10-Day Colorado Rockies Itinerary

Arrive at Denver International Airport

Take the A Line train to Union Station, about 37 minutes, or pick up a rental car now if you are heading to the mountains tomorrow.

Union Station and LoDo lunch

Grab lunch inside the restored Union Station, then walk through LoDo and Larimer Square, Denver's oldest block.

RiNo murals, food halls and breweries

Explore the River North Art District's street murals and food halls, and sample green chile and a local craft beer.

Sunset or concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Drive about 30 minutes west to Red Rocks for sunset or a show between the giant sandstone slabs. Book concert tickets well in advance.

Drive to Estes Park via Boulder

Leave early and stop at Boulder's Chautauqua Park for Flatirons views, then continue about 1 hour to Estes Park.

Enter Rocky Mountain National Park and drive Trail Ridge Road

Enter at your timed-entry slot and climb Trail Ridge Road via Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve. Drive early to beat afternoon storms.

Alpine Visitor Center and Tundra Communities Trail

Walk the Tundra Communities Trail near 12,000 feet, then visit the Alpine Visitor Center and look for elk on the drive back down.

Evening in Estes Park

Check in to Estes Park, walk the downtown Riverwalk and see elk in the meadows of Moraine Park or right in town in the fall.

Bear Lake to Dream and Emerald lakes

Use a Bear Lake Road permit or the park shuttle to hike from Bear Lake to Nymph, Dream and Emerald lakes, about 3.6 miles round trip.

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

Drive south on the Peak to Peak Highway (CO-7, 72 and 119) past Longs Peak and Nederland to I-70, about 2 hours.

Idaho Springs and Georgetown

Lunch in Idaho Springs, then visit nearby Georgetown's Victorian main street, and ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad in season.

Back to Denver for a final dinner

Drive about 45-60 minutes back to Denver for dinner in LoHi or RiNo, or stay in Georgetown if you are continuing west.

Loveland Pass scenic drive

Take I-70 west and detour over Loveland Pass (US-6, about 11,990 feet) on the Continental Divide, open year-round weather permitting.

Breckenridge Main Street

Wander Breckenridge's Victorian-era Main Street, with its galleries, cafes and colorful shops.

Gondola ride and summer activities

Ride the free BreckConnect Gondola up to Peak 8 for summer activities, hikes or skiing in winter.

Dinner and a brewpub in Breckenridge

Enjoy dinner and a local craft beer in town. Breckenridge sits at about 9,600 feet, so go easy and drink water.

Drive over Vail Pass

Drive about 45 minutes from Breckenridge over Vail Pass on I-70 to Vail.

Vail Village and the gondola

Walk Vail's car-free, Bavarian-style village and ride the gondola for mountain views and summer hiking.

Glenwood Canyon scenic drive

Continue about 1 hour west on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, one of the most dramatic stretches of interstate in the US.

Evening soak in Glenwood Springs

Soak in the historic Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, open since the 1880s, or another of the town's mineral hot springs.

Glenwood Springs morning

Hike Doc Holliday's grave trail or ride the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park gondola for views over the valley.

Drive to Aspen

Drive about 1 hour along the Roaring Fork Valley on CO-82 to Aspen.

Aspen town and the Silver Queen Gondola

Stroll Aspen's historic center and ride the Silver Queen Gondola up Aspen Mountain for mountain views.

Dinner in Aspen

Enjoy dinner in Aspen and confirm tomorrow's Maroon Bells shuttle or parking reservation.

Sunrise at Maroon Lake

Take your reserved early shuttle or drive in with a parking reservation for sunrise reflections at Maroon Lake.

Hike to Crater Lake

Hike about 3.6 miles round trip from Maroon Lake to Crater Lake, right beneath the peaks.

Afternoon in Aspen

Return to Aspen to relax, shop or visit the Aspen Art Museum's free galleries and rooftop.

Farewell dinner in the mountains

Enjoy a final mountain dinner in Aspen or nearby Snowmass Village.

Independence Pass

Drive CO-82 over 12,095-foot Independence Pass, typically open late May to early November. Large vehicles are restricted.

Twin Lakes and Leadville area

Stop at Twin Lakes beneath Colorado's highest peaks, or detour to Leadville, one of the highest towns in the US.

Drive to Colorado Springs via Buena Vista

Continue through Buena Vista and over the high plains on US-24 to Colorado Springs, about 3.5-4 hours total from Aspen.

Dinner in Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs

Settle into Colorado Springs or the quirky mountain town of Manitou Springs for dinner.

Garden of the Gods morning walk

Walk the paved Perkins Central Garden Trail among the red sandstone fins, with Pikes Peak in the background.

Manitou Springs

Browse Manitou Springs' historic downtown and taste the naturally carbonated mineral springs at its public fountains.

Pikes Peak by cog railway or highway

Ride the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway or drive the Pikes Peak Highway to the 14,115-foot summit. Book ahead in summer.

Dinner in Colorado Springs

Return to Colorado Springs for dinner and an easy evening.

Sunrise at Garden of the Gods

Return to Garden of the Gods early for sunrise light on the rocks if you have time.

Drive to Denver

Drive about 1.5 hours north on I-25 to Denver, allowing extra time for traffic.

Last lunch in Denver

Enjoy a final green chile burrito or brunch in Denver before heading to the airport.

Fly home from Denver International Airport

Return your rental car and fly home. Allow extra time, as the airport is about 25 miles from downtown.