9 Days in Colorado: Outdoor Marvels
National parks, outdoor thrills, and Colorado adventures await on this 9-day road trip from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park, Palisade wine country, and Great Sand Dunes.
The USA
9 days / 8 nights
$2,759 /person
$2,759 /person
Your trip at a glance
Top Activities
Spotting elk, bighorn sheep, and moose on a naturalist-led Rocky Mountain National Park tour
Biking through Palisade wine country on a self-guided vineyard crawl
Watching the sunset and stargazing in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Sipping craft beers and strolling amid street art in Denver and Boulder
Hiking the treasured trails of Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods
Onward to Rocky Mountain National Park
Overview
Your road trip really begins today, as you’ll check out of your Denver hotel this morning and head to your next destination: the outdoor wonderland of Rocky Mountain National Park. Tie up any loose ends in Denver this morning, whether you’re hoping to check out any last cafes or new neighborhoods, before driving northwest. You’ll stop in the national park for the day’s duration, participating in a hike or hikes of your choosing. Today’s park visit is entirely self-guided, so you can opt for a flat stroll or a more challenging ascent, gaining view after view from Rocky Mountain National Park. When you’re done hiking, searching for wildlife, and photographing Colorado’s unparalleled nature, you’ll check in to your hotel in Estes Park. The rest of the night is then yours to enjoy at leisure, whether you want to continue experiencing the area's nature or wind down with a refreshing craft brew.
Highlights
Rocky Mountain National Park
One of the crown jewels of the American national park system, northern Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is a place of staggering beauty. Stretching for 15 square miles — roughly 265,807 acres — the park covers a lot of ground, filling that space with everything from pastoral meadows to alpine lakes, craggy mountains, and various forms of both flora and fauna. As you visit this park paradise today, you’ll have your pick of some 350 miles of trails, which range from popular routes to off-the-beaten-path gems. Just note that timed entry may be required for the park, so you’ll want to plan ahead or talk with an on-the-ground expert before your trip.
Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Today promises a classic Colorado experience, as you’ll hike your choice of trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re interested in an easy, quick, and scenic outing, check out the park’s abundance of gentle pathways, which wind through wildflower-filled meadows and past alpine lakes. Alternatively, the park promises an abundance of longer, more demanding routes that climb through stretches of old-growth forest. These trails open into dramatic, glacially carved terrain, exposing the surrounding peaks in all their glory. Whichever trail or trails you choose, the air will prove fresh, the wildlife abundant, and the scenery absolutely breathtaking.
Accommodations
Pine Haven Resort (or similar)
Spend a night — or longer — amid the mountains at Pine Haven Resort, a Rocky Mountains oasis that maximizes your time in Colorado's great outdoors. Anchored by 13 distinct cabins, this nature-focused property embraces its raw and rugged surroundings, keeping the mountain environment as a throughline across the resort's decor, amenities, and communal spaces. The property’s grounds span roughly 14 acres and offer fantastic views of Rocky Mountain National Park and sections of the meandering Fall River.
Location:
1580 Fall River Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone:
+19705863184
Transportation
The drive to your hotel takes a little less than two hours, though you’ll stop at Rocky Mountain National Park en route.
Denver
Estes Park, Pine Haven Resort (or similar)
How it works
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Book your trip
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Take-off
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What's included
Included in the final price
- Roadbook with local tips and expert recommendations
- 24/7 on-the-ground support
- On-trip concierge service
- Personalized trip crafting
- Entry and exit information and assistance
- Accommodations for eight nights
- Everything cited as included in the itinerary
- Rental car for the days mentioned in the itinerary
Not included in the final price
- Arrival and departure flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not mentioned or listed as optional in the itinerary