Top scenic drives in CO:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28927-Activities-c47-t74-Colorado.html
#1 Trail Ridge Road: Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Known appropriately as the "Highway to the Sky," it crosses the Continental Divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and historic byway. Ends in Estes.
Best trail in Estes: Emerald Lake Trail is also the best trail in all of Colorado: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/emerald-lake-trail "Emerald Lake Trail is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park... The trailhead is at the end of Bear Lake Road - a short drive from Estes Park in Colorado. Hikers will pass pristine alpine lakes including Nymph Lake and Dream Lakes and be treated to beautiful views of rocky peaks including Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak and Glacier Gorge. … It took us an 1.25 hours there and back stopping many times to take pictures. "
A spectacular scenic drive stretches from the old mining town of Silverton, to the town of Ouray, along what is called the Million Dollar Highway. This is a 46-kilometer two-lane highway that hugs the mountainside in places and looks out over jaw-dropping cliffs and across valleys to inspiring mountain peaks. It is one of the most spectacular mountain drives in Colorado.
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/colorado-usco.htm
Ice Lake Basin Trail in San juan National Forest is 8 miles. I don't know if we can spend a whole day doing one hike.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33646-d1734410-Reviews-Old_Hundred_Gold_Mine_Tour-Silverton_Colorado.html
"Really interesting
Very unpretentious, value for money experience, brought to life by a tour guide who knew a lot about mining. We came away with a much better appreciation of the life of a miner past and present, and no question was too much trouble for our guide. Great was to spend an hour or two, 5 miles or so out of Silverton. "
Dinosaur to Aspen is a 4.5 hour drive. Maroon Bells are near Aspen.
Aspen to Estes via Kremmling puts us on the Trail Ridge Road and takes 4.75 hours.
*****************************Dinosaur****************************************
Places to see petroglyphs in Dinosaur National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/viewing-petroglyphs-and-pictographs.htm
https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/viewing-petroglyphs-and-pictographs.htm
There are white water rafting day trips in Dinosaur that stop at petroglyphs for $119+$15/persson.
https://www.oars.com/adventures/split-mountain-utah-whitewater-rafting/
OR https://adrift.com/utah-whitewater-rafting/
********************************************************************************************
Top Attractions in Colorado:
Great Sand Dune National Park
High Dune Trail is a 3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mosca, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. Nice views from the top. Trailhead has changing rooms and outdoor showers to clean up after the hike. There is a small store just outside the park that rents sand boards to surf down the dunes. We missed it driving in so didn't get the chance to surf but it looked fun.
34 h (1,967 miles) - ()
Great Sand Dunes to Old Hundred Mine: 4.5 (Great Sand Dunes adds 2 hours)
Old Hundred to Cliff Palace Mesa Verde: 2 hr 40 min (Cliff Palace adds 2 hours)
Old Hundred to Moab: 4 hr (Moab adds 34 minutes) (Old Hundred adds 3 hours in San Juan Ntl Forest)
Moab to Zion: 5 hr 21min (Zion adds 3 hours)
Moab to Bryce: 4 hr 26 min
Moab to Escalante: 4 hr 1 min
Cliff Palace to Zion: 6 hr 42 min
Cliff Palace to Bryce: 7 hr 15 min
Cliff Palace to Escalante: 6 hr 56 min
Cliff Palace to Moab: 2 hr 55 min
Escalante to Dinosaur/Vernal: 5 hr 49 min
Escalante to Moab: 4 hr
Moab to Dinosaur/Vernal: 3 hr 41 min (Dinosaur adds 2 hours)
Bryce to Little Wild Horse Canyon: 3 hr 47 min (Little Wild Horse Canyon adds 2 hrs)
Little Wild Horse Canyon to Dinosaur/Vernal: 4 hr 35 min
Dinosaur to Emerald Lake: 6 hrs 6 min (Emerald Lake adds 2 hours)
The problem is that Dinosaur and Estes are very far from everything else and add long (6+ hours) days of driving which results in hotel and food charges, but no real vacationing/experiencing. Consider arriving Denver, and leaving from Las Vegas, or vice versa. That would mean skipping the white water rafting, or doing it in a different place than Dinosaur.
***********************************ASPEN*************************************
Maroon Bells "This was the reason for going to Aspen and I wasn't disappointed. It is a bit of a challenge to get to. The buses are your best bet as parking is a problem. We took a bus from downtown to the Highlands and then they have buses running to the Bells. I do think this is a must see, gorgeous peaceful and spiritual." "Because of the crowds, private vehicles are not allowed during tourist season between 8 AM - 5 PM. Bus transportation is required during those hours"
There is a 1.8 mi easy hike, or a 3.6 mi moderate
https://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/sites/default/files/MaroonBells.pdf
https://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/sites/default/files/MaroonBells.pdf
"Developed Campgrounds:
- Silver Bar Campground - 4 sites available at this small primitive campground.
- Silver Bell Campground - 14 sites available on the banks of Maroon Creek.
- Silver Queen Campground - 5 campsites available, near Maroon Creek.
Reservations:
Call Toll Free 1 (877) 444-6777 (International (518) 885-3639 or TDD (877) 833-6777) or reserve on-line at www.recreation.gov.
Food Storage:
Storing food properly is required when camping in the developed campgrounds in the Maroon Bells area. Please seal and store food in a container inside a vehicle or in bear boxes provided at the campsite."
" You can hike on this road in the winter but it is a 12 mile round trip to make it to the lake. The road is open to all Non-Motorized forms of transportation at no charge. (bicycles, skateboarders, hikers, rollerbladers, etc...). Buses are expected to run every 30 minutes from the Buttermilk lot to Aspen Highlands. There is a $10 recreation use fee for driving to the Maroon Bells. Cash or check only. You must catch the bus to the Maroon Bells at Aspen Highlands. Leashed dogs are allowed on the bus."
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