Front Range Bucket List (Evans, Ouray: bars, train, things to do)

[treedonkey]

I may be the only one tiring of Vehicular Adjustments being the hottest thread around here lately (sorry, no offense to its participants), but I thought I should try starting something new that we can ALL chime in on.

If you were coming to the Front Range (not just CS) and you only had ONE DAY and ONE SIGHT to see, what would it be? I'm not talking about seeing Pikes Peak from the car window on the freeway, but, if you had one day to get out of the car and explore, where would it be?

If we get enough sincere responses, maybe we can compose a 'bucket list' for visitors. Worth a try, right?

[Charles]

I would like to drive up Pikes Peak or Mount Evans. I did the former, not Evans but unfortunately it was a cloudy/foggy day. I don't think there are too many places where a person can drive up to the top of a 14000 foot mountain. Got to be one of the most unique things to do on the Front Range.

[ryanek9freak]

maybe for colorado. You can do that in lots of other states too.

[treedonkey]

Okay, I don't want to derail things - since we need more than one idea for our list.

But what other states will let you drive up to 14k? I'd actually like to know.

The highest I ever drove was 13779 at Mauna Kea observsatory in Hawaii. The pass in Rocky Mtn Park is only around 10k. Whitney Portal road (In CA) stops at 8600. Not many other states in the US even have 14ers, much less roads up to the top. Alaska might offer the opportunity to drive higher, but I'm just guessing there. I think Chuck is right, driving to 14k just might be unique to the front range in the whole US.

Perhaps this is the topic for another thread?

[ryanek9freak]

I think you can go up mt Ranier in washington state. I may be mistaken though.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

I think you can go up mt Ranier in washington state. I may be mistaken though.

From Mt. Ranier National Park site

At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park.

[ryanek9freak]

wow it's only that high? For some reason I thought it was like a 15,000 ft mountain or something.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by treedonkey

I may be the only one tiring of Vehicular Adjustments being the hottest thread around here lately (sorry, no offense to its participants), but I thought I should try starting something new that we can ALL chime in on.

If you were coming to the Front Range (not just CS) and you only had ONE DAY and ONE SIGHT to see, what would it be? I'm not talking about seeing Pikes Peak from the car window on the freeway, but, if you had one day to get out of the car and explore, where would it be?

If we get enough sincere responses, maybe we can compose a 'bucket list' for visitors. Worth a try, right?

I'd just hang out at one of the bars at the Broadmoor. But then I am not much of an outdoor person.

20yrsinBranson

[suzco]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

wow it's only that high? For some reason I thought it was like a 15,000 ft mountain or something.

Mt. Rainier is 14,410 feet.

There aren't roads going to the top, like there are for Mt. Evans (highest paved road in North America) and Pike's Peak. We're the only place with drive-up (or train up as well, for Pike's Peak) fourteeners. Trail Ridge Rd. in Rocky Mountain National Park at 12,183 feet is the highest continuous road in North America.

Colorado highlights.

[SheridanL]

I think this is a very interesting thread.
I would have to pick the awesome Ouray. Yankee Boy Basin and falls above the town. All of the hiking, biking, jeep trails are to me, the most beautiful.
There are so many things to do there and, the Million Dollar Highway is a nice drive too!