Colorado Road Trip: Four National Parks, Countless Memories | OutThere Colorado

Colorado is dwelling to 4 Nationwide Parks: Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Nice Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. These pure wonders make for nice locations any time of the 12 months; pack the automotive, activate the radio and go! Hit the highway to find new locations or expertise outdated favorites another time (the place you simply may discover that “all the pieces outdated is new once more!”).

To take pleasure in all 4 nationwide parks, plan on clocking not less than 19 hours of highway time within the automotive, which we take into account time properly spent, viewing mountains and canyons, historical ruins, and sand dunes.

The widespread thread weaving a visit to the nationwide parks collectively? Numerous surroundings with one thing to please each member in your touring get together (of a number of!). Scenic drives – test. Mountain climbing – test. Recognizing wildlife – test. Geographic marvels and prehistoric wonders – test and test! Plus, a Maverik – Journey’s First Cease comfort retailer – close by to gasoline your Colorado journey!

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We’re beginning and ending an itinerary in Denver for the aim of this highway journey. Get your motor operating and head south to Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park, stopping in Colorado Springs, dwelling to Pikes Peak – “America’s Mountain,” the place you may drive to the highest (like so many earlier than you!), climate allowing – and Gardens of the Gods, a registered Nationwide Pure Landmark, the place displays and galleries spotlight geology, natural world, individuals, historical past, and extra!

These two points of interest are inexorably linked, with majestic Pikes Peak offering a background of snow-capped-mountain-against-brilliant-blue-sky for the uncooked, untamed great thing about Gardens of the Gods’ dramatic 300’ sandstone rock formations. Pikes Peak Freeway is protected and scenic, providing 19 miles of mountain terrain with many alternatives to stretch your legs and take photographs of breathtaking views at certainly one of many pull-offs. You may additionally take a while to find out about Pikes Peak historical past and wildlife.

It’s seemingly time to get some gasoline on your car – and energize your physique. Possibly go for Ruffles potato chips or REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups – they’re essentially the most picked up highway journey snacks in Colorado Springs! Go to certainly one of a number of Maverik places in Colorado Springs, the place one can find superior values on gasoline, drinks, and snacks by Maverik’s Journey Membership loyalty program.

Nice Sand Dunes National Park

The latest of Colorado’s 4 Nationwide Parks, Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park, is ready towards the gorgeous backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Enter the biggest dune-field within the U.S., the place sand mountains practically 1,000 ft excessive are framed by snowcapped peaks within the distance. You possibly can ski, snowboard, or sled down the dunes that stand at an elevation 8,700 ft above sea degree.

Exterior the park, one can find the frozen fortress of Zapata Falls within the winter. Drive by southern Colorado and the San Juan vary, passing by small cities to discover, together with Durango and Mesa Verde.

Hungry? Make sure to cease on the Maverik in Alamosa to select from a menu of premium BonFire meals made contemporary every day. Are you within the temper for a scrumptious burrito, salad, wrap, sandwich, or baked items (particularly when it’s fall and there are triangle cinnamon crumb and maple bar donuts)? Or how about tasty pizza made in-store? Possibly you want to a flavorful and filling Beefy Tacky Burrito or Kings Hawaiian slider two-pack, specifically priced to suit a good price range for under $4.99 beginning mid-November? Maverik makes quite a few cold and hot high quality meals choices reasonably priced and quick that won’t decelerate your journey!

Mesa Verde Nationwide Park

An archeological treasure, Mesa Verde Nationwide Park is a chosen official worldwide Darkish Sky Park, taking guests again in time to twelfth Century Colorado. The world, together with numerous extremely preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings courting again greater than 800 years, has cultural significance. 600 of the greater than 4,000 archeological websites that decision Mesa Verde “dwelling” are cliff dwellings.

There are some surprises at Maverik, too! Do you know that it’s a place to unwrap vacation comfort? Busy buyers can discover among the greatest presents, from present playing cards to winter goodies. Plus, vacation buyers can reward themselves for a job properly achieved with a pick-me-up from Maverik’s new bean-to-cup espresso machines at taking part places. Wealthy, clean, premium roast flavors are on-hand for each style. Elevate a cup to the season of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa! Keep in mind: for the non-coffee-drinker there may be Purple Bull Winter Fig Version Fig Apple, together with sizzling cocoa and tea. Go to Maverik in close by Cortez.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Proceed exploring the San Juan Mountains in your journey to Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park heading north, deeper into western Colorado and extra superb vistas and viewpoints. On the way in which, cease in Telluride, an important mountain city used for mining within the Victorian period, with procuring, climbing, and the state’s tallest waterfall.

On the park, don’t miss scenic South Rim Drive. Nordic skiers and snowshoers alike are aware about staggering views of the park’s snow-dusted “black” rock partitions. There are seven miles to cross-country ski. A stroll to discover the panorama will show a wide range of native flowers, together with sagebrush and Pinyon Pines. Among the many many extra choices out there to guests: auto touring, wildlife viewing, and stargazing. Make sure to go to the South Rim Customer Heart to search out out about Ranger packages being supplied throughout your go to.

It isn’t at all times simple discovering a restroom that you just wish to use whereas on the highway, however you’ll at all times be joyful to cease at a Maverik, just like the one in Montrose! Enjoyable truth: Do you know that Maverik restrooms have persistently gained awards for being the cleanest 12 months after 12 months by GasBuddy, USA In the present day, CStore Selections, and extra?

Rocky Mountain National Park

It’s roughly a five-and-a-half-hour drive by the guts of the Rockies on our itinerary to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, the state’s most well-known nationwide park, the place there’s something for everybody! Ensure to not miss Path Ridge Highway, the best steady paved highway within the U.S., and Outdated Fall River Highway (open mid-July early October), passing aspen timber and rivers. Whereas within the park, you may drive throughout the Continental Divide, hike to an alpine lake, climb a mountain summit, and see wildlife like mountain lions, deer, elk, bobcats and marmots, and look into the seminars and courses held all 12 months on the Rocky Mountain Conservatory.

Within the winter, participate in a Ranger-led snowshoeing journey (January to March), or go sledding at Hidden Valley in Estes Park. You may additionally wish to take a look at Sizzling Sulphur Springs, to rejuvenate in a rocky mountain paradise, returning additional renewed in thoughts, physique, and spirit.

Throughout a last fill-up of your car at Maverik, take a look at Non-public Label manufacturers of affordably-priced, exceptional-quality merchandise and branded chips, water, jerky, sweet, power photographs, firewood, and oil. Even cooler – the “Journey Gasoline” product packaging displays the journey branding in Maverik shops!

Extra about Maverik

There are 31 Maverik places in Colorado, able to be, as their tagline shares, “Journey’s First Cease.” Maverik is the one-stop-shop that can fulfill your style for journey rapidly and simply. (You possibly can obtain their App to order on-line, earn rewards and save!) Moreover, numerous packages will maintain you up to date about all issues Maverik with only a contact, from a Textual content Membership sending weekly data and gives to members to an Journey Membership. Be taught extra at www.maverik.com. Get social with Maverik on Fb, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.