Have some flights booked May 31-June 5. Trying to figure out where to stay. Have 4 kids 4 through 13.

Thinking Estes Park. Don't want to go into Breck as summer activities are not open yet I believe and may still have a lot of snow.

If we did Estes Park would do 2 days in the National Park, maybe a 2 hour drive to Georgetown for the train. What else is there to do with the kiddos around Estes Park besides the national park.

national park will still have lots of snow. Trail Ridge Road will likely be closed.

all hiking trails / jeep roads at elevation likely to still have snow pack

Should that be a deal breaker?

Time entry starts May 24th so I assumed it would be somewhat okay?

nhamp07 said:

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Should that be a deal breaker?

Time entry starts May 24th so I assumed it would be somewhat okay?

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It typically opens in late May. Last year it opened May 26 so you might be ok but it depends on the snow. I'm assuming they have the timed entry somewhat synced with their expected open day.

If I were coming from out of town, I'd delay by a week or so just to increase your chances of being able to drive through.

Any other places better?

I have the time off already. Maybe Colorado Springs area?

Maybe? I just don't think Colorado is the best bet right then. It's kind of weird shoulder season. Could get snow at elevation still (maybe you want that?)

Rafting is too intense likely with early season melt.

Are you dead set on CO?

nhamp07 said:

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Any other places better?

I have the time off already. Maybe Colorado Springs area?

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go down to the sand dunes.

Or out west to durango/mesa verde/ 4 corners.

I wouldn't come until at least the middle of not the end of June. You'll be in peak mid month otherwise.

Sand dunes will already be pretty spicy hot at that time as will rabbit valley Knowles overlook etc. I typically rec running those in April/May.

Estes Park, go to the YMCA of the Rockies.

Bookings open April 1st for "summer ". They have camps for kids, cabins with everything you need and can rent supplies as well.

Been twice and great place to go.

~egon

I was in Beaver Creek for Memorial Day with kids years ago. As everyone has reported, high elevation snow will not be melted. We also found some restaurants and businesses not open, or with limited hours. That being said, we found plenty to do and had a great time. A day in Glenwood Springs is fantastic and pretty much year round available.

nhamp07 said:

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Should that be a deal breaker?

Time entry starts May 24th so I assumed it would be somewhat okay?

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If you're fine with the possibility of hiking with snow shoes or spikes then it shouldn't be a deal breaker. The park is beautiful when snowy.

We are currently in the Colorado Springs area. Lots to do around here. Garden of the Gods, downtown Manitou is great, spend the day in Woodland Park & go to the Dinosaur Resource Center, go to Divide (where we are currently staying) & go to the Wolf Sanctuary. Drive to Lake George & through 11 mile valley. Hit up Iron Tree Restaurant & Brewery in Florissant....best damn food we've had. Wish we could have gone to the national park in Florissant....but currently snowed in.

My post from another thread:

Salida is one of our favorites. Great for kids... depending on how old yours are, they can walk around on their own to grab ice cream, go to the arcade, etc. Buena Vista is ~20 minutes away, but we very much prefer to stay in Salida. Both are on the Arkansas River.

- Tons of fishing in the area.
- Hiking everywhere. Plenty of 14ers if you want a serious challenge. There is a guy that does hikes with llamas that our kids loved when they were younger.
- ATVs - go to the Fourmile Recreation Area outside of Buena Vista. Rent RZR's. So much fun, but be careful.
- Hang out by the river in Salida and rent boogie boards/stand up paddle boards/tubes, etc. COLD, but you get used to it.
- Bike rental places if that's your thing.
- Go rafting out of Buena Vista. If you are there in early June, there will be rapids to satisfy everyone.
- On our last trip, my son (13) and I got dropped off in Buena Vista, rented kayaks, rode the river down to Salida where we got out and dropped off the kayaks. Walked back to the rental house.
- Good restaurants and breweries.
- The elevation is not that extreme, and it's warmer than most other areas.

Stay as close to F Street and the river as you can and just walk everywhere.

As others have stated, Estes/RMNP would be better later in the summer. Beautiful place, but you'll have a hard time getting to a lot of it.

You won't be able to do much at that point around Salida. The Arky will be raging and the CPs will still have snow. You are really better off pushing it back a couple weeks. Almost ever hike that's not towards Hecla Junction will be snowed up still.

Yeah, pushing back a few weeks would be ideal. We spent all of June there in 2020, and didn't have any issues. But you are correct, the Arkansas will be much more friendly in the second half of the month.

We were in CS and Fairplay Memorial Day week last year for a wedding. Pikes Peak was incredible with a lot of snow up top. It was still chilly and we hiked Hoosier Pass near Breck in a snowstorm on May 31st last year. Fun but chilly!

If you're going May 31st - beginning of June, I'd recommend either Fruita for Colorado Monument and Rabbit Valley/Knowles Overlook/McInnis Canyon if you don't mind the heat or up on Grand Mesa for something a little cooler or maybe Mesa Verde. I wouldn't be trying to time anything in the high country. Sand Dunes are cool, but not much else out that way at that point in the season.

Also to someone else's point, MOST of the high country will be either closed or on very limited hours during that time. You may catch more open because it's after Memorial Day, but a lot of places will still be on limited hours.

In 2021 we did Colorado Springs, Montrose, Ouray, Silverton, and Great Sand Dunes the first two weeks in June and had great weather other than a couple days.

2020-2021 and 2021-2022 were very low snowpack years. 2023 is an above average snowpack year. Ouray will likely still have snow and be quite muddy and Silverton will without a doubt still have snow. It probs won't even be muddy, it'll still be covered.

I live in Estes Park during the summers and it's a wonderful place. Don't let the snow keep you away. I've gone on many runs in the park in late May in shorts + thin long sleeves - what a feeling being on the cold snow with the warm sun.

Your kids will enjoy the park, and it's nowhere near as cold as winter. The hiking is still great, but you'll want to bring (or rent) microspikes for traction and bring warmer clothes and layers.

The park services aims to open Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake around Memorial Day, but a late snowstorm could prevent that. The road should at least be open to Many Parks Curve and possibly Rainbow Curve. The main areas - Bear Lake corridor and Alluvial Fan / Lawn Lake area should be open regardless. There's also the mountain coaster, lots of shopping, and great pizza at Antonio's.

Timed entry isn't a problem so long as you have your reservations, either advanced registrations or the day before. It shouldn't be too difficult that time of year.

LMK if you need any specific pointers or recommendations.

AggieT said:

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As others have stated, Estes/RMNP would be better later in the summer. Beautiful place, but you'll have a hard time getting to a lot of it.

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Dude has 4 kids 4-13… He's never making it to sky pond no matter the time of year with that crew. And probably a loud car for too long of a scenic drive.

As another poster said, Estes is still great with kid even with snow. We'll be there for a bit before a buddies wedding in April.

Find a cool house with a decent basement, play in the mountains/get muddy, relax in the evenings/spend a day just enjoying the view and playing with your kids. You could also always drive down to Fort Collins for a day or something too if you have to plan everything out to a t.

It's mostly about expectations. If you're prepared for the conditions, it's still a great trip, if you aren't, you're gonna be someone writing a dumb bad review even though it's known mud season. Or your could be a snobby local and try to plan out the perfect time which is way easier when you live close by vs when you can make it happen in life. As someone who used to live in Colorado, being there in mud season is better than not going or putting it off and never getting around to it.