Maybe you're set on Elbert, but if I was in Colorado without a car, here's what I would do.
Fly to Durango and catch the Durango Silverton train to Needleton or Elk Park and either head for Chicago Basin or some 13ers. No rental car required and no leaving a rental car to sit there at some trailhead.
To be honest, Elbert is pretty lame as far as mountains go. If coming from far away, I'd focus on the more interesting and scenic places myself, but to each their own.
Just a suggestion. Be aware that the above does include backpacking though and that may not be in your plans.
Where to Fly In?
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Re: Where to Fly In?
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
- Chicago Transplant
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Re: Where to Fly In?
On a related note, you could alter your plans to Rocky Mtn National Park. I did that without a car when I lived in Chicago by taking a shuttle to Estes from the airport. I also backpacked, but you wouldn't necessarily have to.Scott P wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:17 pm Maybe you're set on Elbert, but if I was in Colorado without a car, here's what I would do.
Fly to Durango and catch the Durango Silverton train to Needleton or Elk Park and either head for Chicago Basin or some 13ers. No rental car required and no leaving a rental car to sit there at some trailhead.
To be honest, Elbert is pretty lame as far as mountains go. If coming from far away, I'd focus on the more interesting and scenic places myself, but to each their own.
Just a suggestion. Be aware that the above does include backpacking though and that may not be in your plans.
There is also the Bustang now, which didn't exist when I travelled from our of state. Multiple places you could go from DIA in the mountains w/o a car. I don't think they service Leadville, but you can take a bus from Frisco to Leadville on Summit Stage or Vail to Leadville on ECoTransit.
The issue with shuttles/Buses is they aren't going to go to a trailhead, so you would have more walking from town or need to take a cab/uber or post here and see if you can pick up a ride etc. to get from town to a trailhead, but there are ways to avoid rental cars all together if you wanted.
"We want the unpopular challenge. We want to test our intellect!" - Snapcase
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"You are not what you own" - Fugazi
"Life's a mountain not a beach" - Fortune Cookie I got at lunch the other day
Re: Where to Fly In?
Waiting for Justin to chime in that you should just bike. What's the big deal?
Scott's right... hit the SJs. The Sawatch is very Sawatchy besides the Apostles. Or RMNP but if you go that route, brace yourself for the tourist crush.
Scott's right... hit the SJs. The Sawatch is very Sawatchy besides the Apostles. Or RMNP but if you go that route, brace yourself for the tourist crush.
Traveling light is the only way to fly.
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Strava: Brent Herring
IG: @colorado_invasive
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Re: Where to Fly In?
+1 on the Colorado springs recommendation. That is a wonderful airport.
Much smaller than dia, easy /cheaper to park, no shuttle from parking,
Just head inside, small security lines due to a lot less people. I used to use that airport a lot when I lived in Denver.
Much smaller than dia, easy /cheaper to park, no shuttle from parking,
Just head inside, small security lines due to a lot less people. I used to use that airport a lot when I lived in Denver.
Re: Where to Fly In?
Yep, I typically go from car to gate in less than 20 minutes at the Springs airport. In contrast, sometimes it cost more to fly from there...ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:43 pm +1 on the Colorado springs recommendation. That is a wonderful airport.
Much smaller than dia, easy /cheaper to park, no shuttle from parking,
Just head inside, small security lines due to a lot less people. I used to use that airport a lot when I lived in Denver.
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Re: Where to Fly In?
The other drawback is that almost every flight to/from the Springs is a connection. Unless you are coming from a hub for an airline that flies there, you're very likely going to be making a connection. Very often that connection ends up being Denver...jrs1965 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 12:51 pmYep, I typically go from car to gate in less than 20 minutes at the Springs airport. In contrast, sometimes it cost more to fly from there...ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:43 pm +1 on the Colorado springs recommendation. That is a wonderful airport.
Much smaller than dia, easy /cheaper to park, no shuttle from parking,
Just head inside, small security lines due to a lot less people. I used to use that airport a lot when I lived in Denver.
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Re: Where to Fly In?
+1. Skip all of the slow dirt road driving and the hoards of people climbing up to Colorado's high point. Park right off of CO-82 (beautiful road) and hike Elbert from the bottom! The views south towards La Plata are stunning.Chicago Transplant wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:26 am Edit: You could also go for the Black Cloud trail or park at the 2WD (paved) lot on the south road if you don't mind a longer hike. Black Cloud felt like more of a Wilderness experience than the routes on the east side.
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Re: Where to Fly In?
another bump of support for black cloud- absolutely love that trailECF55 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:14 pm+1. Skip all of the slow dirt road driving and the hoards of people climbing up to Colorado's high point. Park right off of CO-82 (beautiful road) and hike Elbert from the bottom! The views south towards La Plata are stunning.Chicago Transplant wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:26 am Edit: You could also go for the Black Cloud trail or park at the 2WD (paved) lot on the south road if you don't mind a longer hike. Black Cloud felt like more of a Wilderness experience than the routes on the east side.
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