Rocky Mountains / Colorado

Hi

A friend and I are planning a road trip from Dallas to Denver and the Rockies at the end of this week. While cities are always pretty easy to navigate and figure out just from the locals and hotel staff, the wilderness presents a different problem.

We're looking for an affordable place to stay near or in Rocky Mountain National Park. Everything online seems mega commercial/touristy or geared towards honeymooners and those sorts of things.

Does anyone have any advice on somewhere to stay where you can truly lose the civilization but still not be too far from it?

Thanks

I stayed at the Estes Park YMCA in August 2002, which is either in or near the Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. I stayed in a basic log cabin for like $80 or $90 a night. It was comfortable, roomy for 2 people, and I really liked the YMCA. You get to use their facilities... I remember taking an aquatic aerobics class with a group of senior citizens... it was fun. They also had horseback riding guides, I went on a 3 hour tour through the park. There was a ton of wildlife that I saw, including elk and deer. There were also a lot of hiking options. I'd highly recommend the facility: http://www.ymcarockies.org/home/our-locations/EPC

I would second the YMCA - we visited in December 2003 and it looked good (lthough we had other accomm arranged through some friends). Estes Park is a nice tourist town, with lots of wildlife, but it is certainly not wilderness, and Boulder is down the road, so it's not even too far from civilisation. Estes Park has a <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.pruteam.com/site.php?webcam=divide.jpg&title=View%20of%20Divide%20from%20our%20Office">webcam</a> as well.

Have you looked for anything around Granby, CO on the western side of the park actually up in the mountains? Trail Ridge road will be closed for another two months. There will be deep snow in the park at higher elevations. You won't get very far into the park on foot or in a vehicle. Been there done that.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll

I stayed at the Mountain Sage Inn, on the edge of Estes Park. The rooms are very cheap and the location is great. You are a very short walk from downtown Estes Park, and a very easy drive to the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Off-season rates start at $35.

When I was there, elk were walking around the parking lot and bugling during the night.

It is a nice, basic place to stay, you are close to everything, and you can get to the park in literally 2 minutes from the parking lot.

Have fun.

Mountain Sage Inn

There are loads of places to stay. You see the ads for honeymooners only because they do the most advertising, not because they are the only ones there. You'll do fine, just keep looking or just go there and pick one of the many motels.