Looking for info

[summitstep]

Hey folks.... I'm heading out in July and was hoping some of you might help me with a few bits of info
1) From Guanella Pass TH-to get to Leadville would you recommend I head back up to I-70 and down 91 or how is the drive if I continue down Guanella Pass road to Grant and on (and what is approx. drive time)
2) Does anyone have any feedback on Columbine Inn as opposed to Super 8? (both in Leadville)
3) How rough is 4wd section of South Elbert TH; I will have a 4wd, but it is a rental, so I don't want to end up with repair costs if it is too rugged-but would like to get farther up the road. Also, are there any pull offs along this section to park if I wanted to split the difference?

Thanks in advance for any input/tips.

[gonzalj]

Well, Guanella Pass Summit/TH was closed from the I-70 Georgetown side last year and not sure what I will be like this summer, but would say you should approach from the 285/Grant side. From 285 to the summit TH is about 15-20 minutes. Not sure about the columbine or super 8 in leadville, so I can't comment on that (I can say that there are camping spots on the s elbert trailhead that I camped at before I hiked elbert last summer). The 1st part of the s elbert 4wd trailhead is not bad (I have a 4wd honda ridgeline with about 8 and a half inches of ground clearance and was fine - just had to take it slow, but other than that you are ok). Before the official end of the s elbert 4wd road there is a river crossing with some massive rocks that you won't be able to cross (unless you have a very modified lifted jeep with 11 and a half or 12" of ground clearance) and it is about 1/3 to 1/2 mile away from the s elbert trailhead, but there is parking right before the nasty section and up to that point it is not that bad.

[summitstep]

Thanks for the S Elbert info and Guanella Pass as well. I heard about the slide; I was hoping it was cleared as we are staying in Georgetown the night before. Might have to rethink that now. Do you have any suggestions on a place near Grant, or somewhere near the southern access to G. Pass? Appreciate your time and help!

[peter303]

The cities to google hotels/motels for along Hwy 285 are Bailey, Grant, Pine.
I saw maybe three lodging places. There isnt a super lot of tourism along this stretch of 285
because its so close to Denver and locals just daytrip the 1.5 hours of driving each way to Bierstadt.
Otherwise the locals will camp. There are several developed campgrounds on both
sides of the pass. And lots of informal forest camping on the south side.
I-70 (the closed side of the pass) has a lot more lodging because there is a lot more recreation;
winter skiing, 14ers, mines, hot springs ...

[Jim Davies]

You could easily stay in the west part of the Denver area the night before and drive up the morning of your hike. Might be cheaper that way, and less of a drive from the airport the first day. Someplace like Lakewood or Littleton.

[gonzalj]

Yeah, I agree with Jim Davis, probably someplace in Littleton, Conifer or Bailey would be good to just jump on 285 and head there.

[scalba123]

The cities to google hotels/motels for along Hwy 285 are Bailey, Grant, Pine.
I saw maybe three lodging places. There isnt a super lot of tourism along this stretch of 285
because its so close to Denver and locals just daytrip the 1.5 hours of driving each way to Bierstadt.
Otherwise the locals will camp. There are several developed campgrounds on both
sides of the pass. And lots of informal forest camping on the south side.
I-70 (the closed side of the pass) has a lot more lodging because there is a lot more recreation;
winter skiing, 14ers, mines, hot springs ...

...any options in Fairplay?

[Jim Davies]

...any options in Fairplay?

A couple of motels, but it's almost 30 miles past the Guanella Pass turnoff in Grant.

[kimo]

Does anyone have any feedback on Columbine Inn as opposed to Super 8? (both in Leadville)

I stayed at Columbine Inn back in '07. I haven't used the Leadville Super 8 but I have tried other Super 8 motels throughout the southwest. Super 8 never again. In '07, Columbine was clean, comfortable, and quiet, much more so than any Super 8 I've stayed at.

FWIW - The Super 8 in Estes Park was rated one of the ten worst motels in America by the users of Tripadvisor.

...any options in Fairplay?

Fairplay has one of the best historics in Colorado: The Hand Hotel. I've stayed in many old hotels over the years and this could be my favorite. Each room has it's own personality and feel. The room doors are left open when not occupied. Make a reservation and then ask to tour the unoccupied rooms when you arrive. The best room in the house - well - you might know it when you see it. Our favorite is the Silverheels room.
http://www.handhotel.com/

Another option is the historic Fairplay Hotel. It reopened last summer. And it lives up to it's notorious reputation. After a late dinner at Millonzi's Italian (which is nice and tasty for a modest mining town and Kona Pale Ale was/is on tap) we walked into the dark lobby of the Fairplay Hotel. A group of ghost hunters were sitting around the fireplace waiting for "activity". Hmmm...we retreated to our room that had a screaming banshee for a shower head. I liked the place - it's one of a kind - but my girl not so much.

I've also stayed at the Western Inn on Hwy 285 as you enter town. It's a good place to just get some rest. But for a few extra bucks the Hand has it beat.

Never stayed at the monolithic Riverside Inn and probably never will.

[tmathews]

FWIW - The Super 8 in Estes Park was rated one of the ten worst motels in America by the users of Tripadvisor.

Ha, I saw that story, too, and having stayed there before I can vouch for its accuracy.

The Super 8's in Buena Vista and Gunnison are pretty decent, though.

[summitstep]

Hey folks....
Thanks for all the info and advice; trully appreciated. I have stayed at super 8 in buena vista and it was not bad. But I also did a last minute room in estes park and that is akin to bunking in an outhouse. I'll look into all these options - some of them sound interesting. Fairplay, especially Again, thanks all!

[jrbren_vt]

For Estes Park, I was happy with the Saddle and Surrey motel and would recommend it, not fancy, but clean and reasonably priced. It was exactly what I was looking for for my trip when I was there in summer 2009. http://www.saddleandsurrey.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;