Day 1 (Mon June 21st)
At 5pm CO time, get timed entry permit for the next day at Rocky Mountain National Park
Leave in the evening around 6; drive 13.5 hrs to Estes Park, CO
Time Zone Note: CO is 1 hr behind AR (lose an hour)
Day 2
Arrive at Estes Park near Rocky Mountain National Park before noon
Explore city of Estes Park
Go to Rocky Mountain National Park and hike Emerald Lake Trail (3.2 miles)
Spend the night in Estes Park (Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake)
Day 3
Go through entrance stations around 4:30am and park on Bear Lake Rd at Rocky Mountain National Park
Hike to the Loch via Glacier Gorge Trail (5.4 miles), hike to Andrew’s Glacier (2 miles further in; an alternative is hiking to Sky Pond)
Drive Trail Ridge Road and stop at the Alpine Visitor Center
Spend the night in Estes Park
Day 4
8am horseback ride in Rocky Mountain National Park
Ride the tram in Estes Park
Leave by 1:00 and drive 2.5 hrs to Garden of the Gods
Ride Garden of the Gods trolley
Spend night in Colorado Springs area (Lone Duck Campground)
Day 5
Drive to Royal Gorge in Canon City
Ride the zipline and skycoaster
Drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park
Cross the Medano River and walk to a sand dune
Spend night in Monte Vista area
Day 6
Drive about 4 hrs to Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Get first come first serve campsite at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Drive South Rim Rd/Black Canyon Scenic Drive and stop at overlooks
Hike Warner Point Nature Trail (1.5 - 2 miles) at the back of South Rim Rd
Spend night at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Day 7
See the sunrise at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Drive 3.5 hours to Mesa Verde National Park
Do the loop drive with stops at the pithouses and overlooks of the cliff houses
Hike the Petroglyph Point Trail (2.4 miles, has views of canyons and petroglyphs)
Drive 40 minutes to Durango and stay the night
Day 8
Float the Animas River at Durango (Mild to Wild Half Day Kayaking Trip)
Explore and eat in downtown Durango
Stay the night in Durango
Day 9
Start driving west (6-7 hrs) to Bryce Canyon
Stop at Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ and walk to the overlook
At Bryce Canyon, visit the different overlooks and then hike the Navajo Loop Trail (takes 1-2 hrs)
Spend the night near Zion in Springdale, UT
Day 10
Drive into Zion National Park around 6am to get parking inside the park near the visitor center
Hike Angel’s Landing (5 miles) at Zion
Spend night near Zion
Day 11
Drive into Zion National Park early and get parking inside the park near the visitor center
Hike the Riverside Walk (2 mi roundtrip) and some of the Narrows. Check the weather, flash flooding potential! (2-2.5 hrs)
Do some of the scenic drive at Zion
Drive to Kanab, UT - get lunch and then head to the Grand Canyon North Rim
Time Zone Note: AZ is 1 hr behind UT (lose an hour)
Visit overlooks and do the Cape Royal Drive at the Grand Canyon North Rim
Spend night in Kanab, UT
Day 12
Drive from Kanab to Grand Canyon South Rim
Visit Desert View Watchtower and overlooks
Check out the Grand Canyon Village and walk some of the Rim Trail
Ride the Hermit Road Shuttle Bus (red) - See Hopi Point, Powell Point, Mohave Point, and others. See sunset at Hopi Point.
Spend the night in or near Grand Canyon (Mather Campground)
Day 13
Ride the Kaibab Rim Route (orange) shuttle. Hike the South Kaibab Trail - hike 0.8 miles to Ooh Aah Point and then come back (1.5-2 hrs round trip)
Drive 6-7 hrs to Albuquerque, NM and spend the night there
Day 14 (Sun July 4th)
Drive from Albuquerque to home
