Colorado
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Colorado gives you the essential Rocky Mountain experience, from the extraordinary Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in North America, and the vibrant arts town of Aspen to the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park with its extraordinary Trail Ridge Road and elk herds, and the vibrant city of Denver. This route covers the heart of Colorado. The extraordinary Maroon Lake reflection of the Maroon Bells twin peaks above 14,000 feet, the extraordinary alpine tundra of Trail Ridge Road crossing the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet, the finest craft beer scene in America in Denver and the extraordinary Colorado River headwaters country.
Best Time To Visit
June to September for alpine access, or January to March for skiing
Getting There
Fly into Denver International (DEN)
Getting Around
Rental car essential, especially for mountain parks
Budget Per Day
Approx $130 to $210 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some high-altitude hiking
DAY 1
DENVER
MORNING
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE AND THE MORRISON HOGBACKS
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the most extraordinary natural concert venue in the world, its extraordinary 300-foot red sandstone monoliths forming a perfect acoustic bowl above the Denver plains with views stretching 100 miles across the Front Range. The extraordinary Trading Post Trail gives the finest close-range view of the red rock formations at sunrise before the public opens. The geological story of the 300-million-year-old rocks is extraordinary. Free to visit outside concert hours. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
DENVER RINO ARTS DISTRICT AND UNION STATION
Denver's River North Arts District is the most extraordinary urban arts and brewery neighborhood in Colorado, its extraordinary converted warehouse murals, galleries and craft breweries giving a creative energy unlike any other American mountain city. The extraordinary Great Hall of Denver Union Station, the finest railway terminal in the Mountain West, anchors the most vibrant neighborhood in downtown Denver. Denver has more breweries than any other city in America. Free to explore. Drive: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
DENVER ART MUSEUM AND LARIMER SQUARE
The Denver Art Museum is the finest art museum in the Mountain West, its extraordinary collection of Native American art, the finest in the country, and its extraordinary Frederic Hamilton Building by Daniel Libeskind giving the most architecturally extraordinary museum experience in Colorado. Larimer Square, Denver's most historic block, gives the finest concentration of independent restaurants and bars in the city. Museum entry approx $18.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Meow Wolf in Denver is the most extraordinary immersive art experience in Colorado, its extraordinary multi-story installation of surreal interconnected rooms giving a psychedelic walk-through artwork unlike anything in a traditional museum. Created by the Santa Fe collective that pioneered the form. Entry approx $45. The finest hidden art experience in Denver.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Denver Biscuit Company, Denver The finest breakfast in Denver. Extraordinary biscuit sandwiches, local eggs and strong Colorado coffee. | Lunch: Mercantile Dining and Provision, Denver Outstanding farm-to-table lunch at Union Station. The finest lunch restaurant in downtown Denver. | Dinner: Rioja, Denver The finest restaurant in Larimer Square. Extraordinary Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with local Colorado ingredients.
DAY 2
ASPEN AND THE MAROON BELLS
MORNING
MAROON BELLS, THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MOUNTAINS IN NORTH AMERICA
The Maroon Bells are the most extraordinary mountain vista in Colorado, their extraordinary twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake in a composition so perfect that it is the most photographed mountain scene in North America. The mandatory shuttle from Aspen Highlands runs from mid-June through October. The lake at first light before the shuttle crowds arrive gives the most extraordinary reflection conditions. Wildflowers in July and gold aspen in October are extraordinary. Shuttle approx $10. Drive: 30 min shuttle
MIDDAY
CRATER LAKE TRAIL AND THE ELK MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS
The Crater Lake Trail from Maroon Lake is the finest hike in the Elk Mountains, its extraordinary 3.6-mile round trip climbing above the Maroon Bells tree line to a glacial cirque lake at 11,600 feet with the extraordinary north face of the Maroon Bells filling the sky above. The extraordinary West Maroon Creek valley wildflowers in mid-July are the finest subalpine meadow flowers in Colorado. Moderately strenuous. Free with shuttle ticket. Drive: 2 hr drive
AFTERNOON
ASPEN DOWNTOWN AND THE INDEPENDENCE PASS
Aspen is the most extraordinary mountain town in America, its extraordinary Victorian brick downtown of world-class restaurants, galleries and boutiques backed by the four ski mountains of the Aspen Snowmass resort. Independence Pass over the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet gives the most extraordinary alpine drive in Colorado outside Rocky Mountain National Park. The view from the pass summit over the Sawatch Range is extraordinary. Pass free, open June to October.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Conundrum Hot Springs above Aspen is the finest backcountry hot spring in Colorado, its extraordinary 8.5-mile one-way hike to natural thermal pools at 11,200 feet giving the most extraordinary soaking experience in the Rocky Mountains with the Elk Mountains surrounding the pool. Overnight permit required. Free. Almost entirely unknown outside Colorado's hiking community.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Justice Snow's, Aspen The finest breakfast in Aspen. Extraordinary local eggs, Colorado trout and strong Rocky Mountain coffee. | Lunch: Picnic at Maroon Lake Pack lunch from Aspen. The extraordinary picnic tables with the Maroon Bells as your backdrop. | Dinner: Element 47, The Little Nell, Aspen The finest restaurant in Aspen in the finest hotel. Extraordinary Colorado cuisine and wine list.
DAY 3
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ALPINE DRIVE IN THE ROCKIES
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is the most extraordinary alpine drive in the Rocky Mountains, its extraordinary 48-mile route crossing the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet above tree line, where the tundra landscape of miniature plants, marmots and pika resembles the Arctic more than Colorado. The Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 feet gives the finest panoramic view of the Never Summer Mountains. Entry $35 per vehicle. Timed entry permit required. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BEAR LAKE AND THE EMERALD LAKE TRAIL
Bear Lake is the most extraordinary accessible alpine lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, its extraordinary turquoise water reflecting Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain in a composition of extraordinary alpine beauty. The Emerald Lake Trail from Bear Lake is the finest short hike in the park, its extraordinary 3.6-mile round trip past Nymph Lake and Dream Lake to Emerald Lake at 10,110 feet giving three extraordinary alpine lakes in sequence. Free with park entry. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
HORSESHOE PARK AND THE ELK HERDS
Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park is the finest wildlife meadow in Colorado, its extraordinary open valley giving the finest elk viewing in the park at dawn and dusk year-round. During the September rut the bull elk bugle and compete in Horseshoe Park in a wildlife spectacle that is the most extraordinary in Colorado. The Alluvial Fan waterfall above the park from the 1982 Lawn Lake flood is extraordinary. Free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Loch Vale Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park's Glacier Gorge is the finest hidden hike in the park, its extraordinary 5.8-mile round trip past Alberta Falls and the Loch to the Andrews Glacier giving a completely different and more extraordinary experience than the crowded Bear Lake circuit. Free with park entry. Almost entirely uncrowded by 7am.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Notchtop Bakery, Estes Park The finest breakfast in Estes Park. Extraordinary pastries, local eggs and strong Colorado coffee. | Lunch: Trail Ridge Store, Rocky Mountain NP Outstanding mountain lunch at 11,796 feet. Local soups, sandwiches and Colorado craft beer. | Dinner: The Egg and I, Estes Park Outstanding Colorado cuisine in the finest dinner restaurant in Estes Park. Local trout and craft beer.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Denver, Night 1 The Crawford Hotel at Union Station or Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Approx $150 to $280 per night. Aspen or Basalt, Night 2 The Little Nell Aspen or Willits Townhomes. Approx $200 to $500 per night in summer. Estes Park, Night 3 Stanley Hotel or La Quinta by the park entrance. Approx $130 to $250 per night.
Top Tips
1. Maroon Bells at first light before the shuttle starts running is the most extraordinary mountain reflection in America.
2. Altitude sickness affects visitors above 8,000 feet. Stay hydrated, ascend slowly and rest on your first day.
3. Denver's RiNo Arts District on a weekend morning is the finest street art and coffee experience in Colorado.
4. Rocky Mountain NP Trail Ridge Road at dawn before the tour buses is the most extraordinary alpine drive in the Rockies.
5. Red Rocks Amphitheatre at sunrise before the public opens is the most extraordinary free experience near Denver.
6. The September elk rut in Rocky Mountain NP around Horseshoe Park is the finest wildlife event in Colorado.
Total Budget
$130 to $210/day