We have now upgraded our TV to the point where I can consider a trip to the more hilly, mountainous terrain areas and am looking for some recommendations to break a novice in to this type of towing experience.
There are many areas I want to go however some of them seem pretty intimidating when watching videos, pictures, reading stories...etc. So basically Million Dollar Highway is OUT at this time.
We live in Kansas City metro area so likely quickest route would be to take I-70 to CO and then from there pretty much open to recommendations. Would like to keep it to the western side of the state (just looking for a 4-5 day trip with at least 2 of them parked at the final destination to enjoy some R&R.
Thanks in advance.
2012 Jayco Jay Flight Swift 264BH
1999 Ford F150 Lariat 5.4 V8 3.73 4x4
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Shane, Jennifer and Riley Johnson
Go to Montrose, Gunnison, Pagosa Springs or Durango and tour the "real" mountains from there on day trips. Durango, especially, can keep you very busy with siteseeing.
Depends when you are planning this trip but Grand Junction, noth of Montrose, can be very hot in the summer. Would recommend you get on Hwy 50 in eastern Colorado and make a decision at La Junita as to continuing on Hwy 50 to Pueblo, Canon City, Salida, Gunnison or Montrose (Ridgeway State Park is very nice) or at La Junita picking up Hwy 160 to Walsenburg, Alamosa, Pagosa Springs, Durango. Hope your new setup works for you. Wish you could add more time to the trip. The mountains are awesome!!
If you don't want to travel that far and don't mind crowds, then even the Colorado Springs or Loveland, Estes Park (Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park) areas south and north of Denver are pretty if you haven't been there.
* This post was
edited 05/09/12 04:05pm by 2gypsies *
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You state that you want to stay in the western part of the state but are only taking 4-5 days. If so, you will spend it on driving to/from K.C. area with no time to relax and enjoy Colorado.
2gypsies wrote: Go to Montrose, Gunnison, Pagosa Springs or Durango and tour the "real" mountains from there on day trips. Durango, especially, can keep you very busy with siteseeing. Hope your new setup works for you. The mountains are awesome!!
that's right
By FAR, the best part of Colorado is the SW corner.
Probably the closest place to KC that I find really nice is Curecanti National Recreation Area, along US-50, near Gunnison. It is barely into western Colorado, upper part of the Gunnison River valley.
Even that one is going to take you two days driving out, two days driving back. It is another day each direction to get well into SW Colorado, e.g. toward Grand Junction to the northwest, or toward Durango the other direction.
People do go to the upper Arkansas River valley (Pueblo to Monarch) for water and mountain recreation, and you might get there in a very long day across Kansas and SE Colorado. There is also Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak as a destination, but to me it is not as nice as getting to the other side of the Continental Divide.
sjncrulz wrote: We have now upgraded our TV to the point where I can consider a trip to the more hilly, mountainous terrain areas and am looking for some recommendations to break a novice in to this type of towing experience.
There are many areas I want to go however some of them seem pretty intimidating when watching videos, pictures, reading stories...etc. So basically Million Dollar Highway is OUT at this time.
We live in Kansas City metro area so likely quickest route would be to take I-70 to CO and then from there pretty much open to recommendations. Would like to keep it to the western side of the state (just looking for a 4-5 day trip with at least 2 of them parked at the final destination to enjoy some R&R.
Thanks in advance.
One of the easier spots to get to would be Leadville then to Buena Vista (about 30 miles south on Rt24) Possible to do Rt 92 -- Independence Pass -- over to Maroon Bells - so much to see and do in the area Twin Lakes - Arkansas River - Collegiate Peaks - 4X4 trails and many just gravel roads with scenery to die for. Turquoise Lake - Quincy's for steak dinner - I could go on and on.
This will give you a taste of the mountains without making it to difficult.
BOL,
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
Travel Supreme 42DS04
MDX-FMCA--M&G Brake
States traveled in this Coach
Lived in Estes Park '95-'03 and loved Rocky Mtn NP. But with your time frame I would suggest you plop down in Buena Vista and base out of there. We love that part of the state as well and been back many times.
DW of 50 great years, Barbara
2nd Best Friend-"Aussie" Terrier, Sadie
2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
2006.5 Chev 3500 3LT XCab 4x4 Dmax Allie
sjncrulz wrote: We have now upgraded our TV to the point where I can consider a trip to the more hilly, mountainous terrain areas and am looking for some recommendations to break a novice in to this type of towing experience.
There are many areas I want to go however some of them seem pretty intimidating when watching videos, pictures, reading stories...etc. So basically Million Dollar Highway is OUT at this time.
We live in Kansas City metro area so likely quickest route would be to take I-70 to CO and then from there pretty much open to recommendations. Would like to keep it to the western side of the state (just looking for a 4-5 day trip with at least 2 of them parked at the final destination to enjoy some R&R.
Thanks in advance.
One of the easier spots to get to would be Leadville then to Buena Vista (about 30 miles south on Rt24) Possible to do Rt 92 -- Independence Pass -- over to Maroon Bells - so much to see and do in the area Twin Lakes - Arkansas River - Collegiate Peaks - 4X4 trails and many just gravel roads with scenery to die for. Turquoise Lake - Quincy's for steak dinner - I could go on and on.
This will give you a taste of the mountains without making it to difficult.
BOL,
If the Million Dollar Highway is out of the question, Independence Pass (Hwy 82) would be way out. Otherwise, I agree that the Leadville/Buena Vista area would be a good introduction to Colorado. Limit yourself to 4-5 days and you'll be wishing for more.
Happy camping!
Jerry & Lori
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