James and I spent a week in Colorado this spring! After spending three days in Denver with family (go check out that post here!), we set off to the mountains for four days of exploring Colorado JUST THE TWO OF US! You guys, this was the first trip we had taken just the two of us since our honeymoon. THAT WAS OVER THREE YEARS AGO. So, needless to say, four days in the mountains were just what we needed. Here’s what we got up to in four days in Colorado in May.
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Day 1: Leave Denver, stop in Golden, and arrive in Silverthorne
We checked out of our Airbnb in Denver, picked up our rental car at the airport and headed west! Our first stop was Golden, CO. Golden is a very cute downtown, and I felt like it definitely gave out “wild west” vibes.
After grabbing lunch, we set off of for the trail head. We drove up towards Chimney Gulch, found a place to park about a few miles up the road. There were so many bicyclists on the road so please be aware. The first few miles of the hike, I think it was called Chimney Gulch trail, were dirt trail, and again lots of bicyclists. It was pretty, but we got to the top we noticed there was a parking lot and this was were the good trails started!! So, take our advice and keep driving up the Lariat Loop Road until you get to a small parking lot.
We headed left towards the Beaver Brook trail. This is an advanced trail, not really because of the elevation gain but because of the trail and terrain. The trail is narrow and uneven, with a sharp drop off on the side for most of the trail. Picture large boulders and scrambling over rocks, between trees, with sweeping views of mountains and tall pines. This trail was definitely a highlight of our trip!
It’s a 10-mile loop, which unfortunately we did not have time to do because we had a date with Silverthorne! We walked for a few hours, did a bit of scrambling up some boulders, and then turned back.
For you beer lovers out there, Golden is the home of Coors Light and you can do a factory tour which I hear is very cool.
Next we drove up in the range towards Silverthorne. We checked into another Airbnb which was a sweet little 1-bedroom condo. This was our second experience with Airbnb and we loved it! If you guys haven’t checked out Airbnb, you need to consider if for your next vacation. Use our referral link for $40 off your first stay! Click here now!
This Airbnb condo even had excess to a pool! May is Colorado’s off-season, so we had the pool and hot tub to ourselves for about an hour! Bliss.
Related: 3 Day Denver Itinerary
Day 2: Hiking Mt Royal in Frisco
We woke up nice and early, packed our backpacks and headed to REI. There was a bit more snow than we expected, so I had to buy a pair of Yaktrax. I was so glad I did! They were definitely needed for the remainder of the trip.
Yaktrax are for your boots like chains are for your tires. It definitely made hiking on packed snow and ice MUCH more enjoyable and easy. Check them out on Amazon, here!
Okay so Mt Royal Trail is another advanced hike, and this time it wasn’t for the trail itself but for the elevation gain. It’s basically three miles UP. And I’m talking UP. Nearly 1400 ft gain in 4 miles.
James and I were worried this trail was going to be too short, or not challenging enough, but we were so wrong! During the middle-to-top section of the hike, we had to stop frequently to catch our breaths. We were also shedding layers quickly not only because the day was heating up, but we were working so hard. Once at the top, we were awarded with 180-degree mountain views. I think pictures do the best talking so i’ll leave these here.
For dinner (my birthday dinner!) we caught the bus and headed to downtown Dillon. We chose a place within walking distance to Lake Dillon.
Did I mention the free-bus system yet? The bus system is great and you can catch a free ride from Silverthorne, Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone, you name it…. Check it out here.
Anyways, at dinner our waiter told us there were moose in the parking lot! Of course we raced outside to see them but they were gone. I was so disappointed! That would have been a great birthday treat. We had overheard several other stories from people at dinner who had moose encounters, and I was so jealous! I so badly wanted to see a moose!
While we were waiting for our bus after dinner, we decided to walk around town. I saw a statue of a moose, and I said to James jokingly, “Oh look! A moose! Haha, just kidding it’s a statue”, and I kept walking toward it.
Only it wasn’t a statue. “That’s NOT a statue!” James said as he grabbed me. And he was right! IT WAS A REAL MOOSE. This thing was huge! Just munching on branches on the side of the road!
Locals had warned us not to approach a moose, because they can be very aggressive. So we quietly and cautiously crossed the street in order to get a better look at this beast from a safe distance.
Day 3: Hiking near Breckenridge
I had never been to Breckenridge, and really wanted to go explore the area. We pulled out our favorite hiking app, All Trails, (which is how we found all the trails I mention here!) and searched for intermediate-advanced hikes in the area. We chose the Mohawk Lakes Trail, which is a nearly 9-mile out-back trail that has a gradual ascent, with some steeper areas. The trail features several beautiful lakes and waterfalls – which were unfortunately covered in snow and ice when we were there in May. We could tell though how beautiful they would be!
Sadly, we didn’t make it to the waterfalls or the higher lakes because the snow was getting over waist-deep and I was slightly concerned about avalanches… especially when James said, “Yeah, let’s go this way, this part looks a bit avalanche-y”. OH GREAT. GOOD IDEA.
Psst! Like the photos in this post? Most of them were taken with our Go Pro Hero 5. Check them out here on Amazon, and make sure you read our Go Pro review!
Anyways, we made it pretty far for early May in Colorado without snowshoes. And we wouldn’t have made it NEARLY as far if we didn’t have our Yaktrax! We climbed up a boulder and had lunch with a spectacular 360-degree view of mountains. It was so incredible.
After our hike, we were soaking wet from post holing through the snow for hours, and ready to put our feet up, so back to our AirBnb we went. We took a quick soak in the hot tub, cleaned up, got back on the free bus and back to Breckenridge we went. It took us just under an hour and I think 2 or 3 buses to get there.
Downtown Breckenridge was so cute, full of restaurants, bars, ski shops and of course, souvenir shops.
James and I collect coffee mugs from places we travel to together. So I was on the hunt for the perfect mug! James however, was on the hunt for sushi. While he grabbed us a table, I literally ran from souvenior shop – to souvenior shop. Finally, I found the perfect mug and James got the perfect table at Bangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro and Sushi Bar.
James and I ordered happy hour drinks and happy hour sushi, and we really loved it! The place had an asian, eclectic, and rustic vibe and we kinda dug it!
James and I were thankful for the free-bus after a few drinks at happy hour, and headed back to Silverthorne. The unfortunate part of the free-bus is sometimes the buses don’t line up perfectly, which means you may have to wait an hour before the next bus.
So what to do? Thankfully, there is a new brewery right next to the bus stop in Silverthorne! I was so excited, not only had I been wanting to go to a brewery – but I had been wanting to go to THIS brewery because it was called Angry James. And it just so happened to be RIGHT next to where we were going to be stuck for an hour. Funny how things work out like that.
Angry James did not disappoint. They graciously let me sample several of their beers (I’m a picky beer drinker and like beers more sweet and less hoppy). I loved the concrete bar, glass garage door and large outdoor fire pit. Definitely check it out if you are bus hopping in Silverthorne, or not! Angry James is worth a stop.
Day 4: Back to Golden
Last day in Colorado. We packed up and checked out of our Airbnb loft. Our bodies were feeling it after 3 days of hiking in altitude. If we would have had more days in Colorado, we probably would have taken a break. But of course we had to get one last hike in before heading back to Michigan!
We decided to head back to Golden to hike Beaver Brook trail again. It was one of our favorites of the week, it was on our way to the airport, and we decided we could probably do a few more miles than we did on day 1. So that’s what we did! We hiked for a couple hours (that’s all we had time for!) and scurried up and over some boulders, and enjoyed the vast mountain views.
Honestly, our time in Colorado was just what we needed! We came back sore, but so refreshed and inspired. Book your tickets here, and use code TOP20 for $20 off, and get adventuring!
Hike On,
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*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*