🏔️ Colorado: Mountains, Sand Dunes & Everything in Between

We decided to take this trip in early May — beating the Texas heat before the onset of a prickly summer. Smart move? Snowdoubt about it. 😉 We drove from Texas to Colorado Springs and settled into our Airbnb near Black Forest with a gorgeous Pikes Peak view right outside the window. But here's the thing — we were taken completely by surprise by a snowfall while still driving through New Mexico. It felt as if we were driving straight into the clouds, magic swirling all around us. The powder-white dust on the roads and surrounding mountains looked like something out of a fairytale. ❄️

Colorado doesn't ease you in. It throws everything at you at once — ancient red rock formations, 14,000-foot peaks, singing sand dunes, alien sighting hotspots, and spiritual retreat towns you've never heard of. One lesson: leave room for detours. The state's best surprises are the ones you didn't plan for.

🚂 Pikes Peak via the Cog Railway

The next morning, we had a train ride booked through the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak — departing from Manitou Springs. My recommendation? Book the three-seat side. Trust me — you'll experience the most breathtaking mountain views from that side. The ride started with huge boulders and small waterfalls, then opened up to stunning snow-capped mountains and glassy lake views. We were just left in awe. 🤩

There's a gift shop near the summit, which we unfortunately couldn't visit — our train turned back from around 12,000 ft due to weather conditions. And yet, the journey itself was marvelous. Pikes Peak has a way of making you feel small in the best possible sense.

Twelve thousand feet up, with snow on the windows and mountain lakes far below — the train turned back and we didn't mind one bit. The view had already won.

The Cog Railway — every bend reveals a better view than the last

Snow at 12,000 ft — even in May, Colorado keeps you humble

→ Reserve Cog Railway tickets well in advance — they sell out fast, especially on weekends!

→ Prefer wheels to rails? You can also drive or take a guided Jeep tour to the summit.

→ Weather changes quickly at altitude, so carry extra layers. If you're driving up, check the road conditions before heading out.

🪨 Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is just 15 minutes from the Cog Railway's Manitou Springs station — talk about a rock-solid itinerary! 😄 We started at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, where the staff were wonderfully friendly and handed us a free map PDF. Spend a few minutes here — the exhibits explain how these towering red rock formations are actually ancient sea remains. The geology alone is worth the stop, and it gives those dramatic spires a whole new meaning when you're walking among them.

Ancient sea remains, now standing 300 feet above Colorado Springs

Balanced Rock — one of the park's most photographed formations

→ Entry to Garden of the Gods is completely free — no tickets, no reservations needed.

→ Go early morning for softer light on the red rocks and fewer crowds on the trails.

🏚️ Manitou Cliff Dwellings

A replica of the cliff dwellings of the Pueblo Indian people, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings are a fascinating and surprisingly hands-on stop. You actually get to walk around inside the structures — the low doorways, the stone sleeping chambers, the granaries — and feel the ingenuity it took to build this high up a cliff face. Budget around 30 minutes to an hour to explore at a comfortable pace.

After the dwellings, head downstairs to the museum, then browse the gift shop for Native Indian jewelry, art, and pottery. 🎨 It's one of those stops you almost skip on the itinerary and end up really glad you didn't.

🌉 Royal Gorge Bridge

Royal Gorge sits in Cañon City, Colorado — a 1,250-foot canyon carved by the Arkansas River over millions of years of patient, relentless work. The bridge itself was built in 1929 and hangs 956 feet above the river. Just imagine: the sheer force of the Arkansas River to carve something this ROYAL. 👑

With your entry ticket you can walk the suspension bridge, take the gondola across the gorge, and access the theater and multiple viewing platforms. We experienced absolutely gorgeous views of the gorge and the river threading below. If you're up for it, I highly recommend the glass gondola ride — the perspective from the middle of the gorge, with canyon walls on both sides and the river far below, is genuinely unlike anything else. After Royal Gorge, we drove south toward Crestone.

Royal Gorge — 956 feet above the Arkansas River, carved over millions of years

Royal Gorge Bridge — established in 1929, still the highlight of the walk

🧘 Crestone, Colorado

Crestone is a quirky little town about 50 minutes from Great Sand Dunes National Park, sitting at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the San Luis Valley. One thing that took us completely by surprise: it has tonsof retreat centres — stupas, a church, a Mahalakshmi temple. If you're into the spiritual side of travel, Crestone absolutely belongs on your list. 🙏

We were able to do stargazing right from our Airbnbsince Crestone is part of a Dark Sky community — zero light pollution, just the full Milky Way overhead. And to top it off, we were greeted by a pack of deer in the morning, wandering through the yard like they owned the place. 🦌 It's one of those towns that catches you off guard and stays with you long after you leave.

🛸 UFO Watchtower

On our way to Great Sand Dunes National Park, we stopped at the UFO Watchtower— a wonderfully funky roadside attraction about 35 minutes from the dunes. If you're even remotely curious about UFOs and extraterrestrial lore, this is your spot. And if you want to stay overnight and test your luck spotting something in the sky 😜, camping is available at the site for a small fee.

Fun fact: The San Luis Valley is widely regarded as one of the country's top UFO hotspots. The truth is out there… and apparently it's in Colorado. 👽

The UFO Watchtower — the San Luis Valley's most out-of-this-world roadside stop

One of the many roadside alien sculptures visitors have added over the years

🏜️ Great Sand Dunes National Park

What an adventure. Hiking, sandboarding, rolling, collapsing dramatically at the top — you've got it all here. The dunes are the tallest in North America and genuinely impressive at ground level in a way photos simply don't capture. One important heads-up: the park does not rent sandboards, so if you want to shred the dunes, rent one before entering from one of these locations:

1. Great Dunes Oasis Store — near the park entrance
2. Dune Valley Distillery — Mosca, CO
3. Spin Drift Sandboards — Blanca, CO
4. Sand Dunes Recreation — Hooper, CO
5. Kristi Mountain Sports — Alamosa, CO

Great Sand Dunes — the tallest dunes in North America, with a mountain backdrop that shouldn't exist

The climb looks short from the base — it never is

→ Start your dune hike early — the sand gets scorching hot by midday and the climb back is harder than it looks.

💧 Zapata Falls Hike

After the sand dunes, we went hiking to Zapata Falls in the afternoon — and it was absolutely worth the effort. 🥾 The trail is relatively short but the payoff at the end is spectacular: a hidden waterfall tucked inside a narrow canyon slot. There was still ice near the falls in May, and the water was ice cold — but after all the hard work on the dunes, it felt like the best thing in the world.

We also spotted several campsites at Zapata Falls for anyone thinking about an overnight stay. ⛺ It's a quieter alternative to camping inside the main park.

Zapata Falls — ice-cold water and still some snow in May

The trailhead — a short hike for a payoff this good

🦌 Wildlife Along the Way

On our drives toward Crestone and the Great Sand Dunes, we passed through the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, part of the wider San Luis Valley ecosystem. We spotted Gunnison prairie dogs, a coyote darting across the road, and a whole pack of deer that seemed entirely unbothered by our car. There were also birds I couldn't identify — maybe you can help me out? Let me know! 🐾

And while on the road between spots, we came across bison grazing by the highway and a few llamas in a roadside field. Colorado really is a wild place — in the best possible way. 🦬

🚗 Road Trip Tips

Texas to Colorado is a proper road trip — plan your fuel stops strategically. Love's Travel Stops are reliable all the way up, and most had a Godfather's Pizza as the adjoining food joint on our drive back. Surprisingly good, actually. 🍕 Buc-ee's is a must for massive fuel stops with virtually no wait — grab wraps, sandwiches, or any supplies you need.

→ For groceries during your stay, try Safeway in Colorado Springs or the charming Elephant Cloud Market in Crestone.

→ We booked Airbnbs throughout and cooked on a few days — Colorado Springs, Crestone, and the dunes area all have great options with kitchen access.

→ Cell service gets patchy in the San Luis Valley — download offline maps before you leave Colorado Springs.

🍽️ Food Highlights

📋 Bookings & Logistics

Colorado rewards the planners. Popular attractions sell out, and the distances between spots are longer than they look on a map.

→ Fly into Colorado Springs Airport (COS) or Denver International (DEN) — both work well for this itinerary

→ A standard sedan handles the full route — no 4WD required, though check road conditions for Pikes Peak if driving

→ Book Cog Railway tickets well in advance — they sell out fast, especially May through September

→ Royal Gorge Bridge entry can be booked online ahead of time to skip the gate queue

→ Great Sand Dunes uses the America the Beautiful annual pass — worth it if you visit multiple national parks

→ Rent your sandboard before entering the park — there are no rentals inside

🎒 Packing List

• Layers — even in May, Colorado will surprise you with snow
• Hiking boots or trail shoes
• Sunscreen & sunglasses — altitude means stronger UV
• Reusable water bottle — stay hydrated at elevation
• Hiking backpack — shop link
• Binoculars (for wildlife and gorge views!) — shop link
• Women's fleece lined leggings — shop link
• Men's winter fleece lined pants — shop link
• Snacks for the long drives between spots
• Offline maps downloaded before leaving Colorado Springs