41 replies to this topic

[epdreamer]

Going to RMNP/Estes Park 1 to 2 times a year we've found that it is necessary, especially with kids, to find day trips to other attractions to keep everyone happy. What are some of your favorite day trips in the RMNP area. I can think of a number but will limit it to one (oops maybe two sort of) to give others a chance to throw theirs in.

Our kids (they're now 6 and 8) always are happy to go into Denver for a Day at City Park and the Denver Zoo. We usually pack a picnic and try to park down by the Zoo's West entrance where there is a really super wood play structure and picnic tables for lunch. (For those of us from the flat lands, remember Denver is the Mile High City, the sun's a little more intense and sometimes those rubber swing seats get awfully hot - ouch!!!) Then we spend the afternoon in the Zoo. My kids love the Polar Bears, Giraffes and the Great Ape exhibits. My son, for some reason, thinks the Tapir is just about the coolest animal he has ever seen. There are peacocks roaming free about the walkways and in the last few years they have put in a Lorikeet Adventure. The Lorikeets (birds in case you didn't know) will land on your fingers or shoulders and you can purchase a liquid food mixture to feed them. Watch out for extra "presents" from the birds though.

City Park itself is very large and also includes the Natural History Museum so there is plenty to do for a whole day's trip. We ususally find someplace to eat in the suburbs or Boulder on the way back and have a pair of tired happy campers by the time we make it back to Estes.

We've also gone on side trips to Central City via the Oh My God Highway, Mt. Evans, Rockies games, Georgetown Loop, Colorado Railroad Museum, etc. I still remember my dad taking us on a day trip "drive" across Rollins Pass on the old railroad right of way that was used before the Moffat tunnel was built several times. You can't go all the way across anymore since some of the railroad trestles are no longer firmly on the side of the mountain. (Think Fall River Road on steroids - at least that's how it seemed from a kid's point of view. It should have been one way and maybe was near the end, the trestle bridges were defintely one way at a time.) Seeing Yankee Doodle Lake on those trips sticks in my mind to this day.

Does anyone else have trips they really like?

Edited by epdreamer, 10 November 2004 - 11:59 AM.

[waterrat]

BTW, Rollins Pass Road has been closed since about 85 (locals, is this year right?) due to the collapse of the "Eye of the Needle" tunnel, pending funding being raised for its restoration. Most of the trestles have long since been removed. I have been up that road on the Winter Park side, and it was something else, but it is now bordering on becoming a 4WD road due to complete lack of maintenance.

We daytripped from Grand Lake to Granby, up to Walden, east following the Cache La Poudre Canyon to Fort Collins. We also took a side trip over to Long Draw Reservoir along the way. Then we returned to Grand Lake via Fall River Road and Trail Ridge. We did really enjoy it, and the area east and south of Walden is prime moose country.

We also like Mt. Evans. The trip through the Eisenhower Tunnel toward Dillon and back across the Pass (I can't recall its name) is good too.

Primarily, though, we stick to hiking, looking for wildlife and resting. I get enough of the other stuff back home.

[epdreamer]

I remember Rollins Pass Road being more suitable for 4WD when we traveled it. My trips from childhood were in the 60's and early 70's and even then we (everyone but my dad) thought it was crazy since we were in the family sedan. I seem to remember there being a speed limit in the 15 mph range. Those trestles always got me though-no railing of any kind just sort of hanging off the side. I don't remember for sure but it seems like at least one of them went around a curve where you couldn't see someone coming from the other side when you started. Oh and I think they were only wide enough for one vehicle.

[DeeCeeM]

I thought this map might be helpful as a reference. (Sorry about the size.) The key to all the colorful lines plus descriptions and mileages can be found here. The "Oh My God" Road isn't drawn in on this map, but it runs between Central City and Idaho Springs. Rollins Pass Road isn't marked either, but it runs between Winter Park & Nederland.

I would add the drive through Clear Creek Canyon between Golden and Central City (on the green route) to the list of places to go.

[weatherbe]

What a great map of CO Dee. And thanks for posting the key to the maps (descriptions and mileages). Very useful!

Weather

I thought this map might be helpful as a reference.  (Sorry about the size.)  The key to all the colorful lines plus descriptions and mileages can be found here.  The "Oh My God" Road isn't drawn in on this map, but it runs between Central City and Idaho Springs.  Rollins Pass Road isn't marked either, but it runs between Winter Park & Nederland.

I would add the drive through Clear Creek Canyon between Golden and Central City (on the green route) to the list of places to go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[GLENNinPA]

When we were out this past June we left the Denver airport and went to see Red Rocks Ampitheatre and then took 70 to Idaho Springs and Oh My God Road through Central City and up to Estes. The Kids loved Red Rocks but they Especially loved Oh My God Road. Every bend that we took they would cry out "Oh My God". It was alot of fun. We have been to the Denver Zoo which was great and also Pikes Peak and the Royal Gorge, These are a bit more of a drive though.
Glenn

[ProfHall]

epdreamer, thanks for starting this thread! This is exactly where I am with my thinking for next summer...since we've had repeated RMNP visits, I'm looking for the kinds of things to add on and this is just the ticket! We usually fly in and out of DIA, so our Denver visits are either front-end or back-end of the EP part of the trip. The discussion here, and a similar "driving tour" discussion over on aroundcolorado.com have stirred my interest in getting to EP by the "less than direct" route, or by adding some day-trips out of EP or Grand Lake while there. DCM's map, and the stories so far (more to come, right, folks?) are giving me great ideas for this summer.

NOTE: Do not go to Six Flags in Denver unless (1) you really, really don't have anything else to do, or (2) you are forced to do so under some terrible threat. Last summer we TRIED to do the Denver thing on both ends of our trip, with a scheduled arrival just after lunch that turned into a "thank GOD we are finally here" near midnight. So much for the zoo and seeing downtown...but we did make Six Flags on the way back. Never again.

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[ProfHall]

Oh, and I just noticed...

500 posts!

I'll never keep up with Marvman, though...

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[dtigg69]

Yeah, I was thinking of the "Needle's Eye" recently.
I'll never forget the first time I went up there in 1973
in my VW Beetle. Ahh, those were the days. That's
about the same time "Don't Californicate Colorado"
bumper stickers started showing up around Boulder.

[goatboy]

Where does that rollis pass road start at exactly and does it dstill go all the way to winter park? i have tried to find it before and could'nt get it done, however the oh my god road is good enough for a car to take it's not too rough at all. i like to drive all the trails on pole hill on the east end of estes lake, it takes half a day to cover all the trails. also there is a really fun road from hidden valley that goes behind twin sisters and comes out by the indian gift store on hwy 7. anyone know of more 4x4 trails in the estes area?
goatboy

[DeeCeeM]

Where does that rollis pass road start at exactly and does it dstill go all the way to winter park?
goatboy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It actually starts at Rollinsville, which is just south of Nederland but not marked on the map above. Turn west off of Highway 119 at Rollinsville onto Rollins Pass Road/East Portal Road. Just before you get to the train tunnel, Rollins Pass Road turns off to the right and doubles back in the direction you just came as it starts climbing. One of the tunnels partially collapsed years ago, so you can't drive all the way to Winter Park.

There are also some 4 wheel drive roads to the left off of East Portal Road, but Rollins Pass is more interesting.

[DeeCeeM]

Here's a map of Rollins Pass, but as stated above you can't drive all the way over the pass. Sooner or later, you're going to have to turn around and go back the way you came (which can be a dicey proposition on any road like this.) Either side is worth exploring, though, so don't let that stop you.

[DeeCeeM]

And here's the "Oh My God" Road from Central City to Idaho Springs. This used to be the old stagecoach road; the name comes for the passengers' exclamations. Since the casinos were opened in Central City the road has been improved. It's still dirt/gravel, but no 4 wheel drive is needed.

As a side note, there's a small cemetary right outside of Russell Gulch (turn to the right (coming from Central City) off the main road; it will be on the left just a little way up the road.) It's nestled right inside the trees and has a beautiful setting. However, when you start reading the tombstones you get an appreciation for how brutal life was in the mining days. There's one family plot that will rip your heart out - a line of children spaced roughly a year apart in birth, all of whom died before adolescence.

[ProfHall]

DCM, I just looked at the site with the legends/directions explained for the maps posted above...what a great, great link! I have this "in my head" but it is certainly nice to have it in print...which I just did to add to my RMNP notebook (if you don't have one, START ONE!)

Now, I'm starting to think..."we get the cabin in Grand Lake on Saturday, so we should come to DIA on Friday. Hmmm, if we take the EARLY flight, we can be on the road by lunch time. There's not a good "spend Friday night" place on the west side other than GL, and we like Boulder, so maybe a long drive like DCM has mapped out can get us up to Nederland and over to Boulder by dinner time..." Then Saturday we buy groceries in Boulder (bigger Safeway, mayber lower prices?) and head up to EP, over TRR (with necessary Forest Canyon overlook family portrait for '05 Christmas cards!), and on to GL and the cabin." I think that could work...any comments on "Must see" things along the "Green Road" from DIA to Nederland? Should we go further on 70 and do the "oh my God" part to Central City? I've never done this part of CO before, but do recall the amazing drive south from 70 across Independence Pass to Aspen. Whew!

So, what other summer planners have already started? :)

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[DeeCeeM]

Were it me, I'd take I-70 to Golden, drive through Clear Creek Canyon on Highway 6, then continue to Central City via Highway 119. When you get ready to leave, keep on going past the big parking lot on top of the hill (easy to find) and you're on the "Oh My God" Road. Once you get to Idaho Springs, it's a very short drive back to the exit for Highway 119 up to Nederland, where you turn off to go through Boulder Canyon right into Boulder. You can definitely see all this in one afternoon - I did this exact route the day we flew in a couple of trips ago with no trouble.