🏔️ Colorado Summer Road Trip Guide

Perfect for those seeking cool mountain escapes – here’s a relaxed half-travelogue, half-guide to Colorado’s summer beauty! 🗓️ Day 1: Denver Arrival Landed in Denver, picked up the rental car, and stayed near Cherry Creek (safer area, as recommended). 🏙️ 🗓️ Day 2: Rocky Mountain National Park Drove 1.5 hrs to RMNP 🏞️ Timed entry required (book in advance! Slots released at 7 PM the night before – not too hard to get, but be quick!). Hiked Bear Lake Trail (3–4 hours, highly recommend!). Saw frustrated visitors at the entrance without tickets (a Reddit-certified experience 😂). Stayed in Estes Park – affordable and charming! 🏘️ 🗓️ Day 3: Estes Park → Glenwood Springs Drove 4.5 hrs along Highway 70 following the Colorado River – stunning canyon views! 🌊 Stayed in Glenwood Springs and tried the hot springs (nice but small – don’t expect Asian-style spas 🧖). 🗓️ Day 4: Glenwood Springs → Aspen 1 hr drive to Aspen 🏔️ Hiked Maroon Bells (timed shuttle required, 4-hour trail with foxes and deer 🦊🦌). Aspen is pricey but gorgeous – known as "Little Switzerland of the US"! 💸 Scenic drives in/out made it worth it. 🗓️ Day 5: Aspen → Great Sand Dunes 4.5 hrs to Great Sand Dunes National Park – feels like Dunhuang’s desert! 🏜️ Climb for sunset views (or just take photos – great for Instagram 📸). Sand sledding available (I skipped it 😜). Oasis gas station acts as a visitor center – rent gear here! Fantastic stargazing spot – one of the darkest skies in the US. 🌌 Stayed in Alamosa and captured the Milky Way at a nearby wildlife refuge. 🗓️ Day 6: Alamosa → Colorado Springs 2.5 hrs to Garden of the Gods – free public park with weirdly awesome rocks 🪨 (like a mini-Danxia). Drove up Pikes Peak (timed entry needed) – reached 4,000+ meters with explosive views! 🚗💥 🗓️ Day 7: Colorado Springs → Denver 1.5 hrs back to Denver. Visited Denver Art Museum and Meow Wolf – a trippy, immersive art experience (felt high without substances 🎨😵). #ColoradoRoadTrip #SummerInCO #RockyMountains #Aspen #GreatSandDunes #PikesPeak