Colorado Monument and then drive to Telluride. Spend two nights there enjoying a hike, chairlift ride and maybe rent bikes for a ride along the river. Leave early the next day and head to Mesa Verde NP, ending up in Dorango for two nights. Again another great place to bike along the bikepath that follows the river through town and or hike. Spend a day returning to GJ via 550, stopping for a short hike in the mountains, stop for lunch in Ouray, and then late flight home. That's a lot of ground to cover but spectacularly beautiful route. If you have 5 nights you might even have time to breath.

Telluride is at 8,750 elevation, Mesa Verde varies from 6000 to 8000 ft, while Durango is only at 6512 feet so I'd think about doing Barblab's itinerary in reverse after Colorado National Monument so to acclimate yourself to the higher elevations.

Utahtea

utahtea makes a great point about acclimating to altitude.

Thanks for all of your help. We will keep you posted! Keep thoughts coming.

new thought--if we could rent a cabin/small home in one beautiful spot in Colorado for close to a week and plant ourselves, relax and take day-trips or hikes--where would it be?