Suggested Itineraries

Five interesting itineraries just to get your "wheels" turning.....

1. Six Days of Rivers, Rails, Roads, and the Rockies
2. Stay and Play
3. Rails and Trails
4. Colorado Scenic Byways
5. Adventure Itinerary for Active Guests You'll need Adobe Reader to view this Itinerary. Don't have Reader- Click here

Six Days of Rivers, Rails, Roads, and the Rockies

"For those who leave no stone unturned"

Day 1: Denver to Vail
-Stop and enjoy scenic Idaho Springs, Copper Mountain, Shrine Pass and Vail Pass along the way
-Stay in Vail or beautiful Edwards along Eagle Creek
Day 2: Vail to Aspen
-From Minturn to Tennessee Pass, Leadville, the Arkansas headwaters, and Twin Lakes.
-Stop and view any one the many historic railways, towns, or rivers
-Stay in Twin Lakes at the base of Colorado's highest mountain, Mount Elbert.
-Or continue on to Aspen over Independence Pass
Day 3: Aspen to Crested Butte
-From Carbondale travel McClure and Kebler Passes
-Along the way visit historic Marble, where Grants Tomb was mined, Crystal River Resort, or Lake Irwin.
-Stay in Crested Butte, Colorado's largest National Historic District
Day 4: Stay and Play
-Kick up your heels on any one of the many classic benches in downtown Historic Crested Butte.
-Shop, Dine and visit the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum
-Visit one or more of the 2 Million Acres of public land surrounding Crested Butte
-Fly fish, Raft, or Relax
Day 5: Crested Butte to Salida
-From Gunnison over Monarch Pass this will be the shortest day of driving.
-Visit Gunnison's Pioneer and Train Museum, events in the park, rafting, fishing, scenic Gondola rides above the Continental Divide
-Stay in Historic Salida, home of the Arkansas River
Day 6: Return to Denver
-Travel HWY 50 along the Arkansas River and view the geological formations, the Royal Gorge, Canon City.
-Final Stop Denver via Colorado Springs (optional departure from Colorado Springs Airport)

Stay and Play

"2 Million Acres of Awesome possibilities, Pure and Simple" Back to Top of Page

Day 1: Suggest mid day arrival
-Denver to Gunnison
-Arrive Gunnison and stay two nights
Day 2: Take a float trip on either the Gunnison or Taylor Rivers
-Visit its many shops and restaurants, and the Pioneer and Train Museum
-Music in the Park
- Dine along the River
Day 3: Travel to Crested Butte and stay three nights
-Horse back ridding or Nature hike in the High Country along the Lower loop trail
-Shop Downtown Crested Butte, Colorado's largest National Historic District
-Visit the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum to learn all about the colorful mining culture
-Choose from many fabulous restaurants and shops on Elk Ave
Day 4: Ride the lift at Crested Butte Mountain
-Suggest an early morning chair lift ride
-Picnic in the wildflowers or at one of the sunny decks located at the Base Area
-Afternoon drive to Gothic, a Historical Mining town, and home of Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, a summer biology school.
-Participate in a seminar or just enjoy the history, or a short hike to Jud Falls
-Eat somewhere new, options are plentiful, menus diverse
Day 5: Fly Fishing or Flight Seeing
-Get some instruction from a local Outfitter
-Explore the many lakes and streams right outside of Crested Butte for your afternoon activity
-Or take a scenic flight of the area by Hot Air Balloon, or Plane
-Enjoy Music in the Park for free and see a play presented by local talent.
Day 6: Return to Denver
-For a little adventure travel over Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista, and Denver
-Or take the tried and true (Paved) HWY 50 over Monarch Pass, Buena Vista....

Rails and Trails

"View railway history from the comfort of your own car" Back to Top of Page

Day 1: Depart Denver for Gunnison
- Stay in Gunnison
Day 2: Learn some History
-Visit the Pioneer and Train Museum and learn all about the rail ways in Gunnison County.
-Travel to Historical Tin Cup for Lunch
-Visit the Alpine Tunnel
-Cross Cumberland Pass into Taylor Park
-On to Crested Butte for the night
Day 3: Tour Crested Butte, Colorado's largest National Historic District
-Visit The Heritage Museum, Original Train Depot, and other Railway sites
-Drive the old stage line into Ohio Creek Valley
-View the magnificent Castles
-Stay in Gunnison
Day 4: Visit the most expensive section of railway construction in history
-Drive to nearby Cimarron to visit the train depot and museum
-View the Back Canyon from the rim at East Portal
-Travel along the Blue Mesa, Colorado's largest manmade lake
-Return to Gunnison
Day 5: Return to Denver via alternate route to visit the Royal Gorge

Colorado Scenic Byways

"September Splendor" Back to Top of Page

Target date are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks in September

Day 1: Denver to Aspen
-From I70 drive Tennessee Pass through Leadville, the Arkansas headwaters, and Twin Lakes where you will be greeted by a fa'ade police officer at the entrance to town.
-Stop and view any one the many historic railways, towns, or rivers
-Stay in Twin Lakes at the base of Colorado's highest mountain, Mount Elbert.
-Or continue on to Aspen over Independence Pass
Day 2: Aspen to Crested Butte
-From Carbondale travel McClure and Kebler Passes Home of the 3d largest organism in the world (the aspen grove at the top of Kebler Pass)
-Along the way visit historic Marble, where Grants Tomb was mined, Crystal River Resort, or Lake Irwin.
-Stay in Crested Butte, Colorado's largest National Historic District
Day 3: Crested Butte to Lake City
-Drive Ohio Creek Road to view spectacular colors among the picturesque Castles to Gunnison.
-Travel along the states largest lake to Lake City a quaint village beneath some of the states highest mountains
-If time allows drive the Alpine Loop.
Day 4: Lake City to Salida
-Creed, South Fork, San Luis Valley and miles of wide open vistas prevail on the longest day of the circuit.
-Stay in Downtown Salida along the Arkansas River
Day 5: Return to Denver via South Park, Kenosha Pass and Turkey Canyon.