Camping (in travel trailer)in Colorado - ideas please (1 Viewer)

[boots11234]

So I'm taking the travel trailer with the family to Colorado 3rd week of August. Going for approximately 2.5 weeks. 

The route I'm taking is through Denver south to pikes peak, Colorado Springs, national sand dune park, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, pueblo Indian cliff dwellings, archers national park grand junction them home to MN. 

I am thinking of seeing Grand Canyon too.  Are there any must sees along the way?  We like ghost towns, museums , light hiking, off roading (though nothing narley as I'll be driving a ram quad cab diesel - think big long truck).  

Am I trying to see too much?  What don't I want to miss?  Kids are 9 and 12. 

 

[Apple Jack]

Highly recommend Lime Creek Road north of Durango, just past the ski area on the right at the first hairpin as you start the climb to Coal Bank Pass. Drop the trailer and creep up Old Lime Creek Road a mile or so and I think you'll enjoy the view. That's relatively light off-road. You'll be fine in there. In fact, I think I have a video here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[boots11234]

Highly recommend Lime Creek Road north of Durango, just past the ski area on the right at the first hairpin as you start the climb to Coal Bank Pass. Drop the trailer and creep up Old Lime Creek Road a mile or so and I think you'll enjoy the view. That's relatively light off-road. You'll be fine in there. In fact, I think I have a video here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

I looked at that one actually. Route 256 or 253 I believe.  I read it's pretty safe bet. Are there cliffs on the road?  Not crazy about that.  Should I take it to the end?   Also have you driven the million dollar highway?   I want to drive that loop (without trailer ) but am nervous of the no shoulder, guard rail and 800' plunge to your death thing.  

Video would be great. So you'd only go up the trail a mile or so?

 

[TheAristocrat]

Could you bring me some Summit?

 

[Apple Jack]

I know the million dollar highway well. Sure, some areas without guardrails, but just stay on the road and you'll be find.  And Lime Creek, the road to the camping area is pretty much in flats and plenty of room for turnarounds, iirc. It's when you get past that where you absolutely do not take a trailer.

Here are a couple vids from very close to where the Lime Creek camping is. Those are the West Needles of the San Juan Mountains, and Lime Creek is at the base of the cliff to the right of the road. Again, there is nothing hairy between the highway and the campground. Don't let this give you the wrong impression.

http://tinyurl.com/jzddroy

http://tinyurl.com/hjaoyue

And yeah, you'll see where others are camping when you come down the hill off the highway. I've never camped there, just seen others there when I used to take my truck and bike through there.

 

[boots11234]

I know the million dollar highway well. Sure, some areas without guardrails, but just stay on the road and you'll be find.  And Lime Creek, the road to the camping area is pretty much in flats and plenty of room for turnarounds, iirc. It's when you get past that where you absolutely do not take a trailer.

Here are a couple vids from very close to where the Lime Creek camping is. Those are the West Needles of the San Juan Mountains, and Lime Creek is at the base of the cliff to the right of the road. Again, there is nothing hairy between the highway and the campground. Don't let this give you the wrong impression.

http://tinyurl.com/jzddroy

http://tinyurl.com/hjaoyue

And yeah, you'll see where others are camping when you come down the hill off the highway. I've never camped there, just seen others there when I used to take my truck and bike through there.

Links didn't work?

 

[Apple Jack]

Links didn't work?

Huh. They're mp4 files hosted on photobucket. I guess they won't play without windows media player. You'll see for yourself when you get there. It's a cool spot.

 

[Mister CIA]

Links didn't work?

And now they are working.

They're awesome, and NFW!

 

[snore]

So I'm taking the travel trailer with the family to Colorado 3rd week of August. Going for approximately 2.5 weeks. 

The route I'm taking is through Denver south to pikes peak, Colorado Springs, national sand dune park, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, pueblo Indian cliff dwellings, archers national park grand junction them home to MN. 

I am thinking of seeing Grand Canyon too.  Are there any must sees along the way?  We like ghost towns, museums , light hiking, off roading (though nothing narley as I'll be driving a ram quad cab diesel - think big long truck).  

Am I trying to see too much?  What don't I want to miss?  Kids are 9 and 12. 

The san juan valley is a beautiful area.

Wife and I went to durango last year to visit some friends (coincidentally we are from MN too) and we went to the great sand dunes which we both loved. There is a hidden waterfall maybe two miles outside of the dunes (Zapata http://www.colorado.com/articles/hidden-colorado-gem-zapata-falls) that was cool to check out as well.  Between the two you can burn the better part of a day.  The water is ice cold so be prepared.  

The stream that flows through the boarder of the dunes is fun as welll and with your kids being the age they are, I can see them enjoying an hour or two splashing around after trekking through the dunes.  Wear proper footwear at the dunes, shoes not sandels or flip flops.  Learned that the painful way.  We stayed in alamosa after the dunes which wasn't too exciting but there are a few decent hotels and several restaurants.  

Went to mesa cliff dwellings as well and that took the better part of a day as there aRe several different sites you can drive to and get out and wander around. You can also roll with a few of the tours. We opted to not take the tours and wandered about at our own pace.  I believe there are a few sites that you can only visit via guided tour so you may want to plan that out ahead of time.

Durango was fun too but we spent more time at the local breweries vs sight seeing in town. We did drive around one of the nearby lakes and that was cool but likely not too exciting for the kids.  

*forgot to add you can camp anywhere in the dunes but you need to register first as they only allow a set number of groups per night.  

 

[Niles Standish]

The Silverton/Durango train might be fun for the kids.  When you're at Co Springs a side-trip to Cave of the Winds is always fun.  Pikes peak train is fun too.  Zapata falls is really cool near the sand dunes.  Arches is great, if you still  have time you should register for a Fiery Furnace ranger led tour.  That's a fun thing.

 

[smoke monster]

.