Is it possible to avoid touristy areas? (Boulder, Durango: ski resorts, condo)

[Amazonchix]

We are considering a Colorado vacation in June. Although, our destination is unknown at this time. We know of some of the big name places to hit...but wondered if anyone could recommend a place that isn't too touristy, may be under appreciated and known to more by the locals. Hiking is a big activity we enjoy and we would like to bring our two large dogs. We are very laid back and just want to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. Any suggestions?

[Charles]

I remember reading a post about six months ago about a drive described by a couple of regular posters and Colorado natives as the most beautiful drive in Colorado. It was in the mountains. Take highway X to highway Y in some sort of loop. Do a search on keywords "beautiful" and highway or drive or something like that....

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Amazonchix

We are considering a Colorado vacation in June. Although, our destination is unknown at this time. We know of some of the big name places to hit...but wondered if anyone could recommend a place that isn't too touristy, may be under appreciated and known to more by the locals. Hiking is a big activity we enjoy and we would like to bring our two large dogs. We are very laid back and just want to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. Any suggestions?

First, avoid the I-70 corridor altogether. Period. Unless you like suburban, plastic Tyrolean shake-and-bake condo and trophy house architecture as the foreground in every picture you take.

Avoid all of the ski resorts. All of them. I mean EVERY ONE. Avoid them like the plague.

Stay away from the National Parks--especially Rocky Mountain, unless you want to wade through a ton of tourist BS to get to the wilderness part. Black Canyon and Great Sand Dunes might be exceptions, but don't expect to be alone.

The San Juan mountains are the most beautiful in the state, but stay away from the big resort towns near or in them--Telluride, Durango, etc.

There is some beautiful country around Gunnison, but--again--stay away from places like Crested Butte.

The Sangre de Cristo mountains are underappreciated, and usually not crowded.

Try like hell to spend most of your vacation in Colorado during the week, not on the weekends.

If all else fails, go to northern New Mexico, just avoid Santa Fe and Taos.

Or go to Wyoming, but avoid Jackson and Yellowstone.

[kryptos]

There are several places that pop to mind, but the one I've enjoyed extremely is the Million Dollar Highway in southwest Colorado. Make pit stops at Durango, Silverton, Telluride and Ouray. Take the Durango-Silverton Narrow gauge train. Visit Mesa Verde National Park. Hike in the amazing San Juan mountains.

[steveco.]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

First, avoid the I-70 corridor altogether. Period. Unless you like suburban, plastic Tyrolean shake-and-bake condo and trophy house architecture as the foreground in every picture you take.

Avoid all of the ski resorts. All of them. I mean EVERY ONE. Avoid them like the plague.

Stay away from the National Parks--especially Rocky Mountain, unless you want to wade through a ton of tourist BS to get to the wilderness part. Black Canyon and Great Sand Dunes might be exceptions, but don't expect to be alone.

The San Juan mountains are the most beautiful in the state, but stay away from the big resort towns near or in them--Telluride, Durango, etc.

There is some beautiful country around Gunnison, but--again--stay away from places like Crested Butte.

The Sangre de Cristo mountains are underappreciated, and usually not crowded.

Try like hell to spend most of your vacation in Colorado during the week, not on the weekends.

If all else fails, go to northern New Mexico, just avoid Santa Fe and Taos.

Or go to Wyoming, but avoid Jackson and Yellowstone.

Yikes you make it sound like we live in some bombed out hell hole. Its all a matter of opinion actually and during the week the I-70 is not that bad as far as traffic goes. Especially in the summer. If you are really into hiking I highly recomend the hanging lakes hike near glenwood springs. It is one of the neatest trails to go to. Unlike what was posted I would check out many of the ski resorts as summer time is the off peak season and you can actually get great deals on hotel rooms. There are a ton of festivals at many of them that are really fun also.

[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!!!!

[CosmicWizard]

My wife and I enjoyed a fantastic mini-vacation in Crested Butte last summer. We spent most of our time hiking on the nearby trails. We stayed at the international hostel in town. Although Crested Butte is rather touristy, it really wasn't a big issue, especially during midweek. For a less touristy area you might enjoy the Grand Mesa. It's pretty laid back, though with all the snow this winter it may not be melted by June! The mosquitos can be pretty nasty too.

[Katiana]

For starts, pretty much all of the mountains are somewhat touristy. Secondly, if an area didn't cater to tourists, there would be no motels, restaurants, etc. Summer is the off-season in the mtns, as they are mainly ski towns. I agree with the poster who said you can get some good deals in the summer.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

First, avoid the I-70 corridor altogether. Period. Unless you like suburban, plastic Tyrolean shake-and-bake condo and trophy house architecture as the foreground in every picture you take.

Avoid all of the ski resorts. All of them. I mean EVERY ONE. Avoid them like the plague.

Stay away from the National Parks--especially Rocky Mountain, unless you want to wade through a ton of tourist BS to get to the wilderness part. Black Canyon and Great Sand Dunes might be exceptions, but don't expect to be alone.

The San Juan mountains are the most beautiful in the state, but stay away from the big resort towns near or in them--Telluride, Durango, etc.

There is some beautiful country around Gunnison, but--again--stay away from places like Crested Butte.

The Sangre de Cristo mountains are underappreciated, and usually not crowded.

Try like hell to spend most of your vacation in Colorado during the week, not on the weekends.

If all else fails, go to northern New Mexico, just avoid Santa Fe and Taos.

Or go to Wyoming, but avoid Jackson and Yellowstone.

Sheesh! You make it sound like 50 million people live here!

I've found the scenery along I-70 in the middle of Colorado to be some of the most beautiful in the country. And I've found myself alone in the mountains, only a half hour above Boulder. If your definition of "alone" is "no human being within 100 miles of me", then yeah, Colorado is a tourist-overrun hell hole. But then I'm a people person and like to go where people are.

[sterlinggirl]

Hanging lake is nice, but I'd agree with Jazz to generally avoid I-70 or anything that promotes itself as a resort. Get a map of BLM land in the state and you'll have a lifetime of wilderness to explore without the tourists that crowd the national parks.