Planning for Colorado – September 2023

• 9/9 – Sat – Fly to DEN
• 9/10 – Sun – Maybe drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park and hike around. Stay in Estes Park.
  • Maybe Gem lake, Deer Mtn, Old Fall River or Trail Ridge, side trails (tundra, Ute, Forest Canyon, Lawn)
• 9/11 – Mon – Maybe Rocky Mountain National Park and hike around. Stay in Estes Park.
  • Maybe Bear Lake, Alberta Falls, Mills Lake, Glacier Gorge, Black Lake, Sky Pond, Lake of Glass, Emerald Lake
• 9/12 – Tues – Maybe Rocky Mountain National Park and hike around. Drive to Denver.
  • Maybe Chasm Lake or Wild Basin falls
• 9/13 – Wed – Maybe Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
• 9/14 – Thurs – Maybe Barr Lake State Park or Riverdale Regional Park
• 9/15 – Fri – Maybe EB Rains and some creek walks, or Hunters Glen lake, or downtown trails, or Pelican Ponds
• 9/16 – Sat – Maybe Loveland Pass. Maybe walk around a lake. Maybe stay in Georgetown
• 9/17 – Sun – Maybe Grays / Torreys. Maybe take another local hike. Maybe ride the train.
• 9/18 – Mon – Maybe Mary Carpenter and surrounding parks, or Hunters Glen lake, or downtown trails, or Pelican Ponds
• 9/19 – Drive to Colorado Springs. Ride the Train up Pikes Peak. Check into Glen Eyrie.
• 9/20 – Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie
• 9/21 – Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie
• 9/22 – Colorado Springs. Drive back to Denver.
• 9/23 – Fly back west

September

Flight 1:Saturday, 09/09/2023 (3:55 – 7:25)

Flight 2: Saturday, 09/23/2023 (8:50 – 10:20)

Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway – we have our tickets to sit with the engineer at 11a on 9/19 – woo woo! (https://www.cograilway.com/)

• Cog Train up Pikes Peak: Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Colorado

Georgetown Loop Railroad – we are still considering this. Might be nice to sit and enjoy the scenery. (https://www.georgetownlooprr.com/our-history/faqs/)

• 1 hr 15 minute train ride with great views and fresh air
• Georgetown Loop from Devils Gate to Silver Plum and back

Our base location will be with D&K at The Stairs Palace and then we will adventure out from there.

Rocky Mountain National Park area / Estes Park 9/10-9/12

• Area: Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
• The Landing: The Landing, Estes Park, CO
• https://www.thelandingestespark.com/river-bend-villa/

Georgetown and Loveland Pass 9/16-9/17

• Area: Georgetown CO
• Georgetown: Georgetown Lake Inn
• https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/microtel/georgetown-colorado/microtel-inn-and-suites-georgetown-lake/overview

Glen Eyrie 9/19-9/22

• Area: Colorado Springs hikes CO
• Glen Eyrie: Glen Eyrie Castle, Colorado Springs, CO
• https://gleneyrie.org/
• A video on the castle and Palmer

Here are a few of the hikes and excursions we are considering, so far:
South to Colorado Springs:

• Colorado Springs hikes CO
  • https://www.visitcos.com/blog/the-10-most-challenging-hikes-near-colorado-springs/
  • https://www.visitcos.com/
  • https://www.visitcos.com/blog/top-25-hiking-biking-trails/
  • https://www.visitcos.com/blog/55-things-to-do-in-colorado-springs/
• Garden of the Gods
  • https://gardenofgods.com/
• Red Rock Canyon Open Space
  • https://redrockcanyonopenspace.org/recreation/trails/
  • Near Garden of the Gods
• Pikes Peak CO
  • https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/pikes-peak/hiking-pikes-peak/
  • https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/pikes-peak/
  • https://www.pikes-peak.com/about-pikes-peak/
  • https://coloradosprings.gov/drivepikespeak
• Cog Train up Pikes Peak (and then hike around)
  • Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Colorado
  • https://www.cograilway.com/ride/
• Manitou Incline CO
  • Make reservations: https://cityofcoloradosprings.aluvii.com/store/shop/productdetails?id=1&productId=1
  • Some tips: https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/outdoors/manitou-incline-near-colorado-springs-colorado/tips-for-hiking/
  • https://manitousprings.org/where-to-play/manitou-incline/
  • https://www.pikes-peak.com/manitou-incline-hike/
• Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Calhan CO
  • https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/paint-mines-interpretive-park/
  • https://www.visitcos.com/blog/paint-mines-park/
• Seven Bridges Trail & North Cheyenne Cañon Park, CO
  • https://manitousprings.org/where-to-play/seven-bridges-trail/
  • https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/seven-bridges-trail
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/recarea/?recid=16848&actid=50
  • North Cheyenne Cañon Park: https://coloradosprings.gov/NCC

West to the Front Range / Continental Divide:

• Grays Peak and Torreys Peak
  • https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/grays-and-torreys-peak
• Loveland Pass, CO
  • Loveland Pass area trails (all trails link)
  • Loveland Pass trailhead (CO TREX link)
• Georgetown area trails (on alltrails)
• Georgetown Loop Railroad

Northwest to Steamboat Springs:

• Steamboat Springs hiking

North to Rocky Mountain / Estes Park:

• Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
  • https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
  • Lake Isabel trail
  • Loop in the park by lakes
  • RMNP info and tips
  • Bear safety!!
  • List of trails, locations, and distances
  • ROMO maps
  • Alberta Falls and Glacier Gorge trail
  • Deer Mtn (3 mile to top)
  • Wild Basin trails with waterfalls
  • Gem Lake trail
  • Emerald Lake trail
  • Sky Pond and Glass Pond trail
  • Few different trail ideas

Around Denver:

• Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver CO
• Barr Lake State Park, CO
• Elk Meadow Park, Evergreen, CO and other Evergreen area hikes
• Riverside Regional Park
• Creek Trails
• Hunters Glen lake loop
• Downtown trails and river
• Pelican Ponds