Is it possible to avoid touristy areas? (Telluride, Ouray: hotel, cheaper)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Amazonchix

We love it...varied opinions...which really is nice as it gives us different areas to look. We're more into looking into cabins that may be isolated away from every one else. We visit this one cabin regularly in Ozark, Arkansas and it sits on 80 acres of private land that backs up to a national forrest. We not so sure it's possible to find something like this in Colorado...although we are holding our breath!

We've even contemplated looking into outdoor outfitters that we can hire to guide us and the dogs on a hiking/camping trip.

Heck, we will even take suggestions (as one previous poster did) as to other states to hit that would be right up our described alley. Unfortunately...June is a very popular vacation month. Our vacation time just happened to fall this way for us at this point. We love hitting places off-season! We went to Moab, UT and Santa Fe, NM off-season and loved it!!!!

I'll let a little cat out of the bag--this if you want to stay in a rustic cabin in a relatively remote area. Head to one of the small resorts on the upper Conejos River between the turnoff from Colorado Highway 17 (west of Antonito) and Platoro Reservoir. That is about as quiet and remote as you will find, plus the South San Juan Wilderness is right out of the back door. You will be rubbing elbows with mostly Texans. They seem to know about that spot better than most native Coloradans. Warning: If you want resort glitz, this IS NOT THE PLACE TO GO--it ain't there.

While you're in the neighborhood, ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad--one of the best historically authentic railroad trips in the United States.

Websites:

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Business Listings: Conejos County Colorado Business & Vacation Guide

[COflower]

It may be a bit touristy but I love, love, love the Breckenridge area. Near Blue River (just south of Breck) has a lot of areas to hike without the touristy trap. You can take a quick drive just over Hoosier Pass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaand you have a wonderful place to hike and to take the dogs.

I'ts a good middle part of the state to see things. You can see so many things from that area....

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I recommend taking highway 40 over Berthoud Pass and going to the Steamboat Springs area. Visit the Strawberry Park hot springs and Fish Creek Falls. Go up to Steamboat Lake for some nice hiking and fishing. If you really want some great hiking away from it all, Mt. Zirkel Wilderness is perfect.

Another place with some great hiking is the Grand Lake area. You could go there by way of highway 40, then come back over Trail Ridge Road. Yes, there are tourists there, but it is still spectacular.

One thing you will find is that summer is high season at the ski resort areas, almost equal to winter. In fact, last summer I was told by condo management in Snowmass Village that summer IS the high season. One way to save money is to check out Vacation Rentals by Owner and stay in a house with a kitchen.

[Amazonchix]

We appreciate the feedback. Now all we need to do is some homework on the internet.

[yodi]

Check out Lake Vallecito in Bayfield Colorado. SW Colorado is beautiful and has it's fair share of tourists but overall is not so crowded. Bayfield is in between Pagosa Springs and Durango. Check out Durango, Telluride, Silverton, Ourary. Hike La Plata Canyon west of Durango. Hike part of the Colorado trail in Durango. Ask locals for their favorite trails. SW Colorado is my favorite part of Colorado, partially because it's isolated.

[SheridanL]

Just find a way along the I 70 corridor...then south to OURAY!!
Nuff said!! Go and, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kingrokon]

Somewhat long… Please consult a Colorado roadmap to see what I’m talking about…

"Highway X”... Highway Y"…

This probably refers to "The Million Dollar Highway" between Durango and Ouray, US 550. This consistently makes the "Top Ten" list for "Most Scenic Highways in North America".

This is an absolutely beautiful route with snow-capped mountains rising as much as 14,000 feet all around you. It is generally less crowded than the I-70 corridor, although it can still be pretty populated on weekends in mid-summer. There are still many areas that are undeveloped, although condos have sprung up around Durango Mountain Ski resort. Silverton used to be one of the last “semi”-authentic mining towns in Colorado, but is beginning to show signs of gentrification, like everywhere else. They make most of their money during the day from tourists who ride the trains. After the last train leaves in the afternoon, the town clears out. Lodging is typically low-end and limited in number. But if the Silverton Mountain Ski Area expands its operations from its current “Qualified Experts Only” mode, expect Silverton as it exists now, to be gone. There are also jeep tours that you can take to get even further up in the mountains, or if you have a SUITABLE four-wheel drive (hint: probably not something like a Subaru), you can go yourself. The spectacular trip from Silverton to Animas Forks can probably be done by many 2-wheel drive vehicles, using caution.

US 550 between Silverton and Ouray has many sharp turns, some without guard rails. This is some of the most beautiful scenery in America that you can see from a paved road. It is only 24 miles between the two towns, but expect the trip to take 45 minutes, or longer with photo stops. People who have an extreme fear of heights may be uncomfortable. Ouray is more upper-middle-middle class and oriented towards middle-class tourism, but is considerably more tolerable to most ordinary people than Telluride. There are a lot of mid-range motels. It is beautifully situated in a deep canyon.

The return loop is usually past Telluride. Turn off Us 550 at Ridgeway and take rt. 62, then rt. 145 past Telluride towards Cortez, possibly using rt. 184 to bypass Cortez, then finally returning to Durango on US 160. When combined into a loop with US 550, this route is known as the "San Juan Skyway".

This is another beautiful drive. The view from the top of the Dallas Divide, west of Ridgeway is wonderful. However, Telluride is outrageously expensive. Even 800-square-foot condos sell for over a million dollars. If you’re even UPPER middle class, you may feel out-of-place. All the lodging here, that I know of, is high-end. If you can, see “Bridal Veil Falls” on the other side of Telluride, to the east. You might be able to make it as far as the base of the falls, depending on your vehicle. However, I wouldn’t recommend trying to get to the top by vehicle, unless you’re a skilled 4-wheeler. If you’re able to, it’s probably better to hike to the top instead. South of Telluride, the drive past much-photographed Trout Lake and Lizard Head Pass is very scenic.

An alternative route is: go to Montrose, take US 50 towards Gunnison, then turn south before Gunnison. Take rt. 149 through the town of Lake City, eventually winding up in South Fork. From there you can either take 160 back over Wolf Creek Pass (extremely scenic in itself) and through Pagosa Springs back to Durango, or go off on another direction.

This is “the road less traveled’’ and not as quite touristy as many parts of the state. There are places where cows grazing in the field are more typical than Condos. The “Black Canyon of the Gunnison” is worthwhile. Lake City has a lot of little lodges catering mostly to Texans and tourists who stay for several days at a time to fish or relax. “Condo Syndrome” has not fully set in yet. It appears that there are still some people living here, who aren’t multi-millionaires. For a panoramic view of the mountains, be sure to stop at the “Windy Point” overlook on Rt 149, south of Lake City, and partway up the long hill toward Slumgullion Pass. If you have time, see the mining museum in Creed- its actually located underground in a tunnel, and depicts how the mines worked. Creede has seen a lot of “Trophy Cabins” being built over the last few years, but still doesn’t have much in the way of overnight lodging. South Fork has several low and mid-range motels.

If you have time, I would recommend a "zig-zag" route, doing all three routes. This would almost definitely involve at least one overnight stay, and probably two nights or more.

Late July through early August is “flower season”, and is beautiful, if you know where to go to see the flowers. It is also the most crowded time of year. Motel reservations are necessary in July, in the smaller towns. June may still have snow along the road in the higher elevations, and some of the back roads may still be closed. Late June would probably be better. It doesn’t start getting really crowded until the 4th of July.

[Bagz]

Simple, do a web search on cabins in Colorado. We are always able to find some out of the way cabin on private land, but the availability is constantly changing. Sometimes it's more like camping in a wood tent, but that can be nice. There are some cabins at Twin Lakes at the base of Mt Elbert.... some of the best hiking in the state. In June, Independence pass isn't usually open yet and you avoid the Aspen tourists. Also try Rainbow lake Resort outside Buena Vista.

[aapye]

My husband and I visited Kremmling Colorado a very small town in the mountains and loved it..it has an old european style hotel we stayed at ( if you like adventure)..the town didn't seem geared to tourist at all..

[MountainMama924]

Take the Million Dollar Hwy south from Grand Junction, and make SURE to stop in Ouray(hot springs!). This Hwy has more breath-taking views than I-70 and far less traveled.

Hike a few fourteeners'(mountains over 14,000 ft in elevation) in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area near Buena Vista. (Eight peaks over 14,000) feet in elevation are found there).

I-70 is filled with tourist traps, but there are some great hiking trails. Hanging Lake Trail near Glenwood Springs is gorgeous, but high-traffic, only a mile in length leads to the crystal clear lake. Booth Falls trail in West Vail is wonderful, view falls along the path and view a gorgeous lake at the top...high traffic on trail starts in July. Go to Red Cliff (just off of I-70 on Hwy6/24), a cute artist-filled tiny village and hike anywhere near there(there is great camping just south of Red Cliff as well).

Hike anywhere in the Indian Peaks Wilderness...a must!

If in Boulder hike in the Flatirons of Chataqua Park. Hike Bear Peak, my favorite in Boulder--basically climbing stairs all the way to the top..first mile of the hike is in the sun, second part is in the woods! Just west of Boulder is Nederland...hike Arapahoe Pass Trail to lake Dorothy, or take any of the trails that branch off of it! that one is great for wildflowers...probably the most columbines I've ever seen on a single hike!!!

Good luck, happy adventures!