Route Overview
A curated multi-park road trip featuring 6 stops across the region.
Itinerary
Denver International Airport - arrival and car pickup
Land at DEN, grab your rental, and stock up for the mountain drive.
Pick up groceries in Denver or at a large market in Boulder before heading to Estes Park.
Estes Park check-in + provisions
Transit from Estes Park Visitor Center, located in Estes Park, Colorado to Rocky Mountain National Park
Check into lodging and grab snacks for early starts.
Confirm your RMNP timed-entry reservation (summer). Bear Lake corridor often requires a separate permit.
Sprague Lake sunset
Sprague Lake is located along Bear Lake Road. Enjoy a walk around Sprague Lake, picnic tables, and restroom facilities.
Easy, flat loop with reflections of Hallet Peak and Flattop Mountain.
Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for the best reflections and parking.
Bear Lake Trailhead (early start)
Bear Lake Road ends 9.2 miles from the junction with Trail Ridge Road at the Parking Area for Bear Lake. From the parking area, take a short walk on a marked path to reach Bear Lake itself. Bear Lake offers spectacular scenic views of Bear Lake, Hallett Peak and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Start with Bear Lake and connect to Nymph/Dream/Emerald for classic alpine views.
Parking fills by 7:00 AM in peak season. Carry layers and rain protection.
Alberta Falls
Glacier Creek thunders down this spectacular waterfall.
Short, popular waterfall hike with granite canyon views.
Trail is rocky and can be slick; trekking poles help.
Trail Ridge Road scenic drive
Enjoy scenic views and wildlife viewing opportunities while driving on Trail Ridge Road. This is a 48 mile scenic drive that connects the communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Cresting at an elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
Drive the highest continuous paved road in North America with tundra overlooks.
Check weather; snow and high winds can close the road even in summer.
Moraine Park wildlife dusk
Get awe-inspiring views of the Rocky Mountains! Moraine Park is located and accessed off of Bear Lake Road.
Open valley with a high chance of elk and moose sightings.
Bring binoculars and keep a safe distance; elk are most active at dusk.
Great Sand Dunes arrival + Medano Creek
Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages.
Arrive in time for softer sand and seasonal creek flow.
Go barefoot or wear sand gaiters. Creek typically peaks late May to June.
High Dunes sunset climb
Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile (78-square-km) dunefield, featuring the tallest dunes in North America. Because there are no trails, you can venture out anywhere you'd like to discover unusual insects, plants, wildlife tracks, ripples, and sand grains of every color.
Climb the tallest dunes for golden-hour views of the Sangre de Cristo range.
Carry more water than you think; heat reflects off the sand.
Sunrise on the dunes
Cool, firm sand and dramatic long shadows across the dune field.
Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise to crest a dune in time for first light.
Mesa Verde - Cliff Palace tour check-in
Mesa Verde National Park entrance station.
Pick up tickets and check tour times for Cliff Palace or Balcony House.
Tours require timed tickets; reserve in advance during peak season.
Mesa Top Loop Road
The 6-mile (10 km) Mesa Top Loop takes you through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history. From remains of early pithouses and masonry villages to multi-storied cliff dwellings, archeological sites along this loop show how early Pueblo architecture evolved. Archeology and Pueblo oral histories shed light on what life may have been like for people who lived, worked, and raised families here for generations.
Self-guided loop with short walks to cliff dwellings and overlooks.
Afternoon light is best for the west-facing ruins.
Durango dinner
Refuel in Durango before an early start.
Aim for an early dinner; Mesa Verde mornings are best before tours sell out.
Cliff Palace or Balcony House ranger tour
Cliff Palace Overlook is a magnificent view point for Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the park. With at least 150 rooms and 21 kivas, Cliff Palace is an exceptionally large cliff dwelling and possibly an important gathering place as an administrative center with ceremonial use for many nearby Ancestral Pueblo villages.
Guided tour into the park's most famous cliff dwellings.
Expect ladders and uneven stone steps. Bring water and arrive 30 minutes early.
Black Canyon South Rim overlooks
The South Rim Visitor Center is at Gunnison Point. A short walk will take you to the overlooks. From here the Rim Rock Trail heads to the South Rim Campground, and the Oak Flat Trail takes you on a loop below the canyon rim. The short walk to the overlook is on an unpaved trail.
Short walks to some of the deepest canyon vistas in the country.
Check for afternoon thunderstorms; the rim can be exposed.
Sunset at Gunnison Point
The South Rim Visitor Center is at Gunnison Point. A short walk will take you to the overlooks. From here the Rim Rock Trail heads to the South Rim Campground, and the Oak Flat Trail takes you on a loop below the canyon rim. The short walk to the overlook is on an unpaved trail.
Classic rim viewpoint with easy access and big light.
Arrive 30 minutes early for a front-row spot on the overlook wall.
Sunrise at Gunnison Point
The South Rim Visitor Center is at Gunnison Point. A short walk will take you to the overlooks. From here the Rim Rock Trail heads to the South Rim Campground, and the Oak Flat Trail takes you on a loop below the canyon rim. The short walk to the overlook is on an unpaved trail.
First light reveals the canyon's depth and color.
Bring a warm layer; mornings are cold at the rim even in summer.
South Rim Road scenic drive
The North Rim developed area is CLOSED until further notice because of extensive damage from the Dragon Bravo Wildfire. Cape Royal Road is a fantastic scenic drive leading to points of interest, including Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Diverse viewpoints and several trailheads can be reached via this winding scenic drive. NOTE: RVs over 22 feet long, and vehicle + trailers with a total length over 22 feet, are not permitted because of the narrow roadway.
Hit the main overlooks before the drive back to Denver.
Plan for short walks at each overlook; guardrails are low and drop-offs are steep.
Denver International Airport - departure
Return the rental car and fly home.
Allow 3+ hours for the drive from the Black Canyon to Denver.
Creates a copy you can customize
5
Days
19
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
Spring through Fall
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