Well, for the last six days, my mama and I have been exploring all that Colorado has to offer; trust me, it's a lot. I loved that every few hours of the drive, the entire landscape changed. From rocky mountains to sand dunes to arid red rock areas, the photo ops are endless.
If you or someone you know is planning a trip to Colorado, save this 6-day itinerary to gather some inspiration for your trip! Fair warning: this itinerary covers a lot of ground and requires between 5-7 hours of driving each day. We did the entire loop of the state.
Itinerary
*Disclaimer: this is a rough guide and includes most stops along the way, but not everything we did.
Day 1
Land in Denver
Visit Garden of the Gods (in Colorado Springs)
Checkout the Kissing Camels Lookout (in Colorado Springs)
Visit Royal Gorge Bridge (in Canon City)
Do a Walking Tour (aka get ice cream) in Downtown Canon City
Stay Overnight in Canon City
Day 1 was exhausting as all heck. We woke up at 3 AM Ontario time and didn't stop for the entire day. Considering Colorado is 2 hours behind Toronto, we went to bed by 4:30 PM Colorado time the first night. The 15-hours of sleep was much needed.
After grabbing the rental car, we drove to the Garden of the Gods, which has stunning red rock formations near Colorado Springs and hiking trails of various lengths available. This stop was a surefire 9/10. The parking situation was a little cramped, but the park itself is gorgeous and free for anyone to visit. The Kissing Camels lookout is right at the Central Park Trail within the Garden of the Gods and has a restroom underneath the lookout platform (huge saviour!). That said, you do not need the lookout to see the rock formations; therefore, it has earned itself a rating of 5/10. For lunch, I tried Del Taco for the first time, and honestly, I suggest sticking with Taco Bell.
Another drive brought us to the Royal Gorge Bridge, a huge suspension bridge (over a gorge...duh). They also have a zipline and gondolas across for an extra fee. While the bridge is cool, it is $37 USD to cross. We got to see the bridge from the parking lot for free and opted not to spend that much money to walk on a bridge. Royal Gorge gets a 6/10 (cool, but not worth paying for unless you've never walked on a bridge).
Canon City is an old city with a cute little downtown area. There is not much to do other than grab ice cream and walk around. By the time we got to Canon City, we were wiped and needed to sleep. There are a few affordable but very understaffed hotels in the area. Nonetheless, it is a safe place to stay (despite the correctional facility down the road). I would suggest looking at not only hotels when you travel but also Airbnbs and campsites.
Quick FYI - there are several stops along all the roads in Colorado where you can catch a scenic glance. Most of these stops also have restrooms, in case you're desperate.
Day 2
Drive to Sand Dunes National Park (in Mosca)
Hike at Zapata Falls (in Mosca)
Drive to Aztec Ruins National Monument (in New Mexico)
Stay Overnight in Farmington, New Mexico (in New Mexico)
Our second day was no less of an adventure than the first! We started by heading to Sand Dunes National Park in Mosca, Colorado. I had no clue there were sand dunes like in the desert in the continental USA, and the experience was insane. The Sand Dunes get a ranking of 9/10. It is incredibly difficult to hike along the sand in the heat, but worth the views. If you want to try sandboarding, you have to purchase a rental outside of the park (there is a store on the way up the road to the National Park) because the park itself does not offer rentals. The neat thing about the dunes is that there is no designated hiking path, meaning you can walk wherever you please. In this itinerary, we stop at 4 National Parks. If you plan to do 3 or more, I suggest buying the annual America the Beautiful Pass. This way, you pay a flat $81 USD rather than $30+ at each national park. The pass is valid for a year and can be used across the States.
Only 20 minutes from the dunes, you will find a 0.8-mile trail leading to Zapata Falls. This waterfall is a gorgeous sight, hidden in a little cavern. That said, the hike is not made for beginners, as you have to hike over wet rocks and get your hands dirty. Make sure to bring a backpack to hold water because you will definitely need both hands for climbing. I give this hike a solid 8/10.
To extend the trip into New Mexico, we decided to visit the Aztec Ruins National Monument. It is free to visit and gives you a little insight into the historical background of New Mexico. It is a solid 10/10. A small yet very informative stop.
Day 3
Head to Mesa Verde National Park (in Montezuma County)
Drive to Telluride for a Meal
Stay Overnight in Delta
Day three was filled with more gorgeous views and a boatload of history. From our New Mexico hotel, we drove to Mesa Verde National Park. There, we took a tour of the Balcony House, one of the many housing complexes built in the alcoves of Soda Canyon. How people from a historic civilization were able to build houses on the side of cliffs, I have no idea, but it is incredible! You do have to book an $8 USD tour to visit the alcoves on the cliff, but it is worthwhile. On the Balcony House tour, you can crawl through a cliffside tunnel and climb 31ft ladders over the canyon. This tour is perfect for the adrenaline junkie!
Today was certainly less busy than the last two. On our way towards the hotel, now returning to northern Colorado, we stopped at Telluride, CO. Telluride is a famous ski city but also absolutely gorgeous in the fall! We ate at Steamies Burger Bar, where you can try unique sauces/dips, like blueberry ketchup and sip on Zuberfizz, a Colorado-made soda brand. As a self-proclaimed soda connoisseur, I can say this is by far the best soda I've ever tasted.
Day 4
Drive to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (in Montrose)
Head to Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Resort (in Glenwood Springs)
Explore Vail (in Vail)
Stay Overnight in Silverthorne
If I could change one thing about the trip, it is the hotel for Day 3. I booked a hotel in Delta, CO, because apparently Montrose, CO, where the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located, is not a safe area. That said, we backtracked from the hotel by forty minutes to get to the next national park (also included on the America the Beautiful Pass). The black canyon is such an unexpected beauty. On the drive up, you see trees and bushes, never expecting such a rocky canyon to be at the end of the drive.
After the national park, we went to Glenwood Springs, CO, famous for its hot springs. This is one of many famous hot spring areas in Colorado. For roughly $37 USD per adult, you can enjoy the hot springs and take some time to relax after all the hiking. The Glenwood Springs Hot Spring Resort is also a hotel, so if you wish, you can stay overnight.
While we just decided to do a brief drive through Vail, CO, it is such a gorgeous area to visit. Known for being the ski city of the rich, Vail has such extravagant houses and hotels! After a quick trip in Vail, we headed to Silverthorne, CO, to stay a night at The PAD (check out my review on the PAD HERE). Silverthorne is a smaller and much less crowded Vail. Being only a short drive away, it is also a great place to stay if you are planning a ski trip on a budget.
Day 5
Visit Blue Moon Bakery for Breakfast (in Silverthorne)
Drive to Grand Lake
Head to Rocky Mountain National Park (in Grand Lake, CO)
Go to Alpine Visitor Center
Gore Range Overlook (scenic point)
Forest Canyon Overlook (scenic point)
Rainbow Curve Overlook (scenic point)
Alberta Falls
Bear Lake
Morraine Lake
Day 5 started off on a super high note with breakfast at Blue Moon Bakery, which is probably the best cafe I have ever tried. The portions of baked goods are huge and the prices are super affordable. I recommend the raspberry brownie. After a quick breakfast and coffee stop in Silverthorne, we headed to Grand Lake, CO, a small town just before the Rocky Mountain National Park. We stopped here for lunch before heading to the national park only because I made a mistake. Fun fact: you need to reserve an entrance time at the park during peak season, and I did not. The only time available was 2 PM instead of 10 AM when we arrived.
That said, we still made it to see all the scenic spots and hike a few routes at the most iconic spot, Bear Lake. Keep in mind that the park is open 24/7, so once you are in, there is no need to rush. At the national park, it is not uncommon to spot moose, bears, and mountain lions.
Day 6
Drive to Breakfast in Denver
Visit Larimer Square (in Denver)
Check Out Union Station (no, not the same as in Toronto) (in Denver)
Return the Rental Car and Fly Home
Okay, so I am posting this blog a day early and we are yet to get to Day 6, but here's the planned itinerary for y'all if you are interested in a trip to Denver. My mom and I are not city people, so we are planning to spend as little time in Denver as possible.
For breakfast, we will either be stopping at "Snooze, an AM Eatery" or "The Denver Biscuit Company." Larimer Square and Union Station are both shopping spots in downtown.
There you have it! That is our 6-day Colorado itinerary! A heads up, because of the high elevation, your hair, skin, and lips will be super dry, so bring hand cream and chapstick!
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