Help! Need itinerary!

Question

We are coming to Colorado in June. We will be starting in Colorado Springs and ending in Denver. I am visiting Rocky Mountains on my own a few days before my husband joins so I do not want to include that in this trip. I keep coming across more ideas. We have 6 days-last day flying out so not much can be done that day except driving to airport. I have Garden of Gods, Pike's Peak, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Durango, and Black Canyon of Gunnison for the loop. We would like to go whitewater rafting somewhere and visit one hot spring. Other areas I have seen mentioned are Glenwood springs, Buena Vista, Salidas, Tellurude, Ouray, Colorado National Monument, Royal Gorge. We want to hike of course but it will need to be beginner to intermediate. Any suggestions or thoughts to make this the most well rounded trip!

Thanks!

Answer

Great — you’ve got an awesome wish list. With only six days (one day reserved for the airport/run-to-DEN), trying to visit everything you listed will make the trip very tight and full of long drives. Below I give you two practical, day-by-day 6-day plans (one “Ambitious Southwest Loop” that fits Mesa Verde / Durango / Black Canyon / Great Sand Dunes, and a calmer “Rockies + Hot Springs & Rafting” plan that keeps drives shorter and focuses on hiking, rafting, and a great hot spring). After the itineraries there are specific rafting + hot-spring suggestions, drive-time notes, hiking difficulty notes, timing/booking tips, and a final recommendation about what to cut if you want a more relaxed trip.

Quick driving-time notes (useful for planning):

Colorado Springs → Great Sand Dunes ≈ 2½–3 hours (about 160–170 miles) depending on route.
Great Sand Dunes → Durango ≈ 3–3½ hours (about 170 miles).
Durango → Mesa Verde ≈ 1–1.5 hours (park HQ / cliff-dwelling area directions via NPS).
Ouray → Black Canyon of the Gunnison ≈ ~1–1.5 hours (approx 50–60 miles).
Black Canyon → Denver (direct) ≈ 5–6 hours drive (300+ miles) — plan that as your longest transfer day if needed.

OPTION A — Ambitious Southwest Loop (If you want to hit Mesa Verde, Durango, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon)

Day 1 — Colorado Springs
- Morning: Garden of the Gods for short scenic hikes (Siamese Twins or Perkins Central Garden loop — easy, 1–2 miles total).
- Afternoon: Pikes Peak Highway or drive up to Manitou Springs and consider the cog railway (if open) or scenic drive. Stay in Colorado Springs or head toward Alamosa in the evening to shorten Day 2 driving.
Day 2 — Colorado Springs → Great Sand Dunes (overnight near Alamosa)
- Drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park in the morning (≈2½–3 hrs). Explore the dunes (sandboarding if you like), hike the Medano Creek area (if water is running), and catch sunset on the dunes (magical).
- Overnight: Alamosa or nearby small town.
Day 3 — Great Sand Dunes → Durango (via scenic route)
- Morning: Early departure to Durango (≈3–3½ hrs). Arrive mid-late afternoon; explore historic downtown Durango.
- Optional: Afternoon/early evening easy hike or ride the Durango & Silverton train (if schedule fits and you want a rail trip instead of driving route). Overnight Durango.
Day 4 — Mesa Verde day trip → Durango or drive-on to Ouray
- Morning: Head to Mesa Verde (≈1–1.5 hrs from Durango), spend 3–4 hours at Chapin Mesa and take a guided Cliff Palace or Balcony House tour (book tickets in advance; NPS-run tours fill).
- Late afternoon: Drive toward Ouray (≈3 hrs) or overnight in Durango if you prefer less driving.
Day 5 — Ouray / San Juan Mountains (hot spring + hike)
- Morning: Explore Ouray — easy town hike (Perimeter Trail sections) or Bridal Veil Falls overlook.
- Afternoon: Soak in the Ouray Hot Springs or the Wiesbaden historic hot springs for a relaxing recovery after days of driving.
- Overnight: Ouray or nearby Ridgway.
Day 6 — Black Canyon of the Gunnison → Drive to Denver for flight-out (or drive partway and overnight nearer to the airport depending on flight time)
- Early morning: Drive to Black Canyon (≈1–1.5 hrs), explore short rim trails and viewpoints (North Rim/ rim trail overlooks for dramatic views).
- Then begin the long drive back toward Denver (≈5–6 hours) — you’ll likely be doing most of this day in the car so plan flights late afternoon/evening. Note: Black Canyon and surrounding areas can be subject to wildfire closures during the summer; check park status before you go.

Pros/Cons of Option A

Pros: You see a lot — dunes, cliff dwellings, historic Durango, San Juan scenery, and the dramatic Black Canyon.
Cons: Long drive days; a very full schedule with limited downtime. If you want to hike more and relax, this is a bit rushed.

OPTION B — Relaxed Rockies + Hot Springs + Rafting (less driving, better for hiking and rafting)

Day 1 — Colorado Springs
- Garden of the Gods in the morning; Pikes Peak scenic time in the afternoon. Overnight Colorado Springs.
Day 2 — Colorado Springs → Royal Gorge / Buena Vista / Salida
- Drive west toward Buena Vista/Salida (approx 2–2½ hours to the Buena Vista/Salida area). Hike in the Chalk Cliffs / Collegiate Peaks area (easy–moderate trails like Buena Vista’s Cottonwood or Salida’s River Trail sections).
- Overnight: Buena Vista or Salida (great river-town vibe; short drive to rafting outfitters on the Arkansas River).
Day 3 — Rafting on the Arkansas River (Buena Vista/Salida)
- Book a half- or full-day family-friendly rafting trip on the Arkansas River; you can select Class II–III for beginners/intermediate. Many outfitters run trips from BV/Salida and can transport you. Afternoon/evening relax at Mount Princeton Hot Springs near Buena Vista (great hot springs resort for an evening soak).
- Overnight: Buena Vista / Salida.
Day 4 — Buena Vista → Glenwood Springs (hot springs + easy hikes)
- Drive to Glenwood Springs (≈2.5–3 hrs). Soak at Glenwood Hot Springs or Iron Mountain Hot Springs, walk part of the Glenwood Canyon trails, or take a short hike to Hanging Lake (permit required; if you want Hanging Lake, book the permit in advance — it’s a busy, popular trail).
- Overnight: Glenwood Springs.
Day 5 — Glenwood Springs → Black Canyon or head toward Denver via I-70 scenic stops
- Option 1: Drive south to Black Canyon (≈2.5–3 hrs from Glenwood via US-50) for half-day exploring then drive toward Denver (this will still be a longer day).
- Option 2: Skip Black Canyon and drive east along I-70 stopping at Vail/Aspen viewpoints (longer scenic drive) and overnight closer to Denver to shorten the last day.
Day 6 — Short morning hike / drive to Denver for flight
- Head back to Denver (times vary by overnight choice). If you stayed near Glenwood and choose a moderate departure time, allow ~3–4 hours to reach Denver International Airport from Glenwood/Vail areas.

Pros/Cons of Option B

Pros: Less time driving each day, a real rafting day, two great hot springs (Mount Princeton + Glenwood or Iron Mountain), and more time for beginner–intermediate hikes.
Cons: Skips Mesa Verde and Durango if you prioritize less driving; you’ll stay more in the central Rockies than the southwest corner of the state.

Whitewater rafting & hot springs — specific suggestions

Rafting (Beginner → Intermediate):
- Arkansas River (Buena Vista / Salida) — excellent for Class II–III family-friendly trips and longer guided half-day or full-day runs; this is one of Colorado’s most popular rafting corridors.
- Animas River (Durango) — calmer runs available around Durango for families/teens; outfitters can set the right difficulty for your group.
Hot springs:
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs (Buena Vista area) — great if you’re following the rafting plan; natural pools with good facilities.
- Glenwood Hot Springs / Iron Mountain Hot Springs — classic, easy stop on the I-70 corridor; one of the largest hot springs pools in the world.
- Ouray Hot Springs / Wiesbaden — excellent if you include Ouray on your route (very restorative after hiking).
- Pagosa Springs — if you base near Durango / Mesa Verde, Pagosa is a great hot-spring town to consider.

Hiking suggestions (beginner → intermediate)

Garden of the Gods — Perkins Central Garden Loop (easy, paved/rock) — great starter.
Great Sand Dunes — Medano Pass / Dune Field hikes (easy to moderate; sand makes any hike harder).
Buena Vista / Salida area — Monarch Crest or short Collegiate Peaks trails (pick short sections for beginner/intermediate).
Glenwood Canyon — easy riverside trails; Hanging Lake is moderate but steep and requires a permit if you choose to go. (Book Hanging Lake permits well in advance.)
Black Canyon — rim trails and viewpoints are short walks; inner canyon hikes are advanced (so stick with rim viewpoints for beginner/intermediate hikers).

Booking & timing tips

For Mesa Verde guided cliff-dwelling tours, purchase NPS tour tickets in advance — tours have limited capacity.
For rafting, book with reputable outfitters in advance (June is busy). Ask what class of rapids they’ll run and pick a family-friendly class if you want a gentler experience.
For Hanging Lake (if you choose Glenwood), reserve a permit early — it’s required and sells out. (Glenwood-area info referenced above.)
Check park and road status for Black Canyon prior to travel — wildfire closures and access changes can occur in summer months.
Plan your longest drive day with a buffer and consider overnighting one night closer to Denver the night before your flight if your flight time is early.

Final recommendation

If you want to see a wide variety of Colorado’s distinct landscapes (sand dunes, cliff dwellings, dramatic canyons), pick Option A (Ambitious Southwest Loop) but accept longer drive days and an energetic schedule. If you prefer fewer long drives, more hiking time, and a better rafting + hot-springs balance, pick Option B (Relaxed Rockies + Hot Springs & Rafting) — it will feel more relaxed and family-friendly with teenagers.

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