After morning pickup at your Boulder or Denver accommodations, travel west through the foothills and into the magnificent Rocky Mountains. Catch sight of historic silver mining towns along the way, and make an optional stop at the popular summer resort town of Estes Park, home to the elegant Stanley Hotel that inspired the setting for the horror flick 'The Shining.'
Continue on to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, a protected natural playground that spans 415 square miles (670 square km) of lakes, forests, and mountains laced with pristine picnic spots, hiking trails, and 72 peaks with elevations of 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) or higher. The park is also renowned for its wildlife, so be on the lookout for native Colorado critters like moose, black bears, deer, elk, marmots, and soaring birds of prey including hawks and eagles.
Each season offers its own rewards, from the wildflowers of spring and summer to the crisp air and fiery aspens of autumn and snow-covered peaks of winter. If visiting during the summer, drive up Trail Ridge Road, Colorado’s ‘highway to the sky’ that crosses the Continental Divide and offers stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains from an above-timberline vantage point. Due to snowpack, Trail Ridge Road is usually closed October through May, so if visiting during this time explore the alpine lakes of the valley floor instead.
The day’s itinerary can be customized to suit the interests of your group, so be sure to let your guide know if there's anything you’d like to see. Groups of six people or fewer can travel in a luxury SUV, while a luxury van is available for parties of up to 14.
