Colorado: Year Off Travel Destination

Outdoor Adventure Paradise

I set out from home for the second time during my Year Off in late June, 2016. I had spent a few weeks in Cincinnati, but eventually packed my car up and headed west again. My high school friend Sam decided to go with me for my first week back on the road in Colorado.

We drove across the great plains and headed directly for the mountains, first stop Aspen. After a couple of nights of car camping, we decided to take a backpacking trip. We settled on Cathedral Lake in the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness.

Cathedral Lake

We had spent the previous night camped next to Crater Lake near the Maroon Bells. It was an excellent night of camping. Light rain, cloudy skies, but beautiful views of the pyramid-shaped Maroon Bells. We wanted more of the same, so we grabbed a big lunch in Aspen then drove up to the Cathedral Lake Trailhead.

The forecast called for rain, but we packed up and set out on the trail anyways. The Cathedral Lake Trail starts climbing immediately through beautiful forests of aspen and pine. It’s a popular trail, so it’s well-kept and easy to follow, but it’s steep. Really steep. It climbs over 2000 feet across 2.5 miles to Cathedral Lake.

Rain

Shortly after we started hiking, it began to lightly rain. Within another half hour, it was raining harder. The trail got steeper and muddier. The few remaining people on the trail were going in the opposite direction of us. We were the only ones going up. By the time we reached the lake, it was down-pouring. We got soaked all the way through our rain gear. Type 2 fun as I like to say.

We made our way past the lake in the rain and looked for a place to set up camp. The elevation is almost 12,000 feet at the lake so there aren’t too many big trees to hide under. We found a small grove of pines about 100 yards from the lake and started setting up our tents. Luckily, the rain slowed up then eventually stopped, so we were able to put on dry clothes and eat a quick dinner of Ramen noodles and hot dogs.

A Colorado Sunset to Remember

It was still cloudy so we didn’t expect much in the way of views by the lake, but we made our way up a talus slope anyways to see if we could see anything. We found a nice lichen-covered rock to sit on and waited to see if the clouds would dissipate. We had the entire place to ourselves. There were no other backpackers and all the day hikers were gone.

The scene that then unfolded was one of the most spectacular scenes Sam and I have ever witnessed. We were engulfed in clouds and mist, but in the distance in front of us, we started to see the faint glow of the sun. The wind picked up a bit and the clouds started to rise above us. The whole grandeur of the place started to come into view as the sun got brighter and brighter. Eventually, all the clouds lifted and we were left speechless.

The blueish-green lake was sitting calmly down below us. Large stone spires to our left. Cathedral Peak and a snowy basin in front of us. A steep green shrub-covered slope up to Electric Pass to the right of the peak. The tree and scree-covered valley that we had hiked up to our right. Views for miles of the mountains beyond the valley. Another snowy basin surrounded by mountain ridges and a small waterfall behind us.

Another wave of clouds came rolling up the valley to our right and engulfed us again but eventually dissipated as well. We were in absolute awe of the place, and the best part, we had that entire cathedral of rock to ourselves. That “movie” scene was ours and ours only. We just couldn’t get enough of it and just sat there and stared around in silence until the sun eventually set behind the mountains and a cool breeze started to pick up. With little light left, we made our way back to our tents for bed, still in awe from the whole evening.

Experiences like these are easy to come by in Colorado. That’s why it’s a perfect Year Off destination.

Why Go To Colorado?

Colorado is an outdoor lover’s paradise. The beautiful scenery and multitude of outdoor activities make Colorado one of my go-to destinations during a Year Off. There’s no better place to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself with an outdoor activity like white water rafting or backpacking. There’s also ample opportunity for relaxation in a cabin in the woods or while soaking in one of the many hot springs in the state.

Camping is widely available throughout the state during the summer, so it’s easy to travel on a budget. You will need a car to get around though, preferably a high clearance car to navigate the rough back country roads. Winter time is a popular time to visit Colorado and campgrounds will be closed so prices for accommodations will increase, especially in the ski resort towns.

When To Go

Colorado is a year-round travel destination.

Colorado’s world-famous ski resorts are open during the winter and spring, so if skiing or snowboarding is your thing, head to the mountains then.

Summer and Fall are peak seasons for hiking, camping, backpacking, and other outdoor activities.

Where To Go

• Rocky Mountain National Park – Camp and hike in one of the National Park System’s premier mountain parks.
• Great Sand Dunes National Park – Go sand boarding on North America’s highest sand dunes.
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – Gaze down into the depths of the canyon, then scramble over 2000 feet to the bottom and look up.
• Mesa Verde National Park – Ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings in the southwest corner of Colorado.
• Colorado National Monument – Red rock canyon with massive sandstone monoliths.
• Leadville, Colorado – Cool mining town with old school vibes. The town hosts mountain bike and endurance races during the summer, and is surrounded by many 14,000 foot mountains, alpine lakes, and excellent camping opportunities.
• Steamboat Springs, Colorado – One of the premier ski resort towns in the state. Grab your skis and spend hours on one of the 165 named trails, with the longest run being 3 miles, then soak in the hot springs at night.
• Buena Vista, Colorado – go white water rafting one day, rock climbing the next, then climb one of the 14,000 foot Collegiate Peaks.
• Denver, Colorado – spend a few days sampling beers from the many breweries in town and catch a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field.

What To Do

• Climb some 14ers – There are 53 mountains in Colorado that rise above 14,000 feet. They range in difficulty from a strenuous hike to a high altitude climb requiring harnesses and rope. Check out 14ers.com for a complete list of the mountains and the routes or hire a guide for the more difficult climbs.
• Hike the Colorado Trail – The Colorado Trail is a 486 mile long-distance trail stretching from Denver to Durango. Spend over a month immersed in the incredible mountains of Colorado, and test yourself on a trail that gains over 80,000 feet of elevation throughout the course of the trail.
• Backpacking – Head into the mountains for just a night or two or for weeks at a time. My favorite places for backpacking in Colorado are in the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Check ahead of time to see if you need a permit for the place you are wanting to backpack and camp in. Many popular areas require permits that get booked months in advance.
• White water rafting – Headed to Colorado in the spring or summer? Don’t pass up the opportunity to go white water rafting on one of Colorado’s famous rivers. The Arkansas River near the town of Buena Vista boasts some of the best white water rafting in the state with beautiful views of the surrounding Collegiate Peaks.
• Rock climbing – Widely available through out the state. New to rock climbing or want to learn? Hire a guide! Many rock climbing spots are accessible within a short drive from Denver, such as Eldorado Canyon and the Flatirons near Boulder.
• Skiing and snowboarding – Colorado is the premier state in the U.S. for skiing and snow boarding. There are 26 ski resorts spread throughout the state so it’s easy to find fresh powder. If you’re looking to spend a lot of time skiing, be sure to grab an Epic Pass for the best deal on lift tickets.

Colorado Travel Tips:

• Altitude sickness – the mountains in Colorado are some of the highest in the United States. Spend a few nights at 8000-9000 feet elevation before venturing up to the high country to avoid the dreaded nausea, headache, and loss of appetite associated with altitude sickness. Drink plenty of water too.
• Driving back country roads – the unpaved high mountain roads are rather rough. Come prepared with a high clearance vehicle and a spare tire.
• Afternoon storms – thunderstorms are common in the afternoon in Colorado during the summer. Get an early start on any hikes or climbs and get below tree line before the afternoon lightning.

Check out my Colorado Photo Gallery

Start planning your Year Off and get to Colorado as quickly as you can!