I think more clearly about this stuff when putting together a document, so congrats!
Y'all have some assigned reading.
Luckily, it's all about optimizing your fun, so it's the best possible type of homework.
Note that the suggested 'Routes' below are just starting points, and it would be easy to mix and match elements to create your preferred trip.
Also, if none of them sound quite right, let's talk about what activities are really important and go back to the drawing board. There are a lot of right answers when it comes to what to do with 4 or 5 days touring around the Colorado area of the Western U.S.
Finally, if possible, I'd love to join for the first night of the adventure. That week leading up to the wedding is going to be a bit busy (possibly an understatement), but I really want to set aside a night or two to hang with you all.
One option is to host you in Denver the first night you get in—have a lovely dinner and a light night out (I know you'll be jet-lagged)—and then hit the road the next morning. I'll then camp with you that evening before parting ways to drive east back to Denver the following morning.
Finally, here are some videos to get you pumped
- Colorado in 4k
- Lane 8 on Grand Lake
- Boulder Fly Over
- Taos from the sky
- Discovering Telluride
- The Whole Enchilada
- The Leadville 100
- Hiking 14ers
- Dark Skies Colorado
- Maybe just bike the whole thing?
- Local Boy Nathaniel Rateliff @ Red Rocks
PS - Macy and I are so excited to have you all coming to Colorado and attending the wedding. Thank you for setting aside time to visit and hang.
Activities to Consider
One way we could fine-tune the best route is by determining which activities you’d be most interested in exploring during your time here.
Below is a list of things that come to mind—not complete, but lightly comprehensive.
- Light hiking
- Bagging big mountains (14ers)
- Fly fishing
- Watching live music outdoors
- Biking
- River rafting
- Rock climbing
- Hot air ballooning
- Golf and disc golf
- Scrambling and rappelling
- Renting 4-wheelers or Can-Ams
- Dark skies star gazing
- Soaking in natural hot springs
- Mine tours and/or panning for gold (literally an option)
- Boating in the mountains (renting a pontoon or sailboat)
Transport and Accommodation Suggestions:
- Vehicles: Rent an RV and a second capable SUV
- RV: RVezy Search
- SUV Example: Jeep Compass on Turo
- Camping: The RV should sleep ~3 (two in bed plus couch), and you can borrow tent camping gear from me and Macy. Rotate who gets the bed.
- Note: We have both light camping gear for backpacking and boujee, plush stuff for car camping. Anyone in the tent(s) will be extremely comfortable with our gear.
- Book a night somewhere in the middle at a motel or Airbnb:
- Showers and plumbing are cool. Would love to help with this—there are tons of fun options out there, and having one night to enjoy proper plumbing sounds ideal.
Note: Another option could be to skip the RV and just bring tent camping gear, rent one big van (or two smaller suv's or cars) that fits everyone, and book two or three Airbnbs. If camping 4 out of 5 nights doesn’t sound like the preferred adventure, this could balance costs to be about the same as an RV rental plus one night in a hotel.
Route Options:
M1 Route (National Park Hit List)
- Locations: DENVER → ESTES PARK / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL → GLENWOOD SPRINGS → MOAB, UT → DENVER
- Drive Time: ~14 hours
- Possible Activities: Light hiking, biking, climbing, hot springs, dark sky star gazing, rock climbing, rappelling, renting Can-Ams.
- Benefits: Relatively light drive time over 4/5 days, with most of it being off the main highway (I-70), making it pretty easy. Potential to hit three stunning national parks (Rocky Mountain, Canyonlands, and Arches).
- Drawbacks: Moab could be hot, and it's the busiest time of year at Rocky Mountain National Park (would need to act soon to reserve entry and campsites).
- Drive Highlights: Glenwood Canyon, Vail, Palisades, Fruita
M25 Route (The Best Ski Towns Are Better in Summer)(more details here)
- Locations: DENVER → SALIDA → CRESTED BUTTE → TELLURIDE → DENVER
- Drive Time: ~14 hours
- Possible Activities: Light hiking, big mountain hiking (14ers), camping, rafting, biking, dark sky star gazing, bars and restaurants, mine tours
- Benefits: Keeps you out of the desert heat and steers away from the crowds flocking to national parks in June. Crested Butte and Telluride are two of the prettiest (and our favorite) ski towns, and the drives between them are stunning.
- Drawbacks: National parks are national parks for a reason—they're breathtaking. This route optimizes activities and great campsites but doesn't get you into any of the three national parks mentioned in the M1 Route. However, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is incredible and right on this route - so we could make that a stop.
- Drive Highlights: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, The Aspens at Crested Butte, Ouray
M6 Route (Southwest Sizzle)
- Locations: DENVER → LEADVILLE → SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK → PAGOSA SPRINGS → TAOS, NM → DENVER
- Drive Time: ~13 hours
- Possible Activities: Light hiking, big mountain hiking (14ers), dark sky star gazing, camping, biking, hot air balloons
- Benefits: A perfect blend of the best parts of a Western road trip. Leadville is a high-altitude mountain town with incredible hiking, ranging from leisurely walks to summiting a 14er called (not kidding) Mount Massive. Heading south to the Sand Dunes for a quick visit (it’ll be hot, so I wouldn’t suggest camping) and then on to the lovely Pagosa Springs for a night. Finally, you end up in Taos, NM—an amazing little community on the high plains next to the Rio Grande. It’s simultaneously an artist haven and a ski town, with incredible camping, hiking, and biking—all set in a uniquely New Mexico environment.
M4 Route (Music Makes Me Lose Control)
- Locations: DENVER → RED ROCKS, MORRISON → BELLY UP, ASPEN → ???
- Drive Time: Likely won’t be more than 12 hours.
- Possible Activities: We could optimize this for whatever activities you're into. The main focus would be camping and going to amazing shows.
- Benefits: Because of the U.S. population distribution, musicians' touring patterns, and people just generally loving to hang out in Colorado, we get a ton of artists stopping through. We're also blessed with some truly spectacular music venues. This trip would aim to get you into two shows over five days while still allowing plenty of time for other activities.
- Venues to Consider: Red Rocks, Belly Up (small venue in Aspen where many artists performing at Red Rocks also do a night playing for ~300 people instead of 6,000), Vail's Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Dillon Amphitheater, and Mishawaka Amphitheater. These venues will be releasing their schedules and adding more shows over the coming months.
- Currently Listed Shows That Might Work: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at Red Rocks, James Taylor at Red Rocks, The Steely Damned 2 at Belly Up.