Rocky Mountains, Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Great Sand Dunes

The Rocky Mountain National Park has everything from meadows to forests, lakes to soaring peaks. This park also has some of the highest paved roads in the United States.

Lodging

There are plenty of towns close to the entrance to the park, which is located in Estes Park, CO. Estes Park actually has a good bit of Airbnb options, so we decided to stay there. However, all the way down Highway 7 are towns that would work just as well. Even staying much further south in Nederland, CO would work as well since there are plenty of trails between there and the park’s entrance.

Attractions

Driving the Trail Ridge Road will give you access to main trails and overlooks that offer fantastic views of the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road is US-34, and follows the mountain ridge for 48 miles, and tops out at an impressive 12,183 miles high above sea level.

This road is only open from Memorial Day until mid-October, and is the only road that crosses the park. Trail Ridge Road tops out at an impressive 12,183 feet, which allows it to offer some of the most breathtaking views of the mountains and the valleys below.

There are countless well-known hikes within the Rockies.

The best easy-moderate hike is the Lumpy Ridge Trail. This 3.2 mile round trip hike climbs about 1,000 feet and offers astounding views of Longs Peak (the highest peak in the park), Mount Meeker and Estes Park.

The most popular (and most difficult) hike is Keyhole Route up to Longs Peak. This path is about 15 miles round trip, takes anywhere from 10-15 hours and climbs 5,000 feet in elevation. If this hike seems a bit much for you, then consider a hike up to the Twin Sisters Peaks. While it is also a strenuous hike, it is much shorter at only 4 miles round trip.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its narrow, sheer walls of volcanic rock, carved by the powerful Gunnison River. This park is also one of the least visited, meaning you’ll have no trouble social distancing here!

Lodging

There are no lodging options inside the park. We chose to stay in Montrose, but Gunnison and Grand Junction have plenty of options as well, albeit a bit further away from the park.

Attractions

The park has two sections: the north and south rims. The South Rim has the most to offer, leading it to being the most popular section of the park. In fact, if you wanted to drive from one side of the canyon to the other, it would take about three hours to complete.

The scenic South Rim Road follows the canyon’s edge for 14 miles (23 km) and has dozens of overlooks and hiking trails. The other frequently-driven road in the park is the East Portal Road, which descends to the river at the bottom of the canyon until it reaches the Crystal Dam National Recreation Area.

The gravel-only North Rim Road is only open during the summer, and snakes 14 miles round trip, and has a number of beautiful lookout points along the way.

If you’d like to do some hiking, the Rim Rock Trail is an easy paved 1-mile loop with views of the canyon. The Oak Flat Loop is a slightly harder trail that descends into the canyon for about a 2 mile round trip hike.

Located in southern Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is flanked to the east by the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. At the heart of the park is the remarkable dune field that features sand mounds over 700 feet high. The sands are constantly changing and shifting, with daily winds, water, and even gravity.

Attractions

Just beyond the entrance to the park on Highway 150, lies the Visitors Center. From here, you’ll quickly reach a couple of hiking trails, including the Dunes Overlook (moderate, 2.3 miles round trip) and the much easier half-mile Montville Loop.

Experience the dunes at night with nighttime dune walks and stargazing, many led by park rangers.

Did you know that you can go sand-sledding at the park? Rent boards and sleds at the Oasis Restaurant and Store (outside the park) and cross Medano Creek to find the best “slopes” to begin your sledding adventure.