camorris

Do you have any recommendations of must see places in northern Colorado around Winter Park and RMNP? This will be our first trip and will be there the end of this month for 1 week. We would be interested in getting wildlife shots, landfall, waterfalls, etc. We will have a Jeep so back roads won't be a problem. Thank you for your help.

plessner Loc: North Dakota

Look up a lady here on UHH named Lorima she lives there


look down a couple of posts from yours in the new topics and there she is

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

Not sure where you will be in relation to the Royal Gorge. But it's south of Golden Co. great place to get shots from sky tram, and a suspension bridge, incline railway and a train ride at the bottom of the canyon.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Lori Adkins, aka Lorima: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_profile.jsp?usernum=31535
Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100608335@N02

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

My wife really liked the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Estes Park! :lol:

Hoosier in GA Loc: Milledgeville, GA

I was out in Golden in Aug. Took in RMNP, Estes Park, & the Peak to Peak highway..(rt 19 i believe).


I was given a lot of help from a fellow hogger, "halman"...even offered to lend me a tripod! Might check with him.

I located elk in RMNP....on the road to bear lake. They may still be around Estes Park also. Have a great trip!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Royal Gorge is a great place to visit and I recommend it but saying it is South of Golden, though accurate, seems to give a bit of a misrepresentation mileage wise. Royal Gorge is 8 miles West of Canon City, CO which is 2 1/2 - 3 hours South of Denver. I agree it is a great place to visit. The Royal Gorge train is also a great trip from Canon City. Also a great site is the local Prison museum near Territorial Prison at the West end of Canon City.

Dennis

don1047 Loc: Colorado

You won't be able to go very far into RMNP from the west side, as Trail Ridge Road is closed for the season. There are good viewpoints along the west side from the entrance to the Colorado River pullout. Also, if you want to go a bit further north, the area around Walden is scenic and there should be some moose around. Chances are you'll only see them late and early (feeding). State Forest State Park is nearby too.

GAH1944 Loc: SW Mich.

FYI, most of the Royal Gorge burned in a forest fire two yrs ago.the bridge is intact although damaged. the rest of the gorge structures were destroyed. rebuilding is ongoing !!-- my wife is from Canon City and we visit there every yr.
:-( :-( :-(

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

So sad it was about 15 years ago the last time we were there.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Absolutely correct sir. I live there. Have for over 20 years. Go up Highway 9 for 10 miles and turn left into my driveway.

Dennis

GAH1944 Loc: SW Mich.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

cntry Loc: Colorado

The Gorge has reopened!! Phase One of the reconstruction is complete, the new visitor center is very nice. The few planks of the bridge that were damaged have been replaced, but you are not allowed to drive across it - not for structural reasons but there is no parking on the other side, it's still under construction.
I went up there a few weeks ago, here are some of my pictures... http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-244930-1.html

BUT, it's about 5 hours south of Estes Park, in good traffic. It would be worth the trip if there were more down here to see (I'm local) but with only a week, I don't know if I would spend a whole day in the car to see it.

Unfortunately, you are coming too late in the year for some of the best photo ops. Brainard Lake is closed (you can still hike in, but no cars), Trail Ridge is closed, and fall colors are dropping quickly.

Estes Park is one of my favorite places, and there are a lot of places around it that are great photo ops. Trail Ridge is closed, but you can still go into the park and see the lower areas. The wildlife will have moved down so you have a good chance of seeing lots of elk - even in town. The Stanley Hotel is a great place to take pictures, the hotel is simply magnificent and very photogenic!

The Museum of Natural History in Denver is a great place to visit...allow a full day to see it all.

If you do decide to drive south, Garden of the Gods on the west side of Colorado Springs is beautiful. The Air Force Academy is on the northwest end of Springs. But again, you are looking at a lot of driving, it's only an hour closer than Canon City.

cntry Loc: Colorado

The Sky Tram and Incline Railway are gone. There is still a train that goes through the Gorge and, of course, the bridge itself. Buckskin Joe's and the train that used to go out to a view point overlooking the gorge and bridge are both gone - not due the fire, the land was sold and the attractions were sold and moved.

Call ahead to make sure the train through the Gorge is still running, not sure when they close for the winter.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

As others have said, Trail Ridge Road is closed for the winter. But the west side of the park is absolutely beautiful. It will have less traffic and people at this time of year than the east side. There are areas around Grand Lake and Granby that have much to offer. And there are areas west of Granby that I feel would be to your liking. Dinosaur National Monument is not all that far away. Even if you do not go that far west, you will find that the local people will tell you of other places to see. As scenic as Royal Gorge Bridge is, I think it is a little too far south of where you will be to easily get there. Be aware that ski season will probably have started in Winter Park by the time you have arrived there. And be aware that jeeps have good get up and go in the snowy passes, but they take take almost the same distance to stop as any other car in snow.