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Vibrant pink and orange sunset sky over the towering red rock formations of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Colorado

Southern Colorado: Conservation, Stewardship & the Great Outdoors

Program No. 25645RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
19 meals ( 8B, 6L, 5D )
2 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The activity level for this program is “Let's Go.” Participants must be able to hike up to four miles daily over varied terrain. We will learn from the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Participants must be fully capable of participating in all planned program activities. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In the hotel meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 105 miles over the course of the day, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; paved sidewalks and gravel paths with moderate incline; standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 9,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will begin our journey with a stop at one of the area’s most iconic attractions: Garden of the Gods. Donated in 1909 to the city of Colorado Springs with the stipulation that it remain a free public park, Garden of the Gods welcomes over five million visitors each year. The red rock formations that the garden is famous for were created millions of years ago during a geological event called the Laramide Orogeny, where the Farallon plate collided at a shallow angle with the North America plate. Archaeological evidence shows that ancestral Native American people visited Garden of the Gods about 1300 BCE. Around 300 BCE, these people camped in the area. They are believed to have been attracted to the game animals and abundant edible plants. They used overhangs created by the rocks for shelter. We’ll spend some time learning about the site through the exhibits in the visitor center before returning to the motorcoach where a step-on guide will join us for a driving exploration around the park. We'll then go for a hike to immerse ourselves in the rocky landscape (combination of paved and unpaved, well-maintained dirt trails, 1.6 miles).
Lunch:
At the trading post.
Afternoon:
Heading west, we will stop at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center to learn from staff about this controversial and federally protected species. The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is one of only two sanctuaries in the country accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The sanctuary is home to a wide range of wolves, from the swift fox to the largest native canid in North America, the Timber Wolf. Also living within the sanctuary are two of the rarest wolves on Earth: the American red wolf and Mexican gray wolf, among others. We’ll walk through the sanctuary to meet the residents and learn about their role in our ecosystem as well as the sanctuary’s current conservation efforts. We’ll then board the motorcoach and continue our ascent into the Rockies and check in at our hotel in Salida.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Hiking up to 3 miles; paved and unpaved, sometimes uneven terrain with some elevation gains. Arkansas River hike is 2.2 miles roundtrip on unpaved trails; 114-foot elevation gain, limited shade. Standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 7,500 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will be joined by the owner of Badger Creek Ranch, who will discuss the benefits of regenerative agriculture systems that prioritize land stewardship, ecosystem health, carbon sequestration, and animal welfare. Certified by the Audubon Ranching Conservation Program, the Ranch offers apprenticeships and education programs to try to change public perspective about the ranching industry. We’ll learn how they produce food for the local community through sustainable practices and how they have created “a space that provides connection, education, and community.” We’ll be joined by a naturalist from the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) who will take us out by motorcoach for a hike near Salida. We’ll get an in-depth look at some of the flora and fauna in the region, learn about the river itself, and find out about the association’s public projects and educational opportunities provided to local communities.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll return to Salida and visit the Mt. Shavano State Fish Hatchery. As one of the largest trout hatcheries in the state, this facility produces over half a million catchable trout that are released into Colorado's rivers and lakes. We'll learn the rearing process and how this operation is one of 19 hatcheries that supports sustainable fishing which makes up $1.9 billion of the state's economy. We'll return to the hotel for a brief rest before heading into town for a dinner on your own.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 130 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off a tramway. Hiking up to 2 miles; paved and unpaved, uneven rocky and sandy terrain with some elevation gains. Standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 12,000 feet. *Mesa Creek trail is 1.4 miles roundtrip over rocky uneven terrain with steep dropoffs on one side of the narrow trail; 91-foot elevation gain, limited shade.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll check out of our hotel and ascend to 10,790 feet at the base of Monarch Mountain. From here we’ll take the scenic tramway up to the top of the Continental Divide and enjoy 360-degree views of five different mountain ranges. Built in 1966 by the Salida brothers Elmo and Mac Bevington, the Monarch Crest Scenic Tramway is the oldest working tramway in Colorado. We'll take in the scenery before returning to the base of the tramway. Next, we’ll continue our drive to Gunnison and head to the campus of Western Colorado University where we’ll hear a lecture from a professor on the intersection of outdoor recreation, sense of place, and community to help us gain a deeper understanding of what draws people to the area and what makes them stay.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will enter the Curecanti National Recreation Area, named after a 19th-century chief of the Ute people. Encompassing over 43,000 acres and containing Colorado’s largest body of water, Blue Mesa Reservoir, this is a popular area for hiking, fishing, and camping. We’ll drive alongside the reservoir before stopping to hike the Mesa Creek trail. This short trail begins beside Morrow Point Dam and runs alongside the Gunnison River. Back at the trailhead, we’ll reboard the motorcoach and follow the Gunnison River west to Montrose. We’ll check in to our hotel and take some time to relax before gathering for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, under 1 hour total riding time. Hiking up to 3 miles; varied terrain with inclines; standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 8,500 feet. *Warner Point trail is 1.6 miles roundtrip over unpaved, rocky trail; 426-foot elevation gain, limited shade. Includes several sets of wide stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today’s morning field trip will take us into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Carved out by the powerful Gunnison River over the last two million years, the steep-sided canyon was granted national park status in 1990 and contains some of the world’s oldest exposed rock. The canyon walls plunge 2,700 feet with some areas being so narrow that the bottom receives only minutes of sunlight each day. The Group Leader will narrate our scenic drive along the south rim as we view the lightning-bolt like streaks on the Painted Wall. We’ll then walk along Warner Point Trail and look for Mule Deer and Peregrine Falcons who nest on ledges in the canyon walls. Afterwards, we’ll return to Montrose for lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will have time to explore the Ute Indian Museum and learn about how, through adaptation and perseverance, the Ute peoples have maintained their cultural identity and and preserved the traditional Bear Dance celebration held every May. Next we will visit a local hops farm for a field trip and tasting. With over 400 craft breweries in the state of Colorado, discerning brewers are opting to partner with local growers to minimize carbon footprints and help support local communities. We’ll learn how this independent, family-operated, female-owned farm is focusing on maintaining healthy soil while using less water and creating less waste. Samples of a few varieties of beer will be available for tasting. We’ll then return to our hotel for a brief rest before heading out to dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time including stops. Getting on/off a train; riding for 1.5 hours. Walking up to 1 mile; paved and unpaved trails; standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 11,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Checking out of the hotel, we will depart Montrose and head south by motorcoach to the town of Ouray. Here we'll visit the Wright Opera House. Built in 1888, this is one of five historic opera houses in southern Colorado that were built to showcase the riches that the mining industry brought to the region. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look with a historian to see some original artifacts and learn about what it takes to preserve historic buildings in small towns.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Back aboard the motorcoach, we’ll take the Million Dollar Highway, one of America’s most scenic drives, to Silverton. Look for remnants of mining equipment in the peaks, canyons, and meadows we pass along the way. Once in Silverton, we will go to the train depot to finish our journey south on the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. From our steam train, we’ll experience the iconic Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and all of the Animas River Gorge. Upon arriving in Durango, we’ll check in to our hotel and adjourn for the day.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 70 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Hiking up to 3 miles; paved and unpaved, sometimes uneven terrain with some elevation gains. Chimney Rock hike is 2/3 mile round-trip over a rough, steep, rocky, unimproved trail on a narrow causeway with cliffs on both sides; 200-foot elevation gain, no shade. Maximum elevation approximately 7,500 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Before departing Durango we will head over to the Lake Nighthorse Recreation Area for a leisurely lakeside hike. Located only 2 miles from town, this reservoir serves as the prime recreational amenity for boaters, anglers, and water sports enthusiasts in the area. Next we'll head to Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock is one of the largest Pueblo II (900-1150 CE) communities in southwestern Colorado and is a Chacoan cultural “outlier.” The two spires that give Chimney Rock its name frame multiple astronomical alignments including the northern lunar standstill, summer solstice, equinoxes, and Crab Nebula. The Ancestral Puebloans incorporated their knowledge of astronomy into the design of their community.
Lunch:
Boxed lunches at Chimney Rock.
Afternoon:
We will continue our exploration of Chimney Rock before we continue to Pagosa Springs and check in to our hotel. We’ll then have the rest of the afternoon free to do as we choose.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 270 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time including stops. Walking up to 2 miles; standing up to an hour at a time. Maximum elevation approximately 10,500 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of our hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach and drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park. A preserve of over 150,000 acres, this park holds the tallest sand dunes in North America set against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. We’ll explore the main dunefield where a lack of trails means you get to choose your own adventure! View exhibits in the visitor center, hike through the sand to observe an ever-changing landscape, or dip your toes in the water at Medano Creek at the base of the dunes.
Lunch:
Boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will wrap up our time in the park and reboard the motorcoach to make our way back to Colorado Springs.
Dinner:
In the hotel meeting room.
Evening:
We’ll gather once more as a group for a wrap-up session in our hotel meeting room to share experiences and exchange farewells. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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