Tracey14 : Unfortunately I won't be able to get Hwy 160 into this visit.

It looks like I'll be taking the following route through Colorado :

- enter Colorado from Utah on CO 90

- travel north on CO141 (Unaweep-Tabegauche Scenic Byway) to Grand Junction

- visit Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction

- travel south on US50 to Black Canyon NP

- head east on US50 through Gunnison and over Monarch Pass

- head north on US285/US24 to Twin Lakes

- travel Independence Pass to Aspen and then on to Glenwood Springs

- take I-70 eastbound through Glenwood Canyon and on to Vail and Mount Evans (travel up to top of Mt. Evans)

- check out Blackhawk and do a little bit of gambling

- head north on US40 and travel the Trail Ridge Road through RMNP

- travel south from Estes Park back down to Golden (Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway)

- stay in Denver and then head out of Colorado northbound I-25 to Wyoming


How does this sound ?? I think I will hit all the major attractions in Colorado with this route. The only things that I'm missing from my wish list are :

- Pikes Peak (in another thread its been recommended that Mount Evans is more scenic anyways)

- Garden of the Gods (I will be in Utah right before Colorado so this might seem dull compared to the red rock country in Utah)

- Royal Gorge (this seems expensive and doesn't interest me too much anyways)

- Great Sand Dunes (this might have been neat to see but it is slightly out of the way - it is just sand though !!)

I rate all the things on my final route higher than the ones I left out so that's what I'm going with I guess.
I think I will see pretty much everything that Colorado has to offer.

As for the fantastic list that furledleader posted above :

I will get to travel around 11 of the 24 passes he has listed including the top 4 !!!

That's a lot of travelin' there bro!! By the time you get to Wyoming you're gonna be MIGHTY tired of that switchbacking, vertical lifestyle. Welcome to Colorado.

You will love every mile of it. I know the many times I have traveled in the state I have.

i lived in leadville for 25 years and never tired of driving over independence pass. take your time and stop often. be sure you have your binoculars and camera!!
when you get into leadville find "the grill" at 715 elm street. its family run and the absolute best mexican food in the state bar none. it takes a while because everything is homemade. have some margaritas. don't fill up on the chips and salsa.

Thanks for the restaurant advice. I love Mexican food !!

Vancouverguy,

I don't know how much of utah you are going to see, if you visit Arches and Canyonlands you will see much better terrain than the Colorado National monument. I look out at it every morning and evening and it is nice but with your limited time you may be disapointed in it.* *(if you spend much time in Utah)

enjoy,

BeanMan

Let's look at this way: You cannot lose regardless of where you go. To some extent we are speaking to personal preferences and, in some cases, idealized recall.

Pick a route that is good for you, hit some of the high passes, and then plan on going back for more later on.

Once is not enough!

I think you can understand me when I say that I love driving over Rodgers Pass and on to Kicking Horse to visit those parks. I think Colorado is similar in its appeal.