DAY 1

• Arrive at Denver International airport. and transfer to your hotel in Denver or Estes Park.

  • If time allows, head straight to Estes Park, the charming gateway town to the Rockies.

    • We recommend The Stanley Hotel. famous for its grand architecture and inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining.

  • Option for visitors arriving late evening: The Westin Denver Int’l Airport Hotel is conveniently located at the air terminal.

• Overnight: Estes Park or Denver.

• Driving time:

  • From Denver: 66 miles, 1.5–2 hours.
    —Take I-25 north to Exit 217 (US Hwy 36) to Estes Park.

  • Estes Park —> Rocky Mountain Park, East Entrance, 10 minutes.

• Colorado Travel Guide: Fodor’s and Moon Guide.

• Colorado Tourism website.

DAY 2

• Visit Rocky Mountain National Park - the park spans the Continental Divide and encompasses impressive mountains and alpine tundra.

• The park uses Timed Entry Permits. <Read more>

  • ⚠️ The permit is available online at www.recreation.gov

  • Start early. Roads get crowded with buses & drivers around 10–11 a.m.

• Rocky Mountain Park is known for two (2) scenic drives which originate on the park's east side near Estes Park:

  1. Trail Ridge Road. <park map> The road is the park’s main route, rising to 12,000 feet. You’ll see wide alpine-tundra views and elk herds from your car, or you can stop to walk easy trails.

  2. Old Fall River Road. This is a one-way gravel road open from early July to early October. It's a narrow, winding road without guardrails, but it's safe and does not require four-wheel drive.

  🚘 Driving across the National Park east to west takes about 2 hours without stops.

• Check out the suggested hikes.(▼) Do at least one hike — you can often spot bighorn sheep.

  • Popular hikes < 3 miles, that are great for families.

  • Download the Alltrails app.

  • The Keyhole Route, a climb across vertical rock that leads to Longs Peak (14,259 ft), the park’s highest mountain.<Conditions> <This NOT a hike> It is an extrardinary experience for those who come well trained and prepared. <Video>

• <Things to do>

• Overnight: Grand Lakes, CO (west side of Park)

  • <Where to stay>

• Driving time:

  • From Estes Park —> Grand Lakes, CO, 3 hours

DAY 3

• Embark on a enjoyable drive to Moab, Utah—the gateway to massive red-rock formations in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, with flat-topped mesas and cliffs carved by the Green and Colorado rivers.

• When you arrive, relax and enjoy Moab’s welcoming small-town feel. The town has many restaurants, craft breweries, shops, and art galleries.<Read more>

• Moab is a big part of mountain biking history and remains a top destination.

  • A networks of well-maintained and mapped trails are everywhere. <Guided mountain bike tours>

• Overnight: Moab, Utah (3 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Grand Lake —> Moab, 6 hrs / 320 miles

DAY 4 and 5

• Explore Arches National Park. The park is known for more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches.

• The Park participates in Time Entry reservation.

  • The park highlight is the Delicate Arch hike.

    • The trail is 3 mi. (4.8 km) RT. Duration: one (1) hour each way.

    • ➡️ <Learn more>

    • 📍Get directions.

  • ⚠️ During the summer, expect high temperatures and intense sunlight. It is imperative to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

  • Best time to visit is at sunset.

    • Sunset provides warm, dramatic lighting.

    • Bring flashlight or head lamp.

• Other top attractions at Arches National Park.

  • Go on one or more hiking trails. <Trail info>

  • Download the Alltrails app.

  • ➡️ Visitor Guide and park map - useful practical information.

• Photographers-best time for pictures:

  • Early morning: Delicate Arch Viewpoint, Landscape Arch, Turret Arch, Double Arch.

  • Late afternoon: Delicate Arch, The Windows, Park Avenue, Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.

• Continue to amaze yourself at Dead Horse Point Park.

  • See the famous view at Dead Horse Point Overlook Trail. The view is just 200 feet from the parking lot.
    It is a short, paved walk to one of the most photographed vistas in the world

  • Read more about the Park’s trail system.

• If you're ambitious and have time, stop at Canyonlands National Park. <map> Extra day recommended.

  • If you only have one-half (1/2) day, do not miss the “Island in the Sky”  district.

    • The Drive: A 34-mile scenic loop 1,000 feet above the surrounding canyons.

    • To get to Island in the Sky Visitor Center — from Moab, drive north on US 191, then turn onto UT 313.
      It is a scenic 45-minute drive.

• Overnight: Moab

• Driving time:

  • Arches Visitor Center —> Dead Horse Point Park, 45 minutes.

  • Dead Horse Point Park —> Island in the Sky Visitor Center, 20 minutes.

  • Dead Horse Point Park —> Moab, 45 minutes.

DAY 6

• Embark to Mesa Verde National Park.

  • The park is known for its ancient Pueblo and cliff dwellings. The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum displays artifacts of the Native American culture..

  • The park's highlight is Cliff Palace — impressive dwellings in the Southwest, with a dramatic setting & preserved ruins.

  • Ranger-led tours, which run often during the busy summer season, let you climb ladders straight into the main part of the home.

• Continue later in the day to Durango, CO.

• Overnight: Durango (2 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Moab —> Mesa Verde Park, 3 hrs.

  • Mesa Verde Park —> Durango, 1.5 hrs.

DAY 7

• Discover Durango, CO.

  • Durango is a small town in southwest Colorado, known for big mountains, excellent skiing, and a historic narrow-gauge railroad.
    It also has many nearby hiking and mountain-biking trails.

  • Main Avenue is a Nationally Registered Historic District, it houses galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Main Avenue with its
    old buildings and shops, is a popular destination all year.

  • Two notable and historic hotels, The General Palmer and The Strater, lie at the south end of the avenue, near the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot.

  • <Downtown map> <video>

• The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gage Railway is one of the town's main tourist attractions.

  • This historic train runs day trips from Durango to the old mining town of Silverton, high in the mountains. Situated at 9,300 feet and surrounded by mountains, Silverton has one main street with shops and restaurants. 

  • Note: It is a full-day excursion from Durango and would require an extra day added to this itinerary.

• In winter, Durango is a ski town thanks to Purgatory Ski Resort, only 15 minutes away. It draws skiers from across the Southwest.

  • Telluride which some say is the best overall ski resort in the US is two (2) hours from Durango. Many skiers stay in Durango because its hotels are less expensive than upscale Telluride.

• Overnight: Durango

❗DIVERSION: If you stay an extra day in Durango:

• You can extend the above itinerary by navigating the entire San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway.

  • The Skyway is a full-day, 236-mile loop starting in Durango, best in good weather. It passes Silverton, the scenic Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, then Placerville, Telluride, Dolores, Mancos, and returns to Durango.  <Video>

• ⚠️ If your short on time and heading north, start in Durango, drive the Million Dollar Highway to Silverton, then Ouray, and continue north as described on Day 8–9.

DAY 8 and 9

• Depart Durango.

• One of the most stunning mountain drives in Colorado which stretches from Durango to the town of Ouray, is the spectacular Million Dollar Highway. This 46-mile two-lane road winds along steep mountains with dramatic cliff, valley, and peak views.

• Continue to Black Gunnison National Park and to Crested Butte.

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison shows some of North America's steepest cliffs and roughest rock spires.

  • The South Rim Drive has 12 overlooks. <Route> Easily accessible by a short trail. Allow 2-3 hours to view several overlooks. Those with limited time should consider only Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall & Sunset View.

• Next stop is Crested Butte.

  • In the summer and fall, Crested Butte is the place to enjoy all of Colorado’s outdoor activities: epic mountain biking, hiking in alpine and aspen forests, fishing in rivers, lakes, and whitewater rafting and kayaking.

  • Sunny weather and fewer crowds make late August through early October a great time to visit the Gunnison Valley.

  • ➡️Things to do in Crested Butte.

• Overnight: Crested Butte, (2 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Durango —> Black Gunnison N.P. 3 hrs.

  • Black Gunnison —> Crested Butte, 2 hrs.

DAY 10

• Depart Crested Butte for Denver.

• En route stop in the town of Buena Vista, considered by many to be the capital of whitewater rafting for the United States.

  • Enjoy a horseback trail ride.

• Overnight: Denver (2 nights), see below on hotel and transport guidance.

• Driving time:

  • Crested Butte —> Buena Vista, 2 hrs.

  • Buena Vista —> Denver, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 11

• Explore Denver.

  • Denver blends city life with outdoor fun. It's famous for art, culture, food, music, and sports, and is the gateway
    to nearby Rocky Mountain ski resorts.

• Visit Denver's 16th street mall, a one-mile pedestrian walkway in downtown. Enjoy outdoor cafes, nightlife, and shops!

• Other great attractions (especially with kids):

  • Get the Denver Citypass and Save up to 38% on combined admission prices.

    • Denver Art Museum

    • Denver Botanic Gardens

    • Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    • Denver Zoo

    • Downtown Aquarium

• Contingent upon the season, catch a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field or a Bronco’s NFL game at Mile High Stadium.

• Check out the great microbreweries in town. <Learn More> <map & routes>

• Transportation and hotel stay tips while in Denver:

  • Getting from/to downtown Denver and the airport if you do not have a rental car:

    • You can take an Uber — about 55 minutes for 24 miles.

    • Use the Airport Rail:

      —It's easy to get from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport (DEN) and vica versa.

      —Travelers can take the airport rail from/to Denver Union Station. It takes only 37 minutes. 

      • The A Line (aka the University of Colorado A Line) serves 8 total stations along a 23-mile stretch, including Denver’s Union Station and the 38th & Blake station that accesses vibrant River North Art District (RiNo). The colorful murals are your clue that you are approaching RiNo.

    • Hotels near Union Station <list>

    • Hotels near 38th & Blake station that accesses Denver’s vibrant River North Art District (RiNo). <list>

• DAY 12

  • Depart for your journey home.

• Historical Weather data for Durango, Colorado-click here.

• Historical Weather data for Moab, Utah-click here.

• The coldest and snowiest months are November through April.

• The warmest months are May through September.

• Dry periods occur in January, February, April, June, July and November.

• Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in July and August.

• Best months to visit May, June, September and early October.

• Best time: Fall foliage map.

• Sunrise/Sunset time.