In this post I will go into details on how I planned a 5 day road trip through the beautiful state of Colorado in the first week of October. Fall is my absolute favorite season and there is something magical about being out in the crispy cold nature and viewing the fall colors change.
ITINERARY
- Day 1 : We landed at the Denver International Airport in the evening and picked up a rental car for our road trip for the next 5 days. We then had dinner in Denver City and drove 1.5 hours up to Estes Park where we checked into a hotel for the night. Since we were only going to be in the hotel room until early next morning, we chose an inexpensive option of The Blue Door Inn which was clean and served our needs.
- Day 2 : We woke up really early this morning around 4am to do a sunrise hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). We explored Bear Lake, Dream Lake, Alberta falls, Sprague Lake and then drove the 48 mile Trail Ridge road to reach the other side of the park and stayed at Lone Eagle Lodge in Grand Lake for the night.
- Day 3 : On this day we drove to Aspen through the very quaint and pretty town of Breckenridge where we stopped for some lunch. Before we checked into the Mountain Chalet Aspen in the evening we stopped by the Twin Lakes and Ashcroft Ghost town to explore the local area and take in some sights.
- Day 4 : We again woke up really early this morning to catch the sunrise at the Maroon bells-Snowmass Wilderness, which was a 25 mins drive from our Chalet. Although we reached here an hour before sunrise, the place was already filling up fast with people setting up their tripods and cameras to capture the sunrise over the mountain there. It is a quick 2 min walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint and the sunrise there is truly one of the best memories of the entire Colorado trip for me. After this we drove to Pikes Peak through the scenic Independence pass and then drove up and back down Pikes Peak which was a truly exhilarating ride. For this night we decided to stay in Quality Inn and Suites in Colorado Springs.
- Day 5 : On this day we explored the Garden of Gods Public Park in Colorado Spring and then drove up to Denver city in the afternoon. After reaching Denver, we explored the Art district and checked out all the cool, creative and artistic graffiti work on the building walls and had a unique lunch experience at the Cart-Driver restaurant which is a basically a large shipping container converted into a hole in the whole eating joint. Later this night we drove to the Denver Airport and took our flights back home with a heavy heart but with a lifetime of unforgettable memories.
Additional Info for trip planning,
- For the best sunrise spot in Rocky Mountain NP, head to Dream Lake. This will put you at the Bear Lake trailhead parking area, the place to be if you are planning to go hiking in the Rocky Mountain NP.
- On trail ridge road, make a stop along the Continental Divide and make sure to enjoy the views at Many Parks Curve, Gore Range Overlook, and Forest Canyon Overlook.
- In Rocky Mountain National Park, make a stop at the Alpine Visitor Center. The scenic Alpine Visitor Center is the highest visitor center in the National Park System. It is very popular due to the amazing view, a café with some snacks, and a souvenir shop. Make sure to refresh yourself with some hot or cold beverages and food. Just remember to bring a jacket up to the viewpoint, since it can get pretty windy, even during the summer months.
- At Grand Lake – Check out Sagebrush BBQ & Grill & Polly’s Sweet Shop.
