After a couple of days in Colorado Springs we were on our way to Estes Park via the backroads to spend an entire week at Rocky Mountain National Park!
Last year we drove the interstate from New Mexico straight through Colorado Springs, into Denver where the highway was horribly congested from rush hour traffic. Ugh.
When we left the area to travel south, we explored some backroads which were jaw dropping gorgeous!
So we completely changed our travel plans this year.
New Route
We planned a couple days in Colorado Springs, which would allow more leisurely time on backroads to enjoy the view en route to Estes Park.
Obligatory grade signage about being careful with braking so we don’t lose them added to the heart stopping delight of driving towards those rugged mountain peaks that abounded in the distance.
We took a steep downward exit to get to the first back road that bordered a rapidly flowing stream spilling over rocks and stones, twisting and turning through the mountains.
Driving through a couple of tunnels totally wowed the kids!
Now I wish I could remember the specific route that probably added an hour to our travel time, but it was well worth the time it took. The views were part of our intended relaxing vacation.
KOA Kamping in Estes Park
Arriving at our campground in the early afternoon, we excitedly got out to unload everything from the van into our Kabin.
We first stayed at this KOA last year but were only able to get a KOA Kabin for 3 nights. Having learned how quickly they book, I got a Kabin this year for 6 nights!
Another lesson learned from last year, I just bought all our groceries for camping before we left San Antonio and kept all the perishables in an igloo. Last year we waited to buy perishables after we arrived…which meant a very long time waiting in line to check out of the grocery store when we preferred seeing the sites.
This method has worked very well for us, as we always drain every morning whatever melted water has accumulated then top everything with a fresh bag of ice.
Overlooking the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on our very own terrace of our Kabin.
(These photos of the stunning cloud formations are actually from the morning we left 6 days later!)
Rocky Mountain Gateway Fun and Beauty
After lunch we excitedly drove to the Rocky Mountain Gateway at the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.
This is a combination park ranger visitor center, museum, gift shop, eatery, and horse stables.
Altitude Change
The plan was to hang out there for the rest of the afternoon to acclimate to the higher elevation we were experiencing from Colorado Springs.
In fact, that is my next tip. Acclimate slowly to the elevation changes to avoid altitude sickness which can be a huge problem. We did quite well with this and has been our plan every since entering Colorado via car.
We left San Antonio on Wednesday, elevation 650′ and spent the night in the Texas panhandle, elevation 3511′.
On Thursday we drove from the Texas panhandle to view the extinct volcanoes of northern New Mexico, the base of which is at 6523′. In another 40 miles we drove through the Raton Pass crossing the border from New Mexico to Colorado where the elevation was 7800′. Arriving in Colorado Springs two hours later, we actually dropped in elevation to about 6000′.
On Friday we hung out around the 6000′ elevation with various light activities, anticipating the drive to Estes Park the next day, which would bring us to 7522′.
We wanted to hike and horseback ride in higher elevations, including reaching the tundra zone at over 12,000 feet in the next 6 days.
Easing in gradually is one of the many tips to avoid altitude sickness. This has always served us well. Besides there’s plenty of amazing light activities to do before we tackle the more strenuous hiking in the higher altitudes.
After purchasing our pass for the week (which is merely a ticket that we leave on the dashboard of our van) at the ranger station, we drooled at ALL the local merchandise at the gift shop.
Great Souvenir and Gift Shopping
Another tip that has worked well for us…we just point out to each other the things we like (hint, hint). Then we separate and sneak purchases for birthday and Christmas gifts. That has been such a hit in the past, we continued that tradition. Although we sort of hint at what we purchased, so we can buy our personal souvenirs. My parents often endow my kids with spending money that they add to their allowance. They usually show me what the want to buy, from which I might pull a few things to buy for them either for homeschool or for future gifting. So it all works out! And we kind of spend the entire week doing this.
Just like in Texas, afternoons often abound with thunderstorms so we usually hang out here in the afternoons before returning to camp just like we do at other museum/ranger/gift shop/eateries at other sites around Colorado.
Bookstore Discoveries
After some time in the museum, I perused the bookstore section of the Park Ranger visitor center, I looked for travel guides for our upcoming week. I found some great little field trip guides for the Alluvial Fan and for Bear Lake, as well as for Trail Ridge Road. From previous trips I had purchased general guides for understanding Colorado geology, explaining the difference between the Montane Zone and the Tundra, all of which I planned on reference during the week.
While there one of the rangers started chatting with me, so I told him our goal was to identify the major mountains of the area. He pointed me to some great resources that I happily bought. They were very helpful to us that week.
Ranger Weather Discussion
He and the other rangers asked where we were from and I said: Texas, where it’s much cooler than Colorado!
They were surprised!
I explained that every day that summer San Antonio had been deluged with rain, only 2 full weeks of sunshine, with lovely temperatures mostly in the 70s, sometimes into the 80s. And yes, that is rare, but this year we had a tropical wave in the Gulf of Mexico kicking in moisture on a daily basis, so an entirely new weather pattern for the summer was the thing!
As we chatted more about Texas, the charming Hill Country town of Fredericksburg came up. I told them we had breakfast there, from Dietz bakery, en route to Colorado.
The ranger who had been helping me with book selections knew of that place! He had just enjoyed their pastries earlier that summer during our deluge!
While we were chatting, a typical thunderstorm had been blowing through, drenching everything, so we had dinner at the sit down restaurant to enjoy some local food.
There are a variety of options from hamburgers to wild game like bison and trout while sitting near huge picture windows with beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains!
That evening we enjoyed a campfire and roasted marshmallows under the lovely, but cold, night sky.
We were excited to start our next morning with a horseback ride through Rocky Mountain National Park. Stay tuned!
