TravelDoorsOut

Hey guys, ill be in DEN in June for a weekend (Fri-Sun) simply because I love Colorado and who can say no to a 130r/t ticket!

We are looking for a hot spring place that is in the middle of mountains and I have been having problems finding it. I would prefer that this is in the mountains, good scenery, not a ginormous pool with slides and bunch of kids. We are flying into DEN and don't mind driving 2 hours somewhere to spend the night there on Sat.

Any advice?

Thanks!

pseudoswede

Glenwood Springs--but it's much closer to 3 hours away than 2. Not sure if there's anything closer worth going to.

TravelDoorsOut

We actually booked a nice little hotel in Streamboat Springs and there are some awesome hot springs nearby that my friend recommended who lives in Ft. Collins.

Now, can you recommend a scenic road? I was looking at google maps, do you recommend:

1- I70 to route 9 to route 40 (googles recommended way)
2- I70 to route route 40 and take that all the way up?

HawaiiTrvlr

I like the I70 to US 40 route only because I really like the Fraser Valley area. Steamboat Springs is about 150 miles from Denver and would take 3 hours or so.

Idaho Springs does have a hot springs and it's only about 40 mins away from Denver. Its a place called Indian Springs (south of I-70 and downtown Idaho Springs). It has a pool, individual hot tub rentals along with hotel rooms. Not nearly as scenic as Steamboat Springs but much closer.

TravelDoorsOut

Thank you for your input, but we already booked a room at The INN in Streamboat. So you think I70 is more scenic? How is the US9 to US40 ?

Doc Savage

Take I70, it is a beautiful route through Glenwood Canyon.

Be aware that if you come back to Denver on Sunday afternoon, you'll be sharing the road with tens of thousands of Coloradans who also went to the hills for the weekend. There can be slowdowns, nothing like ski season, but if you're trying to catch a plane don't let it catch you by surprise.

zdave

Highway 9 between Silverthorne and Kremmling allows you to bypass the 20mph switchbacks of Berthoud Pass in favor of Eisenhower Tunnel. Highway 9 is unremarkable by Colorado standards but you save time. I find Berthoud Pass spectacular.

While Doc Savage offers good advice on traffic, you don't get to see Glenwood Canyon between Denver and Steamboat. Using US6 between Golden and Idaho Springs will take you through Clear Creek Canyon without a clear time penalty.

TravelDoorsOut

Sorry for the confusion, US6 would that be from Den to Streamboat? I didnt notice that route on a map when I was looking. What would be the most scenic route? Being from Chicago, I am not really afraid of traffic. Plus this will be early morning.

Lastly, from Streamboat on the way back to Den, we were planing on driving through the RMNP and doing some hiking. I googled quite a few scenic routes, but would rather hear it from the locals. What is the most scenic route from Stream to Denver, through RMNP?

Thank you so much for all your help!

HawaiiTrvlr

US 6 only goes from Golden to near Idaho Springs. It is a nice canyon drive but can get crowded with fisherman, hikers (and a few rock climbers I suppose) and some casino traffic (there are 2 towns of casinos up Hwy 119).

I choose Hwy 40 over Berthoud Pass (yes there are a few switchbacks but its 2 lanes going up the mtn; 1 lane going down the other side). I haven't taken Hwy 9 from Frisco to Kremmling (as suggested by a few others). It probably would be quicker only because you are on I-70 longer.

As for your idea about coming back RMNP, it is doable and scenic. However the Trailridge Rd can close intermittently in the summer because of it's altitude and weather. Its 12,000+ feet at it's highest point. It can be a bit of a scary to the average driver because it is narrow and has some steep dropoffs. Normally the road is open by Memorial Weekend but because of late snow this year, it is still closed. I tried the road a few years ago in June and it was closed that day because of icy conditions. The good thing is that you would know before you entered the park. RMNP is a spectacular place though remember the elevation. While it is warm down in the valley, it is much colder at 12,000. I think it would take you 5-6 hours to go from Steamboat Springs through RMNP back to Denver. More traffic on the weekends too.

I would suggest to take Hwy 40 on the way up and Hwy 9 on the way back.

pseudoswede

Strawberry Fields? Don't forget that it turns into a "clothing optional" hot springs after sunset.

Coincidentally, we just got back from Steamboat. We did option #1 on the way up. Just be aware that there is major road construction a few miles south of Kremmling on Highway 9. It literally turns into a dirt and gravel road for a few miles. It might add about 15-30 minutes to your drive on top of what Google says. Contrary to the other posters, we actually like the scenery on Highway 9; but Highway 40 between Kremmling and Steamboat Spring is even better. I live in the southeastern suburbs, and it took approximately 3h35m (including Friday urban traffic and a McDonald's drive-thru stop in Silverthorne).

We did option #2 on the way back. It was also very enjoyable and it really isn't much longer of a trip. The canyon drive right before Hot Sulphur Springs and Berthoud Pass are all very pretty*. It took us about 4h20m, including one small hike and two photo stops.

* - With that said, the prettiest part of the drive is cresting Rabbit Ear's Pass and descending into Yampa Valley towards Steamboat.

pseudoswede

Actually, the worst traffic I experienced in the past year (including this year's ski season) was a random weekend in mid-July last summer. It took 90 minutes longer than normal on a Friday night, and 2.25 hours longer than normal on Sunday evening. No accidents, just traffic.

The drive down yesterday afternoon/evening was very easy.

pseudoswede

I PM'd with OP yesterday, but I'll just throw it on here just in case someone else needs it.

If anything, OP should drive I-70 (via Highway 6 to Idaho Springs per OP) to Loveland Pass, then take Highway 9/40 up to Steamboat. I think Loveland Pass is a lot more scenic than Berthoud Pass.

On the way back, OP will take Highway 40 to Grandby, then take Highway 34 through RNMP and back to DEN.

Proposed route

TravelDoorsOut

http://imageshack.com/a/img912/9592/ozKIV3.png

Does anyone know why its taking me to Central City instead of cutting across on Route 6 to get to I70?

pseudoswede

You can. Not sure why I couldn't get Google Maps to accept that, either.

zdave

I saw the same thing. That's a strange detour proposed by the map. Maybe Google is receiving heavy advertisements from the casinos?

The advice from pseudoswede about Loveland Pass is solid. I also find it more scenic than Berthoud. It would allow you to add a pass on to your trip while still using CO-9 to access Kremmling, which may be a bad idea given reported construction conditions. But, I'd look at this as a purely scenic detour as it does not offer any time savings.

Returning to Denver via RMNP would take a long time. Google does list this at 4.5 hours but this seems incredibly optimistic. Do note that it will cost about $25 or so to access the park.

While there is a ton to see in Colorado, I think you're in serious danger of adding a little too much to your weekend. It's very easy to spend all your time in the car. I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip no matter which route you take, and don't be afraid of leaving something on the table for your next trip.