My wife and I want to check out the Western Slope of the Rocky's in September. Flying out to Denver and heading West. What's "not to miss" that time of year? We'll be out there for a Saturday to Saturday. We checked out the Front range a couple of years ago from Estes Park down to Royal Gorge.

Durango-the train will be spectacular if the trees are turning, mesa verde, ouray/ridgeway, black canyon, pagosa hot springs.

Enjoy your trip.

Hopefully the aspen will be turning when you get there which will make your drive through the mountains even more spectacular.

Grand Junction is one of, might even be, the largest city on the western slope and there is always something going on there. Glenwood Springs is built around and near, large hot springs and mineral baths, some of which are public. Very relaxing to rest up in.

Doc Holiday's grave is also there in Glenwood Springs, which I expect you would be interested in seeing.

Lots of scenery, white water rafting and other touristy stuff so just go with the flow and enjoy.

Go north of Durango a bit and see Telluride... except for the hippies, it’s oneofmy favorite places.

^^^^^^
Telluride is unbelievably beautiful. The free gondola ride up the mountain is fantastic. You can get off and hike with amazing views all around you. It's just awesome there.

Driving to Denver this morning I saw that the aspens above about 9300 feet are starting to turn.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Driving to Denver this morning I saw that the aspens above about 9300 feet are starting to turn.

Seems a might early but it has really been feeling like early fall the last few days.

Mesa Verde National Park is worth a visit.

https://travel.mapquest.com/na...verde-national-park/

Telluride...Silverton....Ouray...Durango...all excellent places to spend a few days and enjoying the surroundings.

be Forwarned there's a lot of burn area this year, Telluride,Crested Butte,Ouray, Gateway(route 141),Million Dollar Highway,Grand Mesa National Park. All worth while.

We did the Mount Evans Byway on a road trip and weren't disappointed. Beautiful, but there was still a lot of snow around when we were there. Up to the top of Mt. Even is the highest paved road in the United States, just the bragging rights of driving the highest road is worth something! Just west of Denver.

I think Rolan is looking for activities in the western half of the state.

Go hike Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon.

If you're passing through Rifle, I70 between junction and Glenwood, stop in at Shooters Cafe for lunch. Once you're past Rifle you're in high Desert. Grand Mesa near Junction is my old riding grounds. Awesome twisties.

Rifle Falls is near my child hood home. Little Box Canyon has great climbing and amazing camping.

Aspen, Marble Falls, Redstone Castle. My dad was a coal miner up there.

Ok, now I'm homesick.

Outside of Grand Junction is the Colorado National Monument, a mini Grand Canyon, lots of good hikes and scenic views.

Lots of good suggestions so far.

Vail, Telluride, Ouray (pronounced: you-ray), Durango.

Several ways to get to the Western Slope. HIGHLY recommend you stay off the I70 corridor into the mountains on a Saturday, very heavy traffic west bound! Suggest 285 out Denver to Buena Vista. From there could either go over Cotton Wood pass if open which will drop you on Hwy 50 or stay on 285 to Salida, 50 West to Montrose. Lots of good places to get a snack in Buena Vista and downtown Salida. If you drive to Salida, you'll drive right by my favorite range 13 miles south of BV. On 50 you'll drive through the Gunnison Valley, beautiful wide open area. Black Canyon of The Gunnison (Colorado's mini Grand Canyon)is worth a stop. Take 550 south to Ouray, Silverton. That stretch of 550 through San Juans Mountains is amazing.

Depending on what you guys like to do... Lots of Ghost towns to explore in the Silverton, Ouray area. The Silverton/Durango train ride....

http://www.beaumonthotel.com/

Isn't there a meal discount if you wear a sidearm & all the waitresses are packing.

EasyFire

Monarch Pass near Gunniston is nice--a gondola up the mountain (part of the Continental Divide). https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631554645812/

Telluride was interesting--Bridal Veil Falls.

DSC_3790.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr

Durango for the train ride, https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631543439819/ but there's also a nice railroad museum in town. https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631316512328/


flashguy

Another way to go west is i70, get off at Glenwood Springs towards Carbondale, take rt133 over McClure pass all the way into Delta.

I used a lot of US-50.

flashguy