I blame that un-seat-belted, late 1970s family journey across the Mojave Desert for getting me hooked on the classic road trip. Ever since, the drone of late-shift driving, the redolence of possibility and the lullaby of boredom beckon me to the open road.
Last winter, my daughter and I dry-docked our 1974 VW Joy Bus to refurbish her interior. As we scraped and buffed the barnacled rust, dust and accumulated miles, we penciled future road trip stories on a sketchpad as visions for our renewed adventure mobile.
The 100 hours in our unheated garage were warmed by the voice of actor Joe Barrett narrating William Least Heat-Moon’s soliloquy Blue Highways: A Journey into America. His back-road sauntering convinced me that authentic road trips are best discovered along America’s two-lanes, the routes traced in blue on old-school Rand McNally road maps.
“Unforgettable experiences are born from the unexpected,” we read in the Wildsam Field Guides Desert Southwest. “And road trips, most especially, beg the traveler to write plans in pencil and trace routes on the fly.”
We complied, hitting the road with no real plans or reservations, just a general orientation west and south on a classic Colorado road trip. One thousand miles later, we returned with this bouquet of postcard highlights from Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Consider it your guide to similar adventure—just keep it traced in pencil.
Here’s our Colorado road trip itinerary.
1. RIVERSIDE REFUEL IN SALIDA
Start your Southwest Colorado road trip with a stop in Salida for a Big S Brown Ale and Roma wood-fired pizza at Amicas Pizza and microbrewery. Then walk two blocks to dip your feet in the rolling Arkansas at Riverside Park.
2. SOAK AWAY YOUR STIFF BACK AT A COLORADO HOT SPRING
Family owned and operated as a rural dude ranch since 1962, Waunita Hot Springs Ranch now welcomes day visitors. Old West cliffs create the perfect backdrop for the no-frills hot springs pool, and you’ll find authentic cowboy wear in the quasi gift shop. Day soak passes are available on a limited basis, so check the calendar or contact Wuanita Hot Springs directly for access.
3. GO DEEP IN THE BLACK CANYON
“No other canyon in North America combines the depth, narrowness, sheerness and somber countenance,” writes geologist Wallace Hansen of The Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Depth. It’s rumored that the deepest parts of the canyon receive only 30 minutes of sunlight each day. Drive 12 miles into the park on South Rim Road to the dead end at High Point, and walk out to Warner Point. Plan two to three hours to explore the vertiginous overlooks. Stay overnight in several campgrounds inside Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for $20 to $34 a night.
4. WORTH THE HIKE: OURAY BOX CANYON WATERFALL
Discover the culprit responsible for carving this dramatic box canyon by hiking up ramps and trails to the 285-foot Box Cañon Falls. Take County Road 361 south of Ouray to the trailhead.
5. BE A HERO ON THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY
The spectacular Million Dollar Highway from Ridgeway to Durango is the most avalanche prone road in the Lower 48, and no section is more treacherous than 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass. Check the road report first; Red is prone to closure from rockfall, slides and avalanches. We turned heads toward the top. Nobody expected our Joy Bus on top of this high alpine route.
6. SHANGRI-LA HOT SPRINGS SOAKING
The three indoor Shangri-La Soaking Pools are proof that the entrepreneurial gold miner spirit is still alive. Water is not from a natural hot spring, but the pools are quiet, simple and clean for $14 to $20 a person.
7. ACCESS INACCESSIBLE WILDERNESS ON THE DURANGO & SILVERTON RAILROAD
Hop a train for a perfect break from being behind the wheel. Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge rails—operating since 1882—to unlock wilderness grandeur inaccessible by car. You can choose from a variety of train rides, but plan on a full day.
8. RETRO REST IN DURANGO
Durango’s Siesta Motel offers a funky, throwback, mom-and-pop motor lodge-style stay. Look for the neon cactus. They call it “Durango’s best-kept secret,” but we think the secret is out.
9. EXPLORE ANCIENT HISTORY AT MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
We hiked to views of the cliff dwelling clusters of Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park. From May through September, you must purchase tickets for ranger-guided access to climb long ladders and scooch through short tunnels in the popular cliff dwellings.
10. FOUR IN ONE AT THE FOUR CORNERS
Earn your honorary Clark Griswold Vacation road trip badge at Four Corners Monument. Stand on the only point in the U.S. where four state lines intersect: Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
11. LAND HO! AT SHIPROCK
Once the throat of a volcano, Shiprock rises 1,583 feet above the high-desert plain. The magnificent Navajo Nation summit has been featured in movies from Easy Rider to Transformers. The site is sacred to the Navajos, so please respect the guidelines and enjoy Shiprock from a distance.
12. SOAK IT ALL IN AT OJO CALIENTE HOT SPRINGS
Like a treasure at the end of the road trip rainbow, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs delivers a high-end Santa Fe spa feel. De-stress soaking pools are notched into a sandstone cliffside safe enough for desert bandits like Billy the Kid. One hour from Santa Fe, 50 minutes from Taos, the collection of nine public mineral pools are world famous. Day soaking from $45 to $65 per person. Or choose from a variety of lodging options
More Colorado Trip Itineraries
We love a good road trip, but sometimes you want to stay enjoy the Colorado amenities close to home. Explore 13 different Colorado Springs trip itineraries in our Creative Stays series. Each one is hand-picked by a local artist, giving you insider tips for all their favorite places and things to do in Colorado Springs.
This article was originally published in August 2017 and updated in July 2024.
