Colorado Trip in 6 Days

As I started planning my trip, I quickly compiled a long list of fun things to do in Colorado. The list was so long and compelling that it became quite a daunting challenge to shrink it to a 1-week itinerary, especially because I wanted to include favorite Colorado activities like hiking, mountain climbing, mountain biking, high elevation driving, and Segway tour – all in my minimalist backpack. I also wanted to include a unique and eco-friendly accommodation. After much debate and pruning, I created my Colorado itinerary but even during the trip, I improvised every day. Ultimately, I had the time of my life doing the most fun things in Colorado. I hope you’ll find this final itinerary inspiring and helpful in your planning.

Map of 5-Day Colorado Itinerary

Following is a fully interactive map of my Colorado itinerary. Click on the top left icon to see details or choose the map layer for each day.

Day 1: Travel and Overnight in Denver

I took an evening flight from SFO to Denver, starting my first solo trip – it was just me and my minimalist backpack for the next few days, off to our first solo adventure. I took on the minimalist challenge with Frontier airline flight without carry-on allowance. As days approached, I stressed over what to pack for Colorado trip. After much thought, I was able to take everything I needed for the cold, rain, heat, hike and photography. Amazingly, I missed nothing during the trip! I’ve included my minimalist packing list at the end of this post.

Around midnight I picked the rental car at the Denver airport and slept at a hotel near the airport which was basic but comfortable and served breakfast. After a comfortable night, I was all set to hit the trails.

Day 2: Denver, Boulder, Drake and Estes Park

Red Rock Amphitheater in Denver

9:30 – 11:30am

My first stop of the trip was at the enormous outdoor Red Rock Amphitheater, on the west end of Denver city. Inspired by Theater of Dionysus in Athens, Greece and built on principals of modern architecture, the Amphitheater is a masterpiece. It has hosted some of the most famous performers since it was built in 1941.

The design philosophy that chief architect, Burnham Hoyt embraced was – minimize architecture and maximize use of natural assets. Hence, the Red Rock Amphitheater feels like it completely belongs within the terrain of the red rocks sticking out from the earth.

At the altitude of 6,400 feet above sea level, the Red Rock Park is a transition between the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains of America. From the parking lot, I walked up to the Geological Markers point to see the transition and view great vistas that expose the dramatic geological actions.

A eternity before my arrival this place still existed, but back then, entirely different life forms roamed the Red Rock Park. With 2 miles of earth’s crust exposed in slanting layers, the region is a dream come true for geologists, paleontologists, archeologists etc. Scientists have found fossils of the tiniest and earliest life forms (300 million years old); the largest dinosaurs (130 million years old); and more recent mammoths (few thousand years old).

On the other side of the parking lot, I took a short hike up the rocks for a view of the Red Rock Amphitheater from up above. The wildflowers all along the quite path were really pretty that crisp and cool morning.

The Trading post is a must visit for the lovely store, museum and the hike behind the visitor center. I skipped the hike because the sun was starting to get strong and there is little tree cover on the trail up the rocks.

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Chautauqua Park in Boulder

2pm – 4pm

The Chautauqua Park in Boulder has a long history as one of the only remaining Chautauqua of a century ago when the concept was part of the huge Chautauqua movement. Theodore Roosevelt once said that Chautauqua is “the most American thing in America”. It provided a place for adults to gather and learn all kinds of skills across much of rural America. Today Boulder’s Chautauqua Park has many hiking paths, cabins, dining, community hall, and an Amphitheater. Maybe I’ll stay there sometime.

Along the Chautauqua Park trails, I loved the peaceful meadows. I had them all to myself with almost no human in sight for long times.

During my hike up the Chautauqua park trails, it dawned on me why the city is called Boulder. The hike starts as a gently rolling hill and quickly rises in elevation up to the flatirons. The base of the flatiron is covered with an endless sea of boulders, large and small. It’s evident that the heat, cold, running streams and winds, cause the rocks to break apart and roll down the mountains.

I took about 2 hours to hike all the way up to the three flatiron bases. After reaching the bases, I was tempted to climb the rocks but it would have been awkward in my dress. So, I backtracked my path to the Chautauqua Park visitor center. I could have spent more time to cover many more trails.

Later, on my return trip from Rocky Mountain National Park, I stopped in Boulder town at my very first Raw Vegan place, called Thrive Raw and got their scrumptious coconut wrap. They strive to feed what the owner will feed his new child – local, fresh, organic, healthy, delicious food, made from scratch as much as possible. The wrap is made from coconut and delicious cream is made in-house from cashews. It was the perfect light dinner for my trip.

Mountain Goats of Drake

6pm – 7pm

My friend Lauri from the SFO to Denver flight, highly recommended I visit Drake. It not too far east from Estes Park but it is one of her top things to do in Colorado. For 2 reasons – the scenic drive and the mountain goats that live on this steep cliffs. They typically come up on the rocks in the evening as they head back home.

Take a closer look at the picture above. I spotted two goats straight ahead, so I walked up to with my camera, They were curious too so they hung out as they looked down at me from their vantage point up above.

The drive alone is amazingly scenic. It’s beautiful and well-traveled. I think the wildlife would benefit from animal crossings like in Banff. I’m so glad I took the detour on my way from Boulder to Rocky Mountain National Park even though it was not part of my original Colorado itinerary or list of things to do in Colorado.

Estes Park

7:15pm onwards

I arrived at the cute tourist town of Estes Park around 7:15 pm, well in time for a nice sunset and dinner. I learned that Estes Park offers many restaurants, shops, activities and hotels near Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s popular a home base for Colorado itineraries that include RMNP.

The friendly staff at Hotel Estes gave me ideas for fun things to do in Estes Park while avoiding the tourist crowds.

• E Elkhorn Ave is lined with shopping, cafes, and restaurants. It seems to be the hub of Estes Park.
• On the other side of the stores, is a walking path along the river. Many restaurants have patio seating along the gushing stream. It makes for a lovely walk. By the time I reached there, all the stores and restaurants were closed. I had the riverfront to myself.
• On busy days, use the parking lot on E Riverside Drive and Rockwell St, and walk along the more quiet riverside.
• He suggested a lovely walk along a meandering stream behind the police station. So, I decided to head up there for a sunset view of the town.

Estes Park Hidden Trail

8pm – 8:45pm

As my hotel staff recommended, I went up to the Estes Park Police station, parked at the far end of their lot, and walked over to the well-marked trail. The staff had recommended it for a quiet hike for sunset views. I was absolutely the only one on the trail, the entire time. Isn’t this the kind of quiet corners of town one is supposed to avoid when traveling solo? I figured, the town must be safe but best to leave before sunset while it was still a little bright. In the meantime, I made the most of my evening walk.

At the top of the trail, I found ruins of a house. It was built in 1907 for Albert Birch, the editor for Denver Daily. The small bungalow was designed with a massive fireplace, a wraparound porch, and sweeping views of the Rockies from the huge picture frame windows. On Dec 21st 1907, a malfunction in the fireplace led to a fire that burnt down the house before help could arrive. Thus the house’s short life ended before it really started.

Today, it’s a lovely hike and I got lucky to see rabbits, flowers and beautiful birds all by myself.

Day 3: Rocky Mountain National Park

6am – 7pm

No Colorado itinerary is complete without Rocky Mountain National Park. I had heard so much about it. But I was concerned because Trail Ridge Road, the highlight for RMNP was still closed until a day ago.

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Read all about Rocky Mountain National Park and great itineraries.

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Map of Rocky Mountain National Park

Following is a map of RMNP as a general guide. Download the full pdf from the national park site.

I started the day with sunrise at Sprague Lake and Bear Lake. After a quick stop at Moraine Park, I headed up the Trail Ridge Road that goes across the entire Rocky Mountain National Park. I drove all the way up to Alpine Visitor Center at the top – by altitude and the north-most point on the road. Then, along the river to Grand Lakes and Adams Falls. Now that I think about it, the trail ridge road is very high traffic and people don’t drive quite fast. Could the local wildlife benefit from animal crossings?

Following are a few of my favorite pictures from my first day in RMNP. I’ll write a more detailed post and link it here later.

Lower Lakes Area of RMNP

I was told that I should avoid Sprague Lake and Bear Lake areas because they are very crowded but I found them to be very quiet and peaceful in the morning. Especially at Sprague Lake I barely saw anyone at all.

Trail Ridge Road

Rainbow Curve is a popular sunrise and sunset spot. I caught the evening sun’s reflection on the meandering river and the parks beyond.

I stopped at Rock Cut twice. There was so much drama in the afternoon sky, ready to burst with rain and thunder.

The bighorn sheep were heading home but I spotted them just in time.

The Alpine visitor center is at the top of the Trail Ridge Road. It stands at 11,796ft above sea level, so people tend to slow down to avoid sickness from low oxygen levels.

The weather changes quickly on the high altitudes. But my minimalist backpack was able to fit all the layers I needed for the warm morning, windy evening, rain and thunderstorms.

Looking at all the snow makes me want to head back for skiing. Here is a list of the best ski resorts in Colorado.

If you’re a mountain person, you’ll love self-driving or touring the Canadian Rockies. This is our 7-day Itinerary visiting Jasper NP, Banff NP and the Columbia Icefields in August of 2019.

Grand Lake and Adams Falls

Grand Lake town is another tourist hub for Rocky Mountain National Park. But, compared to Estes Park its very small. Pretty much the entire town is along a short main street lined with restaurants and shopping.

After a quick stop in Grand Lake for water, I headed up to Adams Falls for some amazing views of the waterfalls and the perfectly-still river that fills the falls.

Dinner in Estes Park

I returned to Estes Park in time for a warm dinner at a Thai restaurant. Oddly, the menu had Indian, Nepalese, Thai, Tibetan and more cuisines all in one. Later I learned that many restaurants in Estes Park are run by families from Nepal. They make great food from most southeast Asian cuisines. It makes complete sense for Nepalese from the Himalayas to gravitate to The Rockies.

The friendly owner of the Everest Thai Kitchen restaurant said that they started as a Thai restaurant because more tourists look for Thai food. Over the last decade, as her guests started enjoying other cuisines, she kept adding them to the menu.

Day 4: RMNP Wild Basin and Waterfalls

Following morning, I drove around Estes Park and loved the views, the homes, ranches, and more. It’s probably a great place to buy a vacation home.

Wild Basin Ouzel Waterfall Hike

9:30am – 3:30pm

I thought I’d stop by at Wild Basin for a short hike and continue on over to Mt Evans peak. But I loved the hike and thoroughly enjoyed making friends along the way. By the time I returned to the car, it was 3:30 pm and time to get to Colorado Springs.

During the hike, I visited Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascade, and Ouzel Falls. It was a moderate hike up to the top of the waterfalls. I skipped Ouzel Lake but I’ve heard its worth visiting if you have the time and energy.

Lyons

Lyons is a tiny town on the way from RMNP to Colorado Springs, so I thought I’d stop to check it out. I was the only visitor at the visitor center so I decided to ask for food recommendations and chat with the only person inside. It seemed like she rarely gets anyone into the Lyons visitor center. She recommended visiting the tiny downtown to enjoy its quaint and artsy shopping. So I took a quick drive through before heading out of town.

Settling in at Colorado Springs

I had been looking forward to Colorado Springs for its warm weather and my favorite things to go in Colorado. I would say it’s absolutely essential for any Colorado itinerary. I had some of the most memorable times in the next couple of days.

Disclaimer: My visit to Colorado Springs was organized by Colorado Springs Tourism Board with sponsorship from SCP, Front Range Climbing, and Cheyenne Cañon Segways. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.

SCP, home away from home

I came to SCP, attracted by the eco-friendly sustainable concept that its best known for. But, after talking with Jorden from the first desk, I learned so much more. She is part of the team that strives to touch the soul of each guest; serve and enrich the local community while keeping the planet‘s health in the forefront. In practice they embody so much more – fair pricing, service-first, outside-the-box-thinking, minimalism, conservation, ownership, promotion of local art, food and so much more. Read the full blog about our conversations and my experience at SCP.

She hopes to change each visitor’s mind about what’s possible.

Day 5: Red Rock Climbing, Colorado Springs & Pikes Peak drive

I woke up very excited for an amazing outdoor rock climbing experience. I thought I’d skip Pikes Peak because it would be closed due to the late winter snowfall. But I lucked out once again and had the most amazing day.

Garden of the Gods

8:30 am

Garden of the Gods is the #1 most visit park in the country according to TripAdvisor, ahead of NYC’s Central Park and Chicago’s Millennium Park. It’s hard to get the exact number because it is free and is committed to staying free for all. According to estimates, it gets 6 million visitors a year. Despite a constant stream of cars, it didn’t feel crowded at all. No wonder, it’s absolutely amazing and part of every Colorado itinerary. It’s popular for hikes, walks, Segway rides, electric bike tours, and my favorite – mountain climbing. Learn more about it here.

I arrived early to spend some time in the beautiful visitor center before heading out to the park.

Red Rock Climbing Colorado Springs

9am-1pm

I had been bursting with anticipation for my first real mountain climbing experience. I dare not tell mom because she would panic and talk me out of it. But, mom’s instincts kicked in. She called me the night before to say I should watch my hikes and not climb any rocks.

Needless to say, my red rock climbing experience in Colorado Springs with James of Front Range Climbing Company was completely safe. I met him in the parking lot and he gave me a ton of information about the gear, history of the park, mountain climbing, innovations in mountain climbing and so much more. I’ll cover it in more detail in a separate blog.

James started me with an easy 5-4 difficulty climb up to the 3rd tallest peak in Garden of the Gods. The peak is about 300 feet from the walkway, which is at 6,319 feet from sea level. We hiked up to 175 feet before starting the climb. James first went up to secure the rope to the top-most point and then we climbed 125 feet of near vertical ascent. We arrived at the most spectacular views of Garden of the Gods.

As I got a hang of red rock climbing, we walked around the park and found more climbing spots that were the right level of challenge and not busy. I got to do 5 amazing rock climbs in 4 hours, with an increasing level of complexity.

After the visit, I can see why Garden of the Gods is the most visited park in US and why it’s part of every Colorado itinerary. Personally, I can’t wait to do more mountain climbing again. This is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Colorado.

Pikes Peak Highway

3pm – 6pm

Pikes Peak is the most prominent peak in the entire region. The Pikes highway starts in the town of Cascade at mile #1 toll entrance, just after the Santa Clause theme park. The top of Pikes Peak is at mile #19. But because they are building a new visitor center at #19, the entire parking lot is a construction site. Visitors park at mile #13 or #16 and take a shuttle to the top. That was perfect because I sat on the front passenger seat of the shuttle and thoroughly enjoyed the views along the drive.

The Pikes Peak scenic highway is famous for the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Car Race. But many tourists can’t drive on it just because of the altitude and no railings. For those that do go up will agree that it is one of the top places to visit in Colorado.

While the new visitor center and cob railway are under construction, there are mind-blowing views all around the summit of Pikes Peak.

At the peak it got quite cold, I’m glad my minimalist backpack allowed for my warm clothes and water which are essential in high altitude.

Manitou Springs

6:30pm – 7:30pm

Manitou Springs is one of the top places to visit in Colorado Springs area because of its springs, hotels, restaurants, and activities. Many recommended that I stay in Manitou Springs. I couldn’t spend much time there but I did stop by for dinner after a day of mountain climbing and enjoying Pikes Peak. I got some absolutely delicious Isreali food at Jerusalem Cafe’s outdoor sitting area and enjoyed it with other tourists.

Music and Leisure at SCP

After an amazing day of rock climbing and enjoying Pikes Peak, it felt so good to be back and relax at SCP. I got my kombucha drink and enjoyed it with live music.

Day 6: Paint Mines Interpretive Park & Segway Tour of Colorado Springs

I had a few hours before my Segway ride in Cheyenne Cañon, so used the opportunity to explore Paint Mines Interpretive Park.

It was my last day in Colorado Springs, and the weather suddenly changed. The temperature dropped by 20 degrees and the winds picked up. From 80° F the previous day, it was down to low 40s. It’s unlikely that Pikes Peak would be open in that weather. I’m glad I went up to Pikes Peak earlier and also that I was prepared for the cold.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

9:30am – 10:30am

Nature never ceases to amaze. The colorful hoodoo and other geological structures derived from sandstone cover a plains region about 45-55 min drive north-east of Colorado Springs area near Calhan. The clay was deposited in this area about 55 million years ago and carved by forces of erosion ever since.

Native Americans used the colorful clay for pottery and body decorations even 9,000 years ago. As their remains suggest, the native American tribes used this as favorite hunting grounds because the gullies and passages served as good hideouts and trappings.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, settlers used the clay for bricks and the lands for grazing and agriculture. Today it has many lovely hiking trails where visitors walk in this natural wonderland. For preservation sake, visitors are asked to not climb any structures, camp, bring dogs or other domestic animals.

The colors in Paint Mine Interpretive Park cover a range of snow white, soft yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, chocolate, rust and golden. Depending on the lighting conditions the weird geological structures of Paint Mine Interpretive Park look mellow or vibrantly colorful.

The entire plains were filled with bright and gorgeous wildflowers, many of them I had never seen before. While Paint Mines Interpretive Center is a top place to visit in Colorado for its painted rocks, wildflowers are the cherry-on-top.

When I arrived at the Paint Mine Interpretive Park I was the only one there, probably because of the cold wintery winds. But, soon I met a local resident who was out for her morning walk. She was great company and even took my pictures. Because I was in a rush to get back for Colorado Springs for my Segway ride, I tagged along with her and she showed me the quickest way around to the highlights. She mentioned that the land all around has the same characteristic and even her property has these formations.

Segway Tour, Colorado Springs

noon – 2:30pm

The Wild West has its own allure. But, until I heard the stories of Cheyenne Cañon, I had no idea how interesting our wild west really was and still is today.

I took a Segway tour in Colorado Springs with Happy of Cheyenne Cañon Segway. He had the most fascinating stories of the people and places of Colorado Springs. He’s lived in Colorado Springs for a long time and seemed to know everyone around. It felt like being out and about with a friend showing his hometown. We were able to cover a wide area in the hilly town on a comfortable Segway.

Here is an introductory video of my Segway tour in Colorado Springs, one of my top things to do in Colorado Springs.

We started the Segway tour at Sacred Grounds Cafe. After a bit of practice, we made our first stop at Cheyenne Cañon Inn. At Starr Kempf’s house, Happy talked about the larger-than-life outdoor kinetic art sculptures. I had seen the structures in many Colorado itineraries. Along South Cheyenne Cañon Creek, we went off-road for some nature trails. Then we stopped at Starsmore Discovery Center for a visit and enjoy the story of the center.

In the second part of our Segway tour of Colorado Springs, we stopped at the Penrose House followed by a tour of Penrose Heritage Museum. The Broadmoor Resort is a crucial part of the history of Cheyenne Cañon and is famous worldwide. Around the Broadmoor we cruised around historic mansions, schools, and clubs, talking about the stories of many structures.

I leaned all about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Car Race and saw many cars that have raced up the scary highway.

I got so lucky to see a cute mommy and baby deer couple hanging out by the church.

More Fun Things to do in Colorado

As you plan a trip to Colorado, consider including some of the top things to do Colorado. Following are my lists for a quick reference –

Top Things to do in Denver, Colorado

• Red Rocks Amphitheater and Show site and map
• Denver free walking tour
• Roxborough park 45min south of Denver
• Carpenter peak hike
• Larimer Square for Restaurants and Historic block
• Union Station – Get there early for breakfast at Snooze 
• Music museum
• River North Art District (RiNo) Murals 
• Mount Elbert
• Molly Brown House
• Food
  • Milk market
  • Snooze in Union station
  • Denver biscuit company

Top Things to do in Boulder, Colorado

• Hike in Chautauqua park trails
• Hike Sky Pond loch vale trail
• Visit Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
• Drive through Drake
• Food
  • Thrive Raw Vegan
  • Tea House

Top Places to Visit in Colorado Springs

• Garden of the Gods official site
• Caves of the winds
• Pike peaks highway – on wiki
• Cheyenne Cañon
• Starr Kempf’s Kinetic Sculptures
• Broadmoor area
• Red Rock Canyon Open Space
• US Olympics Training Center 
• Paint Mines Interpretive Park official site
• Manitou Springs
• Cheyenne Mountain Nuclear Bunker
• Tuberculosis Huts

Top Things to do in Mt Evan’s Area of Colorado

• Drive the Mt Evans Scenic Biway
• View wildlife on Mt Evan Summit drive
• Hike around Chicago lakes basin
• Visit Vail, Colorado
• Check out the famous hanging lakes in Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs

More Fun Places to Visit in Colorado

I found more places to visit in Colorado. While these were too far for my first trip to Colorado, I’ll try to visit them in a future trip –

• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• A train ride in Antonito, Colorado
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Canyons of the Ancient
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Gilman ghost town
• Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs
• Vindicator Valley Trail
• Royal Gorge Bridge
• Rye, Colorado

Minimalist Packing List for Colorado Hiking Trip

We are a family of minimalists but I took it to the next level on this trip. I flew to Colorado on Frontier Airline which gave me the opportunity to see if I can go on a week-long trip to Colorado in one small backpack – that doesn’t count towards a carry-on. I also didn’t want to repeat outfits or look shabby. It was quite a challenge as I planned the trip to Colorado in my minimalist backpack. But I must say, I did pretty well.

So, here goes my minimalist packing list as part of my Colorado trip planner –

• Electronics took up much of the space
  • Nikon D850, 2 battery packs, and a gorilla pod
  • iPhone and its tripod attachment
  • MacBook Air
  • Chargers for the Nikon, laptop, iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Headphones
• 3 dresses
• 3 leggings/tights
• 2 tops with the jeans or tights
• 1 layer of thermal long sleeve shirt
• Toiletries – only essentials in travel sizes
• Undergarments and socks – 7 sets
• 1 water bottle
• A drawstring ultra-minimalist backpack for hikes
• I wore some of the bulkiest items – hiking boots, jeans, a long shirt, sweatshirt, rain jacket

Additional notes for my minimalist packing

• I used my minimalist backpack. Its a fjallraven kanken that I use everywhere I travel. It is lightweight, waterproof, with all the right pockets, durable and super comfortable.
• My hiking essentials like hiking shoes, sweatshirt, rain jacket, thermals, hiking shirt, and tights were from REI or Patagonia. They were lightweight and made a world of difference in comfort.
• I didn’t carry any snacks from home but I bought them in Denver on the first morning.

Pin for Later

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Related Articles

• Rocky Mountain National Park – every viewpoint and ultimate itineraries
• Outdoor Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs
• Drive or hike Pikes Peak scenic highway
• A place to stay in Colorado Springs – SCP Hotel
• 7-day itinerary of the Canadian Rockies
• Activities on world-famous Icefields Parkway
• Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs gallery
• Namib-Naukluft National Park and Namibia gallery
• Henry-Coe State Park and gallery
• Wildlife Crossings in Canadian Rockies in Banff NP