Anybody and everybody visits Denver, Boulder, or Estes Park when visiting Colorado. The real Colorado experience begins by visiting the small mining towns within that area while enjoying the scenic drive. Take a weekend because there are many places to stop and hike, take pictures, eat, and sleep in the Colorado Mountains.
Drive down from Estes Park on route 7 and look for the church made of stone with stain glass windows. Hideout Cabins are rentable at Allenspark ranging from $100 – $260 for a night. Take a bite at Meadow Mountain Cafe and dinner at The Fawn Brook Inn. Then continue from Allenspark, turning onto 72 to make a stop at Brainard Lake.
Brainard Lake near Ward is a prime example of a place less traveled. For a minimal $9, admission fee for the week the area can be accessed for hiking, fishing, and snowball fights in July. Skip rocks in the lake and watch for the moose eating his breakfast.
Drive from Brainard Lake to Ward, an artist’s town declining down the mountain. The town is not large but does have a General Store. As you, continue to Nederland look for the burnt land from forest fires. It is evident if you drive on Lefthand Canyon Drive.
Continue on 72 and make a stop in Nederland to eat at Whistler’s Cafe, Kathmandu, or Pioneer Inn for delicious cheeseburgers. Explore the town shops of Rustic Moose, Off Her Rocker Antiques, and Natures Own for souvenirs. Take a gander through Palette Gallery and Nederland’s Mining Museum for a history lesson. Then, go boating in Barker Reservoir on the edge of town. Finally, take a coffee break at Buffalo Bill’s Coffee and Ice place. Located outside of town on 119 is Sundance Lodge and Cafe. There are 12 rooms to stay in and horses to rent for a trail ride.
Road 119 takes you south to go hiking in Golden Canyon State Park for a minimal daily admission fee of $7. Vast varieties of wildflowers are viewable along hiking trails along with mountain bikers on some trails. Trails range in difficulty from easy to very difficult and they vary in distance. Rental cabins or guesthouses and campsites are other options at the park.
From Golden Canyon continue into Boulder or continue back on 119 and head to Black Hawk to gamble. Driving through the Colorado Mountains is enjoyable because of the rich history of the towns and of the old mining evidence left on the mountainsides. There is so much to see and do within that area. There are tunnels to drive through and the weather can change instantly requiring the driver to watch for falling rocks.