Road Trip June 2024
By Marcella S. Meeks
In June 2024, I am taking several grandchildren, my two fur babies and maybe one other person (not sure yet who will be with us this early in the game), and we’re headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our first stop will be in Raton, New Mexico where we’ll tour the Capulin Volcano National Monument. We will be able to visit the extinct cinder cone volcano that is part of the Raton-Clayton volcanic field. We’ll spend a few hours there, stay long enough to have a picnic lunch on the grounds, and then head on over to Colorado Springs, roughly another three hour journey from Raton.
We’re going to visit the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center in Colorado Springs while we’re there. We are planning to stay a couple nights in Colorado Springs. We’re also visiting the Manitou Cliff Dwellings before heading out.
When we leave Colorado Springs, we’re heading over to Cripple Creek, Colorado (roughly an hour’s drive). We’ll be staying in Canon City, Colorado but we’re taking a scenic route to Cripple Creek by way of Shelf Road. But before we start on our tour, we’re going to ride the little Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge train, and then take a tour of a modern, real gold mine.
Shelf Road is by far, a beautiful scenic drive through almost 27 miles of dirt road. The road is well-maintained and accessible by any vehicle. It’s a slow drive (15 miles per hour) but the views and scenes are worth the drive, from what others have told us. We have never been this way before and it will be something new for us all. It’s not a dangerous road but it is rather adventurous. It use to be a stage coach road in days gone by, used to bring gold from Canon City to Cripple Creek. Today, it’s considered a tour for travelers like myself, and popular for rock climbing. It is a safe road and DOES NOT require a four-wheel drive in the spring and summer months. Shelf Road is apart of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway.
When we get to Canon City, we’ll stay there another couple of nights, I’m taking the family on the Skyline Drive Road a scenic roadway built by inmate labor back 1905. The road starts from U.S. Highway 50 and gradually inclines up the side of a ridge.
After we get settled in somewhere in Canon City, we will visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and have a picnic later in the evening somewhere on the bridge grounds.
The next day, I’m taking the kids to the dinosaur museum in Canon City and then out to the skate park for an afternoon picnic and a whole lot of free fun. The boys always brings their skate boards so this is the ideal place to be.
The next day, we’re going over to to Leadville and ride the afternoon train. Leadville Railroad & Train.
At this time, we contemplating staying 4 or 5 nights in Salida at the Creekside Chalets but that is not a definite yes just yet. We’re thinking about getting a cabin there and are trying to fit it in our budget and plans but want know for sure until a later date.
When we finish this tour, we’re heading up to Lake City where we’re meeting friends. We’re staying the next 3 weeks at The Texan Resort in Lake City. Our Friends will be staying at G & M Cabins.
Stay tuned for THE REST OF OUR COLORADO TRIP …
COMING SOON
Family Travel Host 
Very good adventure.
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