Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Peak to Peak highway is a lovely road, well worth the trip just for the views. IMO no problems with your RV's
BUT
It is not fast. If you want speed, likely the Denver bypass noted above is faster. Us, we will take pretty over fast any day.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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Joined: 11/25/2002
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Lauren wrote:Well, Busskipper is pushing the west side of RMNP again. Most people, including me, do not agree. The reason the east side (Estes) is popular is because that is where 98% of the activity and scenes are. West side is wetter and buggier as well. I lived in Ester 1998-2005 and have been back several times since. Simply very little reason to go to the west side IMHO.
As you so eloquently stated, and I emphasized -- Most people are on the East side -- I try to go where most people aren't.
Because we usually travel to these spots in the shoulder seasons we very seldom have issues with bugs.
Not trying to change minds just give people an alternative -- shoot I used to follow the herd, but when we got the Coach we found out we can get to see so much more. Lauren, I still left the option to drive through Estes and if they like it they could just hang around.
JMHO,
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
Travel Supreme 42DS04
MDX-FMCA--M&G Brake
States traveled in this Coach
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Lauren
Sahuarita, AZ (or on the road!)
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First of all, in answer to the original question. Yes, you can get to Estes from I70 from the west by coming up Hwys 6 / 119 / 7 and it is a very doable and beautiful drive (Peak to Peak Hwy). There is a newer road cutting up to Central City from I70 and I have heard it leaves you with some tight turns in CC itself. I can't speak to it as I have not done it.
OK - let's see if I can summarize RMNP for those who have never been there and want to SEE it and not just say they have been there. We should really concentrate on RMNP and what it has to offer. But each side has a town based near the entrance to the Park.
West size. Grand Lake based. Small town that has come up a long way. Not overly touristy. Grand Lake - nice lake; not in the Park. Small Park Visitor Center; no real activities out of it. Very little hiking in the Park. No real mountain view until you get up to Milner Pass which is 4 miles from the Visitor Center at the top. A few minor pulloffs to look down at a valley. No shuttles as nothing to shuttle to. But only maybe 2% of the total visitor population visiting the Park based out of here. One or maybe two places for an RV; none in the Park that I know of.
East Side. Estes Park side. Tourist town with lots of t-shirt shops but also some very nice shops as well. Plenty of places to eat - of all kinds - if you are so inclined. Will be crowded in high season - Sept and Oct are super times to be there if you can. Two entrances to RMNP - each with a major Visitor Center with all kinds of information and programs for adults and children. The drive up the original road - Old Fall River Road - is a single lane road with outstanding views. Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) is rated one of the 10 most beautiful in the U S (or North America in some cases) and that is not because of the drive on the west side - all the sights and major pull offs for viewing are on the east side. (Clue - drive up Fall River Road - go PAST the Visitor Center 4 miles to Milner Pass to get a beautiful view of the Never Summer Range and come back down Trail Ridge to Estes making sure you stop at Rock Cut and Forest Canyon and Rainbow Curve overlooks for sure at least - Forest Canyon out to the point). And drive up or take the shuttle up to Bear Lake. Hiking of all levels and we have done most of them many times - even just a walk around Bear Lake is spectacular and not long). And Visitor Info center at Bear Lake (9600' up) that has plenty of info for you. Their are no hookup campgrounds in the Park and several private rv parks in and around Estes - don't look for a resort here but they are adequate. Just down Hwy 34 is Loveland if you can't live without Sams Club or something. Hope you don't need it but there is a major hospital in Estes as well.
Yes, the east side commands nearly all of the 3+ million visitors a year. Maybe, just maybe, there is a reason.
I have tried to present this as honestly as I can and no, I have absolutely no commercial or other connections in Estes. We will be stopping the the area again this summer but are staying at Riverview in Loveland as we have friends down in Loveland and Ft. Collins to visit. From there is it about 1/2 hour or so up the beautiful Hwy 34 (Big Thompson Canyon) to Estes.
In any case, enjoy RMNP.
49 Year DW, Barbara
Best Friend, "Aussie" Terrier, Sadie
2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
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Thunder Mountain
Buena Vista, Colorado
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Got to chime in here. Lived in Estes from 1980 to 2010 and vacationed there 10 years before that. We retired and left Estes Park due to the crowds and cost of living. Will not debate the merits of East Side vs West Side. Better scenery and hiking on east side hence more people. Less scenic hence less people on west side but better fishing if that means anything.
I've driven everything from my Mazada Miata to our 40' bus and towed over all of these roads. Here are my comments on the various routes:
Central City Parkway is not a problem. Watch your speed not because of the grades but because of the cops and low speed limits. Central City/Black Hawk can be a bit congested but no big deal. The Peak to Peak Highway is a beautiful drive. If you've never done it, it is worth the drive. Not the fastest route but a very secnic drive.
I don't use the US 6 road because there always seems to be wrecks on it when I take it. Beautiful drive along the river however. 6 links up to 93 through Golden and Boulder. This route is the fastest in my experience, but the traffic is a real pain especially at rush. I hate driving the bus through Boulder.
Now here is my favorite route to EP from east bound I70 which I know will get many flaming comments. It avoids the madhouse on I70. I get off at Walcot and take the route through State Bridge over Grand County 1 into Kremlin and over Trail Ridge Road. This is a beautiful drive. Grand County 1 is all weather but not paved. Very little traffic. A variation on this route is to get off at Silverthorne and drive to Kremlin. Very secnic road that avoids Grand County 1.
My route via Walcot avoids Vail Pass and the Tunnel on I70. Silverthorne just avoids the Tunnel.
You can also get to Grand Lake via US 40 Berthoud Pass. Not my favorite drive but no problem.
You guys can scream all you want about driving an RV over Trail Ridge Road. It is doable by taking your time. The driver has to pay attention to the road. Another RV on Trail Ridge Road will not be noticed due to the congestion. You can take the truck back up TRR during your stay and enjoy the scenery.
You might think about staying the night in Grand Lake and making a 7 am transit to Estes Park over Trail Ridge Road with the RV. Hardly any traffic that time of day and you can use the pullouts and parking lots to enjoy the scenery.
Or you can avoid the insanity that is Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park and come to Buena Vista, Colorado. Highest concentration of 14,000 foot peaks in the state, old mining towns, trophy fishing, rafting, Jeeping, hiking, great commercial and Forest Service campgrounds and ATVing. Best of all it is uncrowded.
2007 HR Endeavor 40'PDQ
2011 Wrangler Unlimited
4 Cats
3 Dogs
2 Arctic Cats
1 Bottle of Jack Daniels
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paulj
Seattle
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The reason for the difference between Grand Lake and Estes Park is that the continental divide is near the west side of the park, at least where Trail Ridge Road crosses it. In this part of the state there are few roads across the divide - the exceptions being Old Fall River and Trail Ridge through the park. Fall River is the older one, and now one way west bound. It is steep enough that back in the early days, cars like the Model T reputedly had to back up (was that because of the gravity feed gas or lower rear gear?). The 2 roads meet at Fall River Pass. There are youtube videos of the drive up Fall River.
It is evident from topographic maps (Google with terrain) that most of the scenic glacial cirques (scooped hollows and ridges) are part of the east flowing Big Thompson drainage system. The divide is closer to the middle of the park in the south where there are few roads.
Another trivia. Grand Lake is natural, but nearby Lake Granby is part of a system to transfer west side water via tunnel to the east side. That is, it's a way for the more populous part of Colorado to access the state's share of the Colorado River flow.
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Lauren
Sahuarita, AZ (or on the road!)
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The Continental Divide crosses Trail Ridge Road 4 miles west of Fall River Pass (where the Visitor Center is) - at Milner Pass. This is my suggested turnaround spot when driving Trail Ridge from Estes. If you turn around at the VC you miss the nice tundra drive and Never Summer Mountain View going to Milner Pass which is, actually, a lower elevation.
For those who are pretty serious hikers, the hike from Milner Pass up to the V C and back is spectacular - 3 eco zones, hanging lakes, view down Forest Canyon, etc. As I recall it is about 8 or so miles total and high elevation.
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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Thunder Mountain wrote:Got to chime in here. Lived in Estes from 1980 to 2010 and vacationed there 10 years before that. We retired and left Estes Park due to the crowds and cost of living. Will not debate the merits of East Side vs West Side. Better scenery and hiking on east side hence more people. Less scenic hence less people on west side but better fishing if that means anything.
I've driven everything from my Mazada Miata to our 40' bus and towed over all of these roads. Here are my comments on the various routes:
Central City Parkway is not a problem. Watch your speed not because of the grades but because of the cops and low speed limits. Central City/Black Hawk can be a bit congested but no big deal. The Peak to Peak Highway is a beautiful drive. If you've never done it, it is worth the drive. Not the fastest route but a very secnic drive.
I don't use the US 6 road because there always seems to be wrecks on it when I take it. Beautiful drive along the river however. 6 links up to 93 through Golden and Boulder. This route is the fastest in my experience, but the traffic is a real pain especially at rush. I hate driving the bus through Boulder.
Now here is my favorite route to EP from east bound I70 which I know will get many flaming comments. It avoids the madhouse on I70. I get off at Walcot and take the route through State Bridge over Grand County 1 into Kremlin and over Trail Ridge Road. This is a beautiful drive. Grand County 1 is all weather but not paved. Very little traffic. A variation on this route is to get off at Silverthorne and drive to Kremlin. Very secnic road that avoids Grand County 1.
My route via Walcot avoids Vail Pass and the Tunnel on I70. Silverthorne just avoids the Tunnel.
You can also get to Grand Lake via US 40 Berthoud Pass. Not my favorite drive but no problem.
You guys can scream all you want about driving an RV over Trail Ridge Road. It is doable by taking your time. The driver has to pay attention to the road. Another RV on Trail Ridge Road will not be noticed due to the congestion. You can take the truck back up TRR during your stay and enjoy the scenery.
You might think about staying the night in Grand Lake and making a 7 am transit to Estes Park over Trail Ridge Road with the RV. Hardly any traffic that time of day and you can use the pullouts and parking lots to enjoy the scenery.
Or you can avoid the insanity that is Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park and come to Buena Vista, Colorado. Highest concentration of 14,000 foot peaks in the state, old mining towns, trophy fishing, rafting, Jeeping, hiking, great commercial and Forest Service campgrounds and ATVing. Best of all it is uncrowded.
Good advise -- ThunderMountain -- only issue I could find was I might trade a couple of the Cats in for a couple more bottles of Jack (LOL)
IMHO the biggest issue in Colorado is -- just too many choices -- and none of them are Bad.
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coloradotallman
mexico
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Hate to chime in late, but need to put my 2 sense in. Having followed the Tour de Colorado last summer, I would agree; exit I-70 at Wolcott, drive north to Bond(State Bridge), take Grand County 1 east to Kremmling, then CO 40 thru beautiful Byers Canyon, camp free at the State Rec Area right outside the Hot Sulpher Springs Lodge, continue east to Granby, Grand Lake and RMNP. To avoid Denver take CO 34 east of Estes to Loveland, Greeley and I-76 home to Omaha. Did all of these in our 38' DP with tow car. No problema.
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DaveG39
Goleta, CA
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I took that route a couple of years ago with a 34ft A F53 Ford towing a CR-V and had no problems. Enjoyed the scenery.
2007 TropiCal LX towing 2002 Honda
CRV, Goleta, CA
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2gypsies
You're Not Goin' Find Us!
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Joined: 04/02/2003
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Don't know how much time you have but another route we've taken which was beautiful was from I-70 and Wolcott, take 131 north to 14 and on to Fort Collins. Then pick up I-25 and head south to Loveland and take 34 to Estes.
Full-Timers for 16 years
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
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