Every summer we take a small road trip to a new part of Colorado and this year it was the south central region of Cañon City and the Great Sand Dunes National Park! Here’s where we went and what we did!
Day One I Paint Mines Interpretive Park
- Hike around Paint Mines Interpretive Park {cautiously recommend; although neat, I only recommend if you are in the area and would not go out of your way to visit}
- Pit stop at Cheyenne Mountain State Park {we pulled into the park and it started raining so our time was cut short and we left and headed to Cañon City}
- Happy Hour at World’s End Brewery Company {cautiously recommend; it was just okay and I think there are better bars in the city}
- Dinner at Nirvana Culinary Paradise {high recommend; this is the #1 restaurant in Cañon City and for good reason! We loved the Indian food and it was the perfect meal before a long bike ride the next day}
- Lodging at Holiday Inn Express Cañon City {recommend; in a city of chain lodging options, this one has the best ratings and was satisfactory during our stay}
Day Two I “The Crippler”
- Awesome gravel bike ride up Phantom Road and down Shelf Road. There is a bike race called “The Cripper” which we mirrored this ride after. {highly recommend; this was my favorite ride of 2023 and Top 10 overall. Awesome day in the saddle that I won’t forget!}
- Dinner at Boudreau’s BBQ {recommend; fun place to visit with average bbq}
- Lodging at Holiday Inn Express Cañon City {recommend; in a city of chain lodging options, this one has the best ratings and was satisfactory during our stay}
Day Three I Royal Gorge
- Morning drive up Skyline Drive {highly recommend; epic 2.5 mile drive (one way only) just north of downtown that provides awesome views all around. It is such a unique experience on this very narrow road!}
- Explore Royal Gorge Bridge & Park {cautiously recommend; this has a steep admission fee for what you get. I think we realized that we prefer “off-the-beaten-path” activities lost in nature by ourselves.}
- Hike along the Canyon Rim Trail next to the Royal Gorge {recommend; this was great activity to get away from the crowds and see some cool views on the gorge}
- Lodging at Amigo Motor Lodge in Salida {highly recommend; I’m kind of obsessed with these remodeled motor lodges that are continuing to be remodeled throughout the country and state of Colorado}
- Pizza at Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub {highly recommend; great atmosphere with live music on an outdoor patio combined with great pizza – my perfect evening. Oh, and, 2-for-1 margaritas don’t hurt either}
- Outdoor Concert at Riverside Park {highly recommend; we lucked out to visit town on a Thursday evening in the summer during their concert season. Definitely checkout their events calendar!}
Day Four I Marshall Pass
- Easy bike stroll in downtown Salida {highly recommend; one evening was definitely not long enough in Salida. It is our vibe and we cannot wait to spend more time there!}
- Gravel bike ride up Marshal Pass {cautiously recommend; we chose this route based on glowing reviews but the actual road surface was very loose and pretty sandy making it super difficult. I’m not sure if this was due to a very wet spring and/or unbalanced expectations. Huge bummer for us}
- Lodging at Mellow Moon Lodge in Del Norte {recommend; another remodeled motor lodge in a small town – yes!}
- Another pizza dinner at Three Barrels Brewing Co {highly recommend; this is the best place for dinner in Del Norte and I think everyone in town was there! Per usual, we grabbed two seats at the bar and had a great evening!}
- After dinner drink at Mellow Moon Lodge {highly recommend; they have this super cute camper that serves drinks at night and breakfast in the morning – so fun! Check this out!}
Day Five I Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Easy bike stroll around Del Norte while checking out their “Lookout Mountain”
- Explore Great Sand Dunes National Park {recommend; this is such a unique place! It is this massive area of sand surrounded by mountains}
- Picnic lunch at the Amphitheater
- Hike to Zapata Falls {recommend; this is a short hike not far from Dunes making it a convenient stop}
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