Things to Do & See In Colorado

[Ray Eklund]

Just some 'off season' photographs to consider.

October 11, 2005 Roxborough Park, Colorado with truck 6,200'

June 7, 2006 west of Big Piney, Wyoming with trailer in background 7,100'

December 21, 2006 Roxborough Park, Colorado snow 'blowing' 6200'

December 16, 2015 Boulder City, Nevada 2200' elevation

The Southwestern Deserts can be a great option to Winter in the Rocky Mountains!

[DaveP]

Hi Ken. Nice to e-meet you! We live in Red Rock Ranch, so we must be within spitting distance. We should get together at the Rock House (before it closes for the winter) or Speedtrap sometime. We are taking one more trip to Mueller State Park October 8 & 9, then I will be winterizing my AS too.

DaveP

[Ed Brownfield]

A huge thank you to all of you that responded to my original post! We decided after reading your replies to change our plans and stay at lower elevations. We are now plan to remain on the eastern range spending time in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Durango, Sand Dunes, and Mesa Verde. If any of you can suggest things to do, or places to camp in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or any of the other places we would greatly appreciate you sharing your wisdom with us! Thanks

Ed

[tevake]

Continuing west on 50 thru Salida brings you to 17 this a great way to get the west side of those amazing Sangre De Cristo mountains.
It's an easy drive south to the Sand Dunes Park, this is worth checking out.
There is a park on the edge of the dunes, can walk right into the duns from the park.

17/ 285 is a nice route to head on south. You can see the tail end of the Sangre De Crisro range well into N M.

As mentioned the Gunnison is pretty spectacular and should be available later in the season.

At the end of the first Classic Motorhome gathering in Colo Springs, a spring storm came thru for a few days. After it passed the countryside was beautiful with a fresh snow cap on the mountains, made for spectacular touring.

Cheers Richard

[rothse99]

Originally Posted by ellenbelle

We really enjoyed the South Park museum in Fairplay, where the 9 and the 25 meet. It's an outdoor museum (they even allow dogs!) that is all the different buildings from an old mining town. It's a lovely town (mountains, trees, etc.) and we learned something. And we loved being able to take Mali, the dog.

Hi there,

I'm currently in FairPlay with dogs and 19' FC in tow. We're staying at the Middlefork RV park - ok but close to highway. Where did you stay on your visit? I'm thinking about being daring and trying one of the forest service dry sites. Haven't done that before, but this seems like a good place to try for a few days. Where did you head after FairPlay? Looking for recommendations in the general area

Many thanks - Emily

[kdickinson]

Ed - have a great time. Southern Colorado is a lot of fun and generally overlooked as people drive up to the I-70 corridor passing right through here. Canon City has a lot to do around there with the Royal Gorge, the Royal Gorge train, and sightseeing. If you have young ones the North Pole by Manitou Springs is a must do. The Cog Railway to Pike's Peak is also a must do. There are fun places up 24 like Mueller State Park, the Wolf Preserve in Divide, Florence is fun for antique shopping, Cripple Creek of course for the ca$hinos (but the mining museum there is exceptional), Victor is a nice little place and there has been some investment in the town lately with nice shops and restaurants. By the sand dunes is a little artsy community called Crestone which is 1/2 very old mining town-ie and 1/2 land grants which is all newer neighborhoods and a Buddhist community with temples, a small shop, etc.. On the way to Crestone you can of course stop a the alligator farm and they will snap a photo of you petting a small gator before you go out to see the literally hundreds of animals. and you can also stop to climb the platform from which it is said you can see and converse with aliens at or following sunset (we think it depends on many other, um, influencing factors) but each person can discover it for themselves. If you like aircraft it is worth going to the aircraft museum in Pueblo. If you like being outdoors you can hike all over Mueller, the Fossil Beds in Florissant, and the whole area going over La Veta pass (and La Veta is a fun little town itself) is beautiful. There is the Scenic Highway of Legends which is just awesome this time of year that takes you through Cuchara and that area - also great hiking.

Have a wonderful time! Colorado Springs is a fun town with lots to do and so is Pueblo with the river walk, etc.. You should be able to stay very busy here

[kdickinson]

Sounds great - I haven't been to Speedtrap in a long time I'm in town next week (week of 9/26) just let me know time and place and we can make it work. My email is ken_dickinson@msn.com

[mandolindave]

My sister said any month with the letter R in it, can be cold in Colorado.

My brother said that in lots of places in Colorado, it can snow in any month that has a vowel in it.

They were kinda joking, but my brother was hiking the Colorado Trail in August and got hit by a sleet storm.

I've walked in snow in June in Colorado. It was on the road between Silverton and Durango.

[Ed Brownfield]

My wife and I are rethinking our CO trip. We are considering going to Boulder and Estes Park and then dropping down to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Can any one tell us what the weather in Estes Park and Boulder will be like in mid Oct? What are must things to see and do in both places. Estes Park is at 7,500 ft. and Boulder is at 5,500 ft. but that is really all that I do know about either place. People have told us that Estes Park is fabulous but I am worried about the weather in mid Oct. If you know of nice campgrounds that have electric hookups that help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for any help that you can give us!

[centennialman]

The snow has started flying in the higher elevations in Colorado and this morning there is a freeze warning for the Denver metro area. October can be a bit interesting with the weather changes and transition to winter. Here is a phone number to check the road conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park up at Estes 970-586-1222. Estes Park is absolutely beautiful and the road between Estes and Boulder is a nice drive as well. Narrow and lots of curves but easy enough to drive. Here is a link to campgrounds in the area as well. I have stayed at the Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake. Not a lot of trees in the campground, however, it's close to town the staff is very nice and the campground is clean and modern. http://www.campgroundreviews.com/regions...ado/estes-park

[TRizzuti]

I live in Estes Park. Mid Oct is usually a beautiful time to visit, but it can also dump snow here. Just depends. Usually the mornings are low 30's, the afternoons low to high 50's. Check estesparkweather.net for the most accurate forecasts.

[Starstream]

As a native of Colorado myself, the mountains are one of my favorite places in the world. But there is stuff to see in eastern CO, too. There are some really neat buttes in NE CO, and some state parks in that area. I believe one of them is by Sterling.

Traveling to Estes will take you thru the Loveland/Ft. Collins area. If I remember correctly the road to Estes goes thru the Big Thompson Canyon. The Poudre Canyon is also in the area. There used to be a café in the foothills near Poudre Canyon that had killer cinnamon rolls when I was a kid. Might still be there. Perhaps someone from the area now, knows about that one. Be sure to check out the Stanley Hotel in Estes and watch out for the Elk. They come down from the high country in the fall. The rut might still be going on while you're there. But even if it's over, still best to keep your distance. They're twice the size of the average White Tail Deer and not tame.

[InsideOut]

BTW...got our first 3"+ snow at home this morning (7,800 ft), higher elevations got more. Already melting, but it just goes to show you how early it can snow in the Rockies. Travel safe!

Shari