Northwest Itinerary
The Facts:
Start Location: Summit County
Distance: 378 miles
Suggested Duration: 7–10 days
Map of Route
Dubbed "Colorado’s Playground," Summit County provides endless outdoor adventure high up in the incredible Rocky Mountains. Start your expedition in Breckenridge. This picturesque mountain town is a great place to launch a mountain biking excursion that covers hundreds of miles of singletrack. After a great workout, relax by sailing across the waters of serene Lake Dillon. Then, enjoy dinner at the town’s many outstanding restaurants, each with its own unique charm.
Have a delightful breakfast at one of the locals' favorite cafes (ask & they’ll tell you) then hop on State Highway 9 to I-70 heading west. Stop in Vail and enjoy one of their many festivals held throughout the year, including the Jazz Festival, The Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the Vail International Dance Festival and the Teva Mountain Games. Take the Gondola up to the top of Vail Mountain for an outstanding view and a memorable meal at the Game Creek Restaurant. Vail Village also has great shopping, nightlife and accommodations.
From Vail, you will once again head west on I-70 to Glenwood Springs. Spend the morning whitewater rafting down the Colorado River. Or try the steep hike up Hanging Lake Trail. During the afternoon, you can splash among the many water slides at the Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Lodge & Pool, the largest in the world. Get some sleep at one of two grand historic hotels—the Hotel Colorado or the Hotel Denver.
Next it’s on to
Aspen via Highway 82. Once you’ve arrived in "Glitter Gulch," grab a late breakfast, then venture around the pristine lake of the famed Maroon Bells—the most photographed mountains in North America. Back in town, wine, dine, shop and keep your eyes out for visiting celebrities. Nightlife options abound, but check out
Belly Up, one of the many venues that feature live music. The historic
Hotel Jerome, the luxurious
Little Nell and the charming
Chalet Lisl are just a few of the perfect places to sleep that night.
Retrace your steps back to I-70 west and on to
Rifle. Go rock climbing at
Rifle Mountain Park, one of America’s premier sport climbing destinations, or take it a little easier with a picnic lunch at
Rifle Falls State Park. Home to Colorado’s only 80-foot triple waterfall, you can also spend time here exploring the limestone caves. From Rifle, make your way back to I-70 west towards
Grand Junction. The Grand Valley is a hotspot for Colorado’s growing wine industry. Spend the evening at a local hotel, and the next day enjoying the lovely wineries and breathtaking scenery on a variety of wine trail tours throughout the area. Don’t forget to drive along
Rim Rock Road through the
Colorado National Monument and discover the Coke Ovens, a series of odd looking sandstone formations.
Finish your trip by heading north along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic & Historic Byway to the Dinosaur National Monument. Here travelers will see fossilized dinosaur bones and ancient Indian pictographs.
Insiders Tip:
Wine aficionados won’t want to miss the annual Colorado Mountain Winefest held in Palisade in September. You can partake in a variety of activities from hands-on workshops and winery tours, to chef competitions and food and wine pairing events.
Travel Information
Colorado Welcome Center, Dinosaur
US Highway 40, 101 E. Stegosaurus
(970) 374-2205
Colorado Welcome Center, Fruita
I-70 at exit 19
(970) 858-9335