CO vaca question

Riggo · Jun 18, 2017

Any opinions for my family trip. We're headed to Glenwood for a 2-3 day stay and are headed south to try to hit Ouray, Durango, Telluride area. Any can't miss spots for a family of 4..? Kids are 12 and 13 and are open to most anything. Always appreciate MM guidance. Thank you in advance!
Riggo

DW · Jun 18, 2017

Comin from Utah?

Riggo · Jun 18, 2017

Gadjet · Jun 18, 2017

Riggo,
While in Glenwood you could soak in Glenwood Hot Springs and they have a big tube slide for the kids to play on. Also maybe look into going up to the Glenwood Caverns. They have lots of rides and fun things for the kids plus you can take a really cool cave tour. Good luck!

gopher1 · Jun 18, 2017

If your in Telluride you can go on gondola "ski lift" for free, goes over the mnt. to the next town

dhoshauer · Jun 18, 2017

Riggo does your family like Hikes? mountain Biking? Fishing? Horsehack riding? If you love outdoor activities there's a ton to do. You can rent Jeeps or 4 wheelers in Silverton and ride around the High Country Roads. About an hr from Durango is Mesa Verde National Park. This is where the Indians Lived in the Cliffs..Pretty cool to actually see them and walk close to them. Usually see some bears and deer in the park. Beautiful country in all those areas.

nripepi · Jun 18, 2017

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on your way to Telluride!

txhunter58 · Jun 18, 2017

Train ride out of Durango. Best to ride it one way (north) and ride the bus back or have someone pick you up. but if this is your first time everyone should take the ride.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

HiMtnHntr · Jun 19, 2017

Soak in the hotsprings in Glenwood and eat at juicy lucy's steakhouse. Bring fishing poles, as there are lots of places to fish along the way. Ride the gondola in Telluride and hike up to Bridal Veil Falls.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Jun 19, 2017

Bridal Veil Falls is cool so is the gondola. Ouray has a sweet hot springs and the vapor caves are cool. Also worth a hike to the box canyon if you are there. The old hundred gold mine tour in Silverton is awesome. If you do ride the train one way is plenty.

Elkduds · Jun 19, 2017

Hot springs pool in Ouray (Switzerland of America) is very kid-friendly, and cheap compared to Glenwood's pool. As is the short walk to Cascade Falls. Any SUV can drive the road to Yankee Boy Basin above Ouray, old mines, huge views. wildflowers. +++ on Mesa Verde though it is crowded in summer. Take the guided tour through Cliff Palace or Balcony House. Great bike trails along the river in Glenwood and Durango. Black Canyon is stunning. Dirt road over Owl Creek Pass is epic, then in Ridgway there is the True Grit Caf?. Last Dollar Road into Telluride is "the scenic route." Telluride-Rico-Cortez is a paved Scenic Route. Pagosa Springs is beautiful, possibly the best hot springs resort in the state, and Chimney Rock is interesting there.

Riggo · Jun 19, 2017

As Always, Much appreciated. I had a couple tell me to do a jeep rental as well. Looks like there are quite a few throughout SW CO. Any particular area that's best for a one day DIY gig? Keep it up, THANKS!!!!
Riggo

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Jun 19, 2017

If you want to do the jeep thing. I would do Silverton lots of awesome country and things to see

stinky · Jun 19, 2017

Drive E from Silverton to Animas Forks (I think, there is a ghost town exibit there) then on into Lake City, then drive back by the alternate route/pass (2 passes going into Lake City). This can be done in a wimpy SUV (I've driven it in a 95 MPV and a 90 Tracker or even a Subaru. You can also come off US 550 about 10-15 miles above Ouray and go east and end up in Animas Forks..sorta rough for the 1st 5-10 miles. I bounced several times in my MPV (stock height, but bigger tires). This meets the

I think, drive west from Ouray over Black Bear Pass, then back the other way over Ophir....this takes any standard clearance SUV or Pu (like a Suburban).

You interested in "Hippy-Dipping?" There is a place about 5 minutes from I.70 near Glenwood....but there may be somebody smoking dope or drinking beer as they soak...but there ain't no 20 dollar entrance fee. You take the South Canyon exit (about #110, 1 exit west of West Glenwood (#112)), go south and it is on your rt. The google mapping program in my phone shows it on the map.

I'd go south from Glenwood and take the highway going through Paonia and Hotchkiss in to Delta. There is also a hot-spring in the Marble River, w/a collection of 2-3 pools in the river, right next to the road. That means it will be sane, but heavily attended (4-5 persons per pool).

Get the movie "Night Passage" w/Jimmy Stewart and Audience Murphy...twas filmed east of Silverton.

Owl Creek Pass, east of Ridgeway! is a standard USNF dirt road...True Grit was filmed up in there...the part where JW attacked Robert Duvall and his 3 friends, head-on on horse-back.

I ain't never taken the train...I'm to smart/cheap to pay 75 buckeroos for a ticket.
John 14:6

Deerlove · Jun 19, 2017

Maroon lake out of Aspen is fantastic.

Coloradoboy · Jun 19, 2017

>Drive E from Silverton to Animas
>Forks (I think, there is
>a ghost town exibit there)
>then on into Lake City,
>then drive back by the
>alternate route/pass (2 passes going
>into Lake City). This
>can be done in a
>wimpy SUV (I've driven it
>in a 95 MPV and
>a 90 Tracker or even
>a Subaru. You can
>also come off US 550
>about 10-15 miles above Ouray
>and go east and end
>up in Animas Forks..sorta rough
>for the 1st 5-10 miles.
> I bounced several times
>in my MPV (stock height,
>but bigger tires). This
>meets the
>
>I think, drive west from Ouray
>over Black Bear Pass, then
>back the other way over
>Ophir....this takes any standard clearance
>SUV or Pu (like a
>Suburban).
>
>You interested in "Hippy-Dipping?" There
>is a place about 5
>minutes from I.70 near Glenwood....but
>there may be somebody smoking
>dope or drinking beer as
>they soak...but there ain't no
>20 dollar entrance fee.
>You take the South Canyon
>exit (about #110, 1 exit
>west of West Glenwood (#112)),
>go south and it is
>on your rt. The
>google mapping program in my
>phone shows it on the
>map.
>
>I'd go south from Glenwood and
>take the highway going through
>Paonia and Hotchkiss in to
>Delta. There is also
>a hot-spring in the Marble
>River, w/a collection of 2-3
>pools in the river, right
>next to the road.
>That means it will be
>sane, but heavily attended (4-5
>persons per pool).
>
>Get the movie "Night Passage" w/Jimmy
>Stewart and Audience Murphy...twas filmed
>east of Silverton.
>
>Owl Creek Pass, east of Ridgeway!
>is a standard USNF dirt
>road...True Grit was filmed up
>in there...the part where JW
>attacked Robert Duvall and his
>3 friends, head-on on horse-back.
>
>
>I ain't never taken the train...I'm
>to smart/cheap to pay 75
>buckeroos for a ticket.
>John 14:6

Would definitely steer clear of south canyon hot springs.... Place is typically full of naked bums and weird hippies who live their vans.... penny hot springs up 133 between cdale and Redstone MIGHT be a little more family friendly depending on the day of the week and time of day. Glenwood is just one big tourist trap really (i grew up in Glenwood) hanging lake is one big cluster, not sure who wants to sit in the hot springs when its 80 plus degrees?? Best advice is to venture up on the flattops and explore, tons of access and fishing to be had. Marble isnt a bad place either...

Coloradoboy

BeanMan · Jun 19, 2017

huntfishall1 · Jun 20, 2017

Some ideas I'd recommend for that area of Colorado:

Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park
Ouray hot springs
Telluride
Train ride from Durango to Silverton
Lots of hiking in that area as well.

Enjoy your trip!

tailchasers · Jun 20, 2017

Check out the fruit stands too. The fruits grown in this part of the world is outstanding! Worth a stop IMO.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."

ColoradoBob · Jun 20, 2017

When in Durango be sure to go to the Bar D Chuck Wagon. It's a fun evening.

Mesa Verde
DSNG
Tour the DOW's fish hatchery & museum.

Riggo · Jun 23, 2017

THANKS to all for taking the time. I do very much appreciate. We are looking forward to our trip.

Riggo

TerynItUp · Jun 23, 2017

+1 on BAr D Chuckwagon, that's a great family night.

I would also recommend a rafting trip if in Durango.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.

stinky · Jun 24, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Jun-24-17 AT 08:14AM (MST)[p]What are you driving?

How much time will you have?

AS far as where to rent the Jeep...not sure that it matters. Rent it where you are staying and then drive 30 minutes to where the trail starts. I am guessing that the closer to the trails (Lake City, Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride) that they will be more expensive to rent.

As mentioned, you dont need a CJ/Wrangler Jeep. Anyole SUV or full-sized PU will work.

I have a friend that drives the Black-Bear Pass road in an extra-cab LWB Ford PU, or his wife's Lexus. So, far, he hasn't dented either one. But, he did have to do a few star turns in that PU.

Yep, he pretty much gave a correct assessment of Hippy-dipping. Like I said, drinking beer and/or dope as they soak.

Glenwood, Telluride and Durango will be corroded with tourists.

Mesa Verde is one of the crown jewels of cliff dwellings, and National Parks in general...so it is probably a must see.

If you don't want to brave the crowds at Mesa Verde, then west of Cortez is a NPS National Monument, and a BLM park (maybe Canyonlands of the Ancients). Both of em are full of broken down Anazazi-type ruins. But, it will be hot that way.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

In my area, Colorado National Monument. It is sandstone canyons and spires...like Wiley Coyote country.
John 14:6

colelk · Jun 24, 2017

Lots of good suggestions and choices here. One thing I would definitely do is go south to Carbondale and take 133 to Delta. Beautiful drive, way more interesting than taking I-70 to Grand Junction.