9 Days on the Colorado Circle - The Full Itinerary
With a few days of summer left, everyone seems to be squirming to find a last minute trip to take. Lucky for us, we caught up with our friends Spencer and Tatsiana Russell who gave us the we perfect adventure for you and your family. With 9 active days in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, this itinerary is fun for the young ones and the older kids - all without having to forego your healthy diet and lush sleeping quarters. Read below to discover your next adventure.
Total Count: 3 National Parks, 3 Hot Springs, 62 miles of hiking and 1300 miles of driving.
Day 1: Arrive in Colorado (Denver to Colorado Springs)
● Arrive at the Denver airport and rent a car - preferably Full-Size SUV for the family of 4, such as a Jeep, which can handle a range of terrain.
● Begin your journey driving to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
● On your way, make a pitstop at a Walmart to pick up a cooler and any last-minute items you may want or need for your road trip.
● Dinner: Dine near Whole Foods - lots of great options! FelFel Mediterranean, a little café right off the highway on a way to the destination of Colorado Springs has great healthy food, quick ordering, many options for kids, and friendly owners. If you can plan ahead, you can order for curbside pick-up on the app. Very reasonably priced great meals!
● Hotel Recommendation in Colorado Springs: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Colorado Springs ($240/night nice, clean, new)
Day 2: Garden of The Gods State Park (Colorado Springs)
● Get breakfast at Whole Foods and load up on lots of healthy snacks/shots for your road trip!
● Drive to Garden of The Gods State Park
● Plan for 3-4 hours to explore this park, it may take longer if you decide to go off roading. There’s a ton of beautiful scenery!
● Tip: Take an off-road drive to see beautiful views near Rampart Range Rd, it opens the view to the entire park from up top! No people there and a higher elevation.
● Dine at Ted’s Montana Grill - A favorite with nice outdoor seating.
● Hotel Recommendation: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Colorado Springs
Day 3: Sand Dunes and Pagosa Springs (Colorado Springs to Durango)
● Breakfast at the hotel and then hit the road.
● Stop by the local nature store for lunch meats, snacks, and food for lunch. Natural Grocers, a health market store where you can also get sandwiches for the road and snacks, is fantastic. We also suggest purchasing several gallons of water for you to refill your water bottles throughout the day and picking up an electrolyte solution for added hydration as you will need them during your long days spent hiking in the desert. Skratch Labs sport hydration mix is one of the best and most palatable ones we have found- no colors, dyes, additives plus optimal mineral content!
● Drive roughly 2.5 hours to arrive at Sand Dunes National Park - definitely worth the drive. It is a really great experience, especially if you are traveling with kids!
● Find a spot and have lunch at the park. It is bountiful with cute picnic spots throughout the park!
● Following lunch, drive towards Pagosa Springs where there are many beautiful outlooks along the way. You can do short hikes during those stops if you wish.
● Stop at Fall Creek to hike along the river near Treasure Mountain. It is a very nice short hike. There are two paths to get to the falls, with the more difficult path featuring a nearly 70-degree pitch, perfect for established hikers and thrill seekers.
● The last stop of the day is Pagosa Springs, which is nicely maintained and the entrance fee is around $120 for 4 people. It is great for detoxing the nervous system after your travels and hiking.
● If you are looking for a dinner suggestion, Pagosa Springs has lots of locally owned dining spots from pizza shacks to Mexican food. Most of them are located on the main road so it is easy to get back on the road to the destination of Durango, Colorado, and it is fun to explore a town quickly as you drive by.
Day 4: Durango Train Ride, Voted Best Scenic Train by USA Today (Durango, Colorado)
● Sit back and relax on Day 4 as you enjoy the Durango Silverton train ride but be sure to book your tickets at least 2 weeks ahead of time as spots fill up quickly, especially during holidays and summer break.
● We highly recommend scooping up tickets for the gondola outdoor seats (they are cheaper anyways!), as you will have the best views and it is not as windy as you would imagine.
● The train takes a 30-minute pit-stop at a beautiful area adjacent to a river, which is worth wandering around and exploring.
● The town of Durango is very cute and quaint, with a park in the center where visitors can enjoy the scenery, take a bike ride, or enjoy a meal at sunset.
Day 5: The Adventure Continues to Montrose (Durango to Montrose)
● Wake up and enjoy breakfast before checking out of your hotel and hitting the road to Montrose.
● Driving on Million Dollar Highway you may be unaware that you’re driving on top of a potential gold mine. Take your time as you enjoy million-dollar views through San Juan National Forest.
● Once you reach Silverton, Colorado, we suggest you stretch your legs around the historic town and eat a delicious lunch. If you are looking for a lunch recommendation, right in Old historic town itself, Natalia’s 1912 Restaurant, adjacent is Natalia’s Street Patio with live music, relaxing atmosphere and old-style kitchen food, is fantastic! Not the healthiest but the experience but so delicious and worth it!
● After lunch, jump on the local carriage ride and gain some local knowledge.
● Head back onto Million Dollar Highway and make a pitstop at The Treasury Tunnel, which contains over 100 miles of underground tunnels! If you prefer to hike a scenic trail, be sure to stop at the Ouray Perimeter Trail, (roughly 6.5 miles with varying conditions and scenery)
● Once you arrive in Montrose, check into your hotel, and enjoy a relaxing evening. (Hampton Inn Montrose $300/night)
Day 6: Grand Mesa National Forest (Montrose to Steamboat)
● Explore Grand Mesa National Forest today which has over 300 lakes, one of the largest flat-top mountains and Alpine Tunnel!
● If you still want to soak in more nature on your drive to Steamboat, Colorado, stop at Rifle Falls State Park, and go on a short 2-mile hike featuring many caves and a beautiful overview.
● Jump back on the highway and cruise over to Steamboat, Colorado, where you will be enjoying the next few days.
● For dinner we recommend Slopeside Grill, which has delicious bits and great energy, or The Paramount, which is a family-owned restaurant and has great breakfast as well and healthy options.
● Hotel Recommendation: Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, ~$330/night.
Day 7: Steamboat Colorado & Hot Springs (Steamboat, Colorado)
● Hope you wake up feeling ready and rested, because this morning is spent on a gorgeous 6-mile hike called Mad Creek Trail featuring old barns and lots of wildlife, which we love!
● We highly recommend hitting the hot springs after your morning hike at the Strawberry Springs. The springs can reach temperatures of over 110° F, with the larger pools reaching to roughly 80° F.
● For a lovely dinner, eat at Carl’s Tavern, featuring huge desserts and tasty cocktails, in Steamboat Springs before retiring for the day.
Day 8: Hot Sulfur Springs (Steamboat to Grand Lake)
● Wake up and charge up for the day by fueling up at “The Egg” restaurant which has delicious healthy dining options and fabulous quick service for a sit-down breakfast spot.
● After breakfast enjoy an easy hike at the Fish Creek Falls.
● Following your hike, we recommend visiting the Hot Sulfur Springs on your way to Grand Lake, Colorado, which is great for your immune system, skin, and complexion!
● Itching to shop? This evening, visit the town of Grand Lake which has a lot of shopping, boutiques, restaurants, and much more. The town is located right at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and you can also enjoy paddle boarding.
Day 9: Rocky Mountain National Park (Kremmling, Colorado)
● A reservation to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is required but is a ‘can’t miss’ your road trip. Be sure to stock up on snacks/lunch as you’ll want to spend a lot of time here.
● Hike the Ute Trail, which was roughly 6 miles and 11,000 ft high in elevation. It is a hiker's dream and commonly acknowledged as one of the best hikes in Colorado.
● Because of the elevation and varying terrain temperatures can really range so pack a light sweater but also have a backpack that you can stuff it into when it gets warmer. You might even see a moose, or a wild goat on this hike!
Day 10 - The Finale (Rocky Mountain National Park to Denver)
● Time to head back to Denver, Colorado, unfortunately as this wonderful road trip is coming to an end. If you want one last delicious Colorado meal, we suggest dining at True Food Kitchen in Denver before you fly home.