We are taking a week long vacation starting Friday. We are heading west to the Colorado Springs area. I know for sure we want to check out Garden of the Gods and The Great Sand Dunes. Aside from that, we have no plans. Does anyone have any recommendations of must see areas in that general area. We have not booked any hotels or anything, so this is just a fly by the seat of our pants vacation. Just looking for cool stuff to do or see in that general area.
Well Pikes Peak is right there, so that is obviously a must. Other than that, I strongly suggest to make the drive up to RMNP if you get the time. It's not that far. Just spend as much time in the mountains as possible. Hiking, horseback riding, rent some mountain bikes, etc.
Yeah, I'm sure we will hit Pikes Peak also. We actually went to RMNP last year, so we are most likely going to stay south of there.
The sand dunes are great. I lived on the Nature Conservancy ranch that border's the park to the S & W for a summer. My dad was out there for 4 years. Great hiking and playing on the dunes is great. Bring your camera for elk, mulies and bison. I have a lot of good memories from that place.
I have a second home in mountains at Breckenridge and spend a lot of time in Colorado. Yes, Rocky Mountain National Park is worthwhile if you like wildlife. Should be able to see lots of elk and probably some moose, bighorn sheep and deer. You can make a circle by entering south gate on the Granby side and coming out on Estess Park side. Would be ann all day outing from the Springs. Not sure about what's in the Springs itself, but lots of micro breweries to try if you like craft beer. My three favorites...Odell at Ft Collins, Avery at Boulder, and Wynkoop (started and owned by the Governor) in downtown Denver. Manitou Springs is a suburb of Colordo Springs but has the ambiance of a mountain town. Red Rocks ampitheatre outside of Denver at Morrison is world renowned and the coolest venue for concerts you will ever go to. Variety of music and someone playing there almost every night in summer. If sold out, check Stub Hub for tickets. Fly fishing, white water rafting, kayaking, road or mtn biking (you can rent front end bikes at most shops)...Colorado is an outdoor person's paradise. I would live there full time if my work allowed me to do so.
Awesome, do you have any specific areas for wildlife viewing at the dunes. As you know I'm sporting some new toys I'm itching to put to use
The Springs is nice I use to live just north of there in castle rock. If I were you I'd head to the mountains as soon as I could. You can take highway 24 through woodland park and over to 285. From there you can drive either way up through the south park valley. Very pretty drive surrounded by mountains with several big lakes scattered about. On one end is Brek, and the other is Buena Vista. Both towns are awesome. Id definitely be hitting RMNP like others have said. Even if you did go last year. If I could go every weekend I would. There is also a SP just on the back side of pikes peak called Mueller SP that has tons of wildlife. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
My sister lives in Canon City. You need to take the train ride through the Royal Gorge. It is right there in the center of town!
You can see a lot from the park itself, or even driving the roads on the outside border, Ln 6 or 150 towards Alamosa & Blanca. One more nice place to check out are the ponds in the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge that's just SE of Alamosa. Ton's of birds there
I spent a week out there 24 years ago this week. My wife and I ended up there on our honeymoon. We had no plans other than head West for the mountains. Sentimental place for me. We went white-water rafting up at Canon City I believe it was. Toured Cave of the Winds which was pretty cool. Went to Royal Gorge and just spent time hiking and enjoying the outdoors. We also enjoyed our time indoors.
We were just there 7 falls is cool but was closed due to flooding but might be opened now. Cripple Creek is a cool town to check out. Hike the Florescent Fossil beds that's cool to check out and could hit that after Cripple Creek.
