|
Replies: 24
| visibility 1583
|
Clemson Sports Icon [53043]
TigerPulse: 100%
59
Posts: 32797
Joined: 1999
|
Enny of you jomokers done the Colorado Natty Park loop?
6
6
May 27, 2025, 8:34 AM
|
|
Looking at a September trip to Great Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Gunnison NP and Rock Mtn NP. Prolly 8-9 days
Got any Pro tips?
Looking to fly into Colorado Springs, Stay in Alamosa, Cortez, Telluride, Breckenridge and Boulder.
|
|
|
|
 |
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
Jes, Greenr has done this
2
May 27, 2025, 8:43 AM
|
|
Great Sand Dunes is MEH AF, but it knocks it off the list.
Mesa Verde is a pretty view, nothing too special.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the shizznit. Absolutely underrated and beautiful views.
Rocky Mountain was crap the first time we went, was hiking almost in a single file line with lots of foreigners. Really easy popular hikes are crowded with people just there to take instagram photos. The second time we went, we did a different more challenging hike and it was much better.
8-9 days is good, and if you can, get to the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, it was fantastic.
Telluride and Breckenridge are excellent, two of the coolest towns in the world. Stay downtown Telluride if you can. I used to have a great place to stay in Breck for a good price, but it got bought out and the prices skyrocketed.
I've got tons of suggestions, places to eat, hikes to do, etc.
Boulder was meh to me, but the University Campus was awesome. Folsom field was cool too, but we couldn't get in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Sports Icon [53043]
TigerPulse: 100%
59
Posts: 32797
Joined: 1999
|
Precciate the tips.
1
May 27, 2025, 9:03 AM
|
|
Thanks for the info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Elite [5599]
TigerPulse: 100%
38
|
Re: Precciate the tips.
May 27, 2025, 11:29 AM
|
|
https://avogadros.com/
Use to be called The Number in 60s now Avocadros number. Good food if you're in Fort Collins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Immortal [172397]
TigerPulse: 100%
69
Posts: 48152
Joined: 2007
|
Been a minute (25 years) but
1
May 27, 2025, 8:46 AM
|
|
In addition to the NPs save time for the Pike’s Peak cog railway (and time to hang out in Manitoo Spring before or after), Cave of the Winds, Manitoo Cliff Dwellings (yeah I know they are a recreation), and of course the chapel at the USAFA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs as well, super cool to see
4
May 27, 2025, 8:50 AM
|
|
and walk around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Immortal [172397]
TigerPulse: 100%
69
Posts: 48152
Joined: 2007
|
Yes, this should probably top my list
1
May 27, 2025, 9:12 AM
|
|
I knew I would forget something
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Icon [26142]
TigerPulse: 100%
54
Posts: 14917
Joined: 2001
|
Re: Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs as well, super cool to see
1
May 27, 2025, 11:19 AM
[ in reply to Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs as well, super cool to see ] |
|
It is. MissTulsa and I were there a few years ago, just walking through the park. Came to a place climbers used. It was a shear face, seemingly straight up, smooth as a cue ball. I don't know how people got up it, but they were doing it. About halfway up, maybe 50 feet, a young woman was stuck to the face of that rock like a spider, spread eagled. We could see her trying to decide which way to go, and not coming up with any good answers, so of course a group of 6 or 8 of us were watching to see the outcome. Or call 911. From the top, her husband/boyfriend looked down and shouted, "Commit to the move!"
5 or 6 seconds went by, while we pondered what that meant.
"Commit to the move?? I'm stuck on the side of the this bald a$$ rock, you son-of-a-b****, and that's all your useless a$$ can come up with??"
We adherents to gravity looked at one another and said, "Maybe we best be moving along", so we did. No nice dinner and bottle of wine for those two that night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Sports Icon [53043]
TigerPulse: 100%
59
Posts: 32797
Joined: 1999
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet HOFer [134975]
TigerPulse: 100%
66
Posts: 60178
Joined: 2009
|
Visited these when 16 yo cause uncle lived in Center
3
May 27, 2025, 8:56 AM
|
|
Near 3 of them.
We camped near a high mtn lake between Creede and Telluride and caught awesome rainbow trout.
A cousin had a small motel near Crested Butte for ski crowd and ran snowmobile trips from there.
Beautiful scenery!
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
Crested Butte is amazing as well. If it weren't so isolated, I would go back
3
May 27, 2025, 9:14 AM
|
|
IIRC, you can fly into Gunnison and go there. We stayed there when we went to Black Canyon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Immortal [172397]
TigerPulse: 100%
69
Posts: 48152
Joined: 2007
|
Went there to ski spring break senior year of HS
2
May 27, 2025, 9:17 AM
|
|
Was cool in 1980. Spent most of the week on crutches hanging out whilst friends skied because messed up my knee day 2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paw Master [16444]
TigerPulse: 100%
51
|
Re: Enny of you jomokers done the Colorado Natty Park loop?
2
May 27, 2025, 8:58 AM
|
|
Agree with Greenr re: Great Sand Dunes. Alamosa ain't much either, but cold often when it's not cold elsewhere. Consider staying in Estes Park with all the other tourists for RMNP. Make sure you carry a warm jacket as it can snow any month there at the higher elevations.
May want to consider the walk across the suspension bridge at Royal Gorge and definitely make the drive up and back to Pikes Peak. If you want to be sporty, make the drive after visiting one of the herbal shops.
Telluride- 2 thumbs up!
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
The weekend we went through Estes Park was like July 4th and it was
3
May 27, 2025, 9:15 AM
|
|
a Colorado version of Pigeon Forge. It may be a wonderful gem, but I would find it hard to give it a try.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [6030]
TigerPulse: 100%
39
|
Re: The weekend we went through Estes Park was like July 4th and it was
2
May 27, 2025, 10:00 AM
|
|
Estes is always a madhouse given its proximity to Denver. Now there's times entry into RMNP, so you have to plan well ahead. Like most NPs, if you want solitude, you have to walk for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Elite [5572]
TigerPulse: 100%
38
|
That sounds like an amazing trip, Wilbur
3
May 27, 2025, 9:21 AM
|
|
Have you been out there before?
I did Flatirons several years ago and a few smaller hikes around the area, but nothing compared to the tour you're planning. The altitude as you get into the higher elevation areas might impact you -- lord knows it got me once when I was out at Breckenridge for a bachelor party. (Flew into Denver, then immediately hopped in a car to drive to Breckenridge, stopped and played frisbee golf with some strong beers and stronger pot, and then tried to go out rightaway once we got to Breckenridge and eventually hit a wall. Felt like crap for about 2 hours but then was right as rain again.)
Definitely let us know how it all goes once you get back. Sounds like it'll be a blast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
Flatirons hike humbled me. I was in good shape, but it was tough and CU
2
May 27, 2025, 9:27 AM
|
|
students were just running up and down the trails around us. Everyone at that University looked fit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Elite [5572]
TigerPulse: 100%
38
|
Yeah, it definitely has its steep points.
2
May 27, 2025, 9:34 AM
|
|
I went there with a couple who were a bit heavier, and while the dude and I were able to keep the pace, we had to stop every once in a while to let her catch up. And without thinking about it, we would just start walking again once she reached us. She finally looked up at one point and said something like "Everytime I get back to you guys, you just start walking again!" LOL...I felt bad. But in my mind, I was also thinking, "that's why they call it a hike." In hindsight, it must've been pretty tough on her. She had to be pushing north of 200 back then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [6030]
TigerPulse: 100%
39
|
I like staying in Crestone versus Alamosa. It's pretty and funky.
1
May 27, 2025, 10:03 AM
|
|
Pretty sure it's ground zero for multiple cults. An Airbnb is affordable for the views, and there was a surprisingly well stocked grocery store there 3 years ago.
Salida is a cool river town too in-between Sand Dunes and RMNP.
If you can swing it, drive up to RMNP from Salida and hit the West entrance, then take trail ridge road to Estes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Immortal [65472]
TigerPulse: 100%
60
Posts: 38852
Joined: 1998
|
Correct re: Trail Ridge Road.***
May 27, 2025, 11:39 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valley Legend [12338]
TigerPulse: 100%
47
Posts: 12832
Joined: 1999
|
Checking out coach prime?***
May 27, 2025, 10:35 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Immortal [65472]
TigerPulse: 100%
60
Posts: 38852
Joined: 1998
|
Dap him up for APM. Ungh!***
May 27, 2025, 11:39 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Immortal [65472]
TigerPulse: 100%
60
Posts: 38852
Joined: 1998
|
Used to know RMNP like the back of my hand when I lived in Ft. Collins.
May 27, 2025, 11:37 AM
|
|
But alas, that was 30+ years ago.
Ouray is a great stop and better than ToHellyouride, IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Sports Icon [53043]
TigerPulse: 100%
59
Posts: 32797
Joined: 1999
|
Wow... thanks for all the pro tips
May 27, 2025, 12:02 PM
|
|
Might gotta redo the schedule!
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Champion [118961]
TigerPulse: 100%
65
Posts: 69594
Joined: 2002
|
Just an FYI, our trip went like this...
1
May 27, 2025, 12:25 PM
|
|
June 23, 2021 - Fly into Denver early morning, rent car, drive to Colorado Springs, hit up Garden of the Gods, eat big lunch/early dinner, drive to Crested Butte. That was a LONG ASS DAY.
June 24 - Wake up, hike in Crested Butte, hang out there, fun stuff.
June 25 - Next Day, drive BACK to Denver, we booked AirBNBs before realizing we could see WSP at Red Rocks, go to concert, enjoy time in pouring rain, sleep in Morrison or Golden.
June 26 - Next Day, drive out to Telluride
June 27 - Day trip to Mesa Verde NP
June 28 - More Telluride
June 29 - Leave Telluride, go to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP then on to Grand Junction for Colorado National Monument and I think we drove on to Breckenridge because I don't remember staying in Grand Junction. That was a long ass day as well.
Juns 30-July 2 - Breckenridge
July 3 - Boulder, CO then RMNP
July 4 - Boulder and FlatIrons
July 5 - Red Rocks for Dark Star Orchestra
July 6 - Fly Home
It was ALOT, and we packed it all in. But we had to go back to RMNP a couple years later to give it another shot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 24
| visibility 1583
|
|
|
50
