8-Days Tour of National Parks in Colorado

Begin the day by elevating your experience of the Colorado Rockies with a historic and scenic ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Travel from 6,300 feet to just over 14,000 feet above sea level. Experience the sweeping 360-degree views, vistas, and natural beauty of the Pikes Peak region that has drawn generations of explorers and travelers.

Begin your morning exploring Great Sand Dunes National Park for sightseeing of the tallest dunes in North America, which are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Once finished, you will get to experience the scenery of the Colorado Rockies as you travel over scenic Wolf Creek Pass before arriving in Pagosa Springs.

This morning you will travel over the Million Dollar Highway from Durango to the town of Ouray, known as Little Switzerland of America. Sit back and watch alpine meadows, the beautiful Animas River and the high peaks of the San Juan Mountains, a significant mountain range in the Rocky Mountains, go by. There will be stops for scenic overlooks and hikes along the way. After passing by the old mining ruins near Red Mountain Pass, with its majestic views of the 14’ers, you will finally wind your way down the mountainside to Ouray, another historic town, for a visit to Box Canyon Falls and other areas.

Begin the day traveling east to Glenwood Springs where you will experience some thrilling whitewater rafting! You will be rafting through spectacular Glenwood Canyon, a beautiful, pristine stretch of water with unbelievable Rocky Mountain scenery and a perfect mix of calm water and whitewater. This trip includes Class II-IV whitewater and the Shoshone Class III-IV rapids, which offer the whitewater enthusiast a two-mile stretch of exciting but not intimidating rapids. This section is one of our favorites, with interesting geology, gorgeous scenery, views of the marvelous engineering resulting in the most expensive portion of interstate highway built (Interstate 70) and, of course, some fun whitewater! You will have a few hours of free time for lunch and an opportunity to soak in the mineral hot springs, the reason for the founding of Glenwood Springs, if you are interested.