Colorado
5
Day Itinerary •
USA
Five days in Colorado lets you explore the full extraordinary breadth of the Centennial State, from the vibrant craft beer and arts scene of Denver to the extraordinary Maroon Bells above Aspen, the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park, the extraordinary Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the finest alpine scenery in the American West. This route covers the complete Colorado experience. The extraordinary Red Rocks and RiNo district of Denver, the most photographed mountains in America at Maroon Lake, Trail Ridge Road crossing the Continental Divide, the extraordinary San Juan Skyway driving through Colorado's most dramatic mountain towns and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Best Time To Visit
June to September for alpine access, October for aspen gold
Getting There
Fly into Denver International (DEN)
Getting Around
Rental car essential throughout Colorado
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 DENVER ARTS SCENE
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the most extraordinary natural concert venue in the world, its 300-foot red sandstone monoliths forming a perfect acoustic bowl above the Denver plains. The Trading Post Trail at sunrise gives the finest close-range view of the formations before the public opens. Denver's RiNo Arts District with its extraordinary warehouse murals, galleries and craft breweries is the most vibrant arts neighborhood in the Mountain West. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
DENVER UNION STATION AND THE CRAFT BEER SCENE
Denver is the craft beer capital of America, with more breweries than any other city in the country. The extraordinary Great Hall of Denver Union Station anchors the finest brewery neighborhood in the city, with Tivoli Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery and Great Divide all within walking distance. The extraordinary Coors brewery tour in nearby Golden, the largest single-site brewery in the world, is the finest free brewery experience in Colorado. 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 Native American collection the finest in the country and its Frederic Hamilton Building the most architecturally extraordinary museum in Colorado. Larimer Square, Denver's most historic block of 1870s Victorian buildings, gives the finest concentration of independent restaurants in the city. The 16th Street Mall is free and gives the best people-watching in Denver. Museum entry approx $18.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Meow Wolf Denver is the most extraordinary immersive art experience in Colorado, its 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 immersive art. Entry approx $45. The finest hidden art experience in Denver.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Denver Biscuit Company The finest breakfast in Denver. Extraordinary biscuit sandwiches and strong Colorado coffee. | Lunch: Mercantile Dining and Provision Outstanding farm-to-table lunch at Union Station. The finest lunch restaurant in downtown Denver. | Dinner: Rioja, Denver The finest restaurant on Larimer Square. Extraordinary Mediterranean 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 twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake in a composition that is the most photographed mountain scene in North America. The mandatory shuttle from Aspen Highlands runs mid-June through October. First light before the shuttle crowds gives the most extraordinary reflection conditions. Wildflowers in July and golden aspen in October are extraordinary. Shuttle approx $10. Drive: 30 min shuttle
MIDDAY
CRATER LAKE TRAIL AND ELK MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
The Crater Lake Trail is the finest hike from Maroon Lake, its extraordinary 3.6-mile round trip climbing above tree line to a glacial cirque at 11,600 feet with the north face of the Maroon Bells filling the sky. The West Maroon Creek wildflowers in mid-July are the finest subalpine meadows in Colorado. The Buckskin Pass trail extension gives the most extraordinary elevated view of the Bells from above. Moderately strenuous. Free with shuttle ticket. Drive: 2 hr drive
AFTERNOON
ASPEN AND INDEPENDENCE PASS
Aspen is the most extraordinary mountain town in America, its Victorian brick downtown of world-class restaurants and galleries backed by four ski mountains. Independence Pass over the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet gives the most extraordinary alpine drive in Colorado outside Rocky Mountain National Park, its summit tundra and turquoise alpine lakes extraordinary. The view over the Sawatch Range from the pass summit is extraordinary. Free, open June to October.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Conundrum Hot Springs above Aspen is the finest backcountry hot spring in Colorado, its 8.5-mile one-way hike to natural thermal pools at 11,200 feet giving the most extraordinary soaking experience in the Rocky Mountains. Overnight permit required at recreation.gov. 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 The finest restaurant in Aspen. Extraordinary Colorado cuisine and the best wine list in the Rockies.
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 48-mile route crossing the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet above tree line. The tundra landscape of miniature plants, marmots and pika above tree line 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, timed entry required at recreation.gov. 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 turquoise water reflecting Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. The Emerald Lake Trail is the finest short hike in the park, its 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. Each lake has a different extraordinary character. Free with park entry. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
HORSESHOE PARK AND THE COLORADO ELK RUT
Horseshoe Park is the finest wildlife meadow in Colorado, its open valley giving the best elk viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park year-round. During September the bull elk bugling in Horseshoe Park is the most extraordinary wildlife event in Colorado, the dominant bulls rounding up harems of cows in extraordinary territorial displays. The Alluvial Fan waterfall above the park 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 5.8-mile round trip past Alberta Falls to the Loch and Andrews Glacier giving a completely different and more extraordinary experience than the crowded Bear Lake circuit. Free with park entry. Almost entirely uncrowded before 8am.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Notchtop Bakery, Estes Park The finest breakfast in Estes Park. Extraordinary pastries and strong Colorado coffee before the park. | Lunch: Trail Ridge Store Outstanding mountain lunch at 11,796 feet at the Alpine Visitor Center. Soups and sandwiches. | Dinner: The Egg and I, Estes Park Outstanding Colorado cuisine in the finest dinner restaurant near Rocky Mountain National Park.
DAY 4
SAN JUAN SKYWAY
MORNING
TELLURIDE AND THE SAN JUAN SKYWAY
Telluride is the most extraordinary ski town in Colorado, its extraordinary Victorian mining town main street in a box canyon surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks accessible only by a single highway or gondola. The free gondola from downtown Telluride to Mountain Village gives the most extraordinary aerial view of the San Juan Mountains. The San Juan Skyway, a 236-mile loop through six mountain towns, is the most extraordinary scenic drive in Colorado. Free gondola. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY MOUNTAIN ROAD IN COLORADO
The Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is the most extraordinary mountain road in Colorado, its extraordinary 25-mile route carved into the face of the San Juan Mountains with sheer drops of thousands of feet and no guardrails on some sections. Named for the million dollars per mile it cost to build through solid rock in the 1880s. Silverton is the finest Victorian mining town in Colorado, its extraordinary Main Avenue entirely preserved. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
OURAY AND THE NATURAL HOT SPRINGS POOL
Ouray is the most extraordinary small mountain town in Colorado, its extraordinary Victorian Main Street of 1880s buildings set inside a box canyon of 14,000-foot peaks earned it the name Switzerland of America. The Ouray Hot Springs Pool is fed by natural geothermal water and gives the most extraordinary outdoor soaking experience in the Rockies. The Ouray Ice Park in winter is the finest ice climbing destination in America. Pool entry approx $20.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Box Canyon Falls inside Ouray is the finest hidden waterfall in the San Juan Mountains, its extraordinary 285-foot cascade of the Canyon Creek visible from a catwalk suspended inside the narrow gorge walls in an experience entirely unlike any other waterfall in Colorado. Entry approx $5. The most extraordinary hidden gem in Ouray.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: La Cocina de Luz, Telluride The finest breakfast in Telluride. Extraordinary organic Mexican cuisine and strong Colorado coffee. | Lunch: Handlebars Restaurant, Silverton Outstanding lunch in the finest restaurant in Silverton. Local Colorado beef and craft beer. | Dinner: Bon Ton Restaurant, Ouray The most extraordinary Italian dinner in the San Juan Mountains. Outstanding pasta and Colorado wine.
DAY 5
BLACK CANYON AND CRESTED BUTTE
MORNING
BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY GORGE IN COLORADO
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the most extraordinary river gorge in Colorado, its extraordinary Painted Wall, the tallest cliff face in Colorado at 2,250 feet, dropping sheer to the Gunnison River in a chasm so narrow and dark that parts of the canyon receive only 33 minutes of sunlight per day. The South Rim Drive gives the finest succession of extraordinary viewpoints. The Dragon Point and Gunnison Point overlooks are unmissable. Entry $35. Drive: 1 hr drive
MIDDAY
CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
Curecanti National Recreation Area adjacent to Black Canyon contains Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, its extraordinary turquoise color against the red canyon walls giving the finest lake scenery in the state. The Cimarron area of Curecanti preserves extraordinary historic narrow-gauge railroad equipment from the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, including the most extraordinary outdoor locomotive display in Colorado. Entry free. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
CRESTED BUTTE, THE WILDFLOWER CAPITAL OF COLORADO
Crested Butte is the most extraordinary mountain town in Colorado, its extraordinary collection of Victorian painted wooden buildings in a valley surrounded by some of the most dramatic peaks in the state. The town calls itself the wildflower capital of Colorado, and the July wildflower festival is the finest in the Rockies. The extraordinary Gothic Road above town to the Gothic Mountain and Snodgrass Mountain trail gives the finest views. Free to explore.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Cement Creek Valley above Crested Butte is the finest hidden valley in the Elk Mountains, its extraordinary dirt road through old-growth spruce and aspen to extraordinary Gothic Mountain meadows giving a completely different experience from the crowded main Crested Butte trails. Free. The most extraordinary hidden gem near Crested Butte.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Camp 4 Coffee, Crested Butte The finest coffee in Crested Butte. Extraordinary espresso and pastries before the Black Canyon drive. | Lunch: Pickle Barrel, Crested Butte Outstanding lunch in the finest sandwich shop in the Elk Mountains. Local Colorado ingredients. | Dinner: Soupcon, Crested Butte The most extraordinary fine dining restaurant in the San Juan Mountains. Intimate and extraordinary.
Where To Stay
Denver or Aspen, Nights 1 to 2 Crawford Hotel Denver or The Little Nell Aspen. Approx $150 to $500 per night. Estes Park or Ouray, Nights 3 to 4 Stanley Hotel or historic Beaumont Hotel Ouray. Approx $130 to $280 per night. Gunnison or Crested Butte, Night 5 Elevation Hotel Crested Butte or Inn at Tomichi Village. Approx $120 to $220.
Top Tips
1. Altitude sickness affects visitors above 8,000 feet. Stay hydrated and spend your first night in Denver at 5,280 feet.
2. Maroon Bells at first light before the shuttle is the most extraordinary mountain reflection in North America.
3. The Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is the most extraordinary mountain road in Colorado.
4. Ouray hot springs after the Million Dollar Highway drive is the finest natural hot spring soak in the Rockies.
5. Black Canyon of the Gunnison south rim at sunrise gives the most extraordinary gorge view in Colorado. Free.
6. The October aspen gold along the San Juan Skyway between Telluride and Ouray is the finest fall color in America.
Total Budget
$130 to $210/day