Bucket list camping trip throughout colorado (pics)

[Mikep.]

Just wrapped up a two week camping trip throughout Colorado. My wife and I have never been out west from out home in a NW Chicago suburb. This was an unbelievable trip and by far my favorite vacation I have ever been on. We drove out to Colorado with no real trip or plan on where to stay. I picked up a trail guidebook online and thumbed through the pages and picked out places to stay while on the trip. We entered in through Denver traveled south into Colorado springs, traveled west to Telluride, went north to Dillon/keystone, back into Denver, then wrapped up the trip in Fort Collins. Let me say, Colorado is by far the most diverse state I have ever traveled, with crazy fluctuations in both terrain and temperature. We wanted to see as much of the state as possible in our time there. We definitely covered some ground and range on elevations. I took out the rear seats and made a quick sleep platform with a drawer.


ran into a 4runner on the first day out




view from bed one morning


Garden of the Gods

the most unreal night sky I have ever seen


camp setup


Buena Vista





pulled over for a little lunch

 

[Mikep.]

Billings Lake

old mine





view from another campsite
Telluride









our favorite site from the trip


did a little hiking

Dillon reservoir

 

[Mikep.]

Dillon reservoir


Fort Collins final night of the trip

 

[AKmoney]

Very nice. By any chance did you do the Imogene Pass trail that connects Telluride with Ouray?

 

[Paisano]

Thanks for posting all those - fantastic state for sure

 

[milehigh05]

Glad you came out and loved it. Telluride and Ouray are my favorite places in CO, glad you got to see them. Did you do Red Mountain pass?

 

[Yota_Noob]

Thanks for sharing your trip man! great pictures too. If only I could convince the girlfriend to go on a similar trip. Looks like a great time

 

[CXS]

I used to live in the NW suburbs (palatine/arlington hts) and now live in the great state of Colorado. Now that you've had a glimpse I know you'll be back and wonder why you don't live here. :biggrin1:

 

[gm350reratliff]

Awesome pics! I also love Colorado. I just returned the other day from the FJ summit and a few days in Breckenridge. Yes, I do wonder why I don't live there.

 

[Jeremy556]

Yes, I do wonder why I don't live there.

Insane cost of living, lack of jobs in most well paying industries, outside of Denver, but Denver sucks, terrible political climate. Lot of other reasons that I wrote, re-wrote, and thought better of posting.

 

[slotoyo]

Great pictures! look like it was a great trip.

 

[cpark_12]

Well...I just added another trip to my bucket list!!!:hatsoff:

Great pics!

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Beautiful pics, looks like an amazing experience

 

[chmura]

Really nice pictures!

I need to plan a 2 week Colorado trip as well soon.

You did not run Black Bear Pass? That trail is definitely on my bucket list if I venture into CO.

 

[dakine_999]

Great looking pics! Lived in Breck for 2 years .... loved it.

 

[wadle5]

Awesome looking trip! Glad to another midwestern making the trek out west. Next time driving through Iowa hit me up!

 

[Mikep.]

Glad you came out and loved it. Telluride and Ouray are my favorite places in CO, glad you got to see them. Did you do Red Mountain pass?

Unfortunately, I did not. Looks like an awesome trail for next time though.

Thanks for sharing your trip man! great pictures too. If only I could convince the girlfriend to go on a similar trip. Looks like a great time

My wife was extremely helpful every step of the way. I did what I could to make it as comfortable as possible too. From a hot shower,an awning, drinking water with faucet, and screens for the windows to let air pass through but kept bugs and sunlight out. Everything worked out really well.

I used to live in the NW suburbs (palatine/arlington hts) and now live in the great state of Colorado. Now that you've had a glimpse I know you'll be back and wonder why you don't live here. :biggrin1:

The plan is to list our home soon and move out of this state asap. We are between a few places to move to.

Really nice pictures!

I need to plan a 2 week Colorado trip as well soon.

You did not run Black Bear Pass? That trail is definitely on my bucket list if I venture into CO.

I did not, I REALLY wanted to but, we did this trip alone, and was too nervous about braking something or getting stuck. Also, drove a total of 3400 miles and I didn't want to risk it.

Very nice. By any chance did you do the Imogene Pass trail that connects Telluride with Ouray?

I did not hit this trail either unfortunately.

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I never even held a DSLR before this trip, I had fun playing with it. I borrowed and old Nikon from a coworker. We took sooo many pictures with the DSLR, and old point and shoot, and about 700 go pro videos. Needless to say, I have a lot of work ahead of me going through all of them and editing and compiling them. We have done a fair amount of camping before, in fact my wife and I's first date 10+ years ago was a camping trip at a local state park. We have never gone on a trip like this though. It was a life changing trip and we are so thankful to be able to have done it. We did some whitewater rafting, and boating in the mountains too. We loved every minute. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Mikep.]

Awesome looking trip! Glad to another midwestern making the trek out west. Next time driving through Iowa hit me up!

Will do! Thanks!

 

[Mikep.]

Insane cost of living, lack of jobs in most well paying industries, outside of Denver, but Denver sucks, terrible political climate. Lot of other reasons that I wrote, re-wrote, and thought better of posting.

Having lived in Chicagoland my whole life and in Chicago for a short time, I can say with confidence, ANYWHERE is an upgrade from here IMHO. I have been working on a relocation plan for a few years now, and after this trip I have to really think long and hard about where it is I will be moving to. Good points though.

 

[TxRig13]

Awesome trip it looks like.