Monday, April 4, 2011

Rio Grande Trail: Part II in my funky trail guide series

How many trail guides have your read that start with the question:
"Would you like a glass of wine?"

Mt. Sopris from the Rio Grande Trail

That's how I started my Rio Grande Trail guide. I related an episode from my own experience on this Western Colorado trail gem.

The theme of the Rio Grande Trail Everytrail guide is how to enjoy the swanky town of Aspen for a not-so-swanky price. Of course, as always, the guide includes the ubiquitous trail map, points-of-interest, trail photos, and trail description. But in addition to the everyday, "this is here and that is there" type description, I tried to give a little taste of the trail experience rather than just the trail details.

Here are some of my favorite Rio Grande Trail memorable characteristics:

trail bridge over the Roaring Fork River

  1. The trail starts in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, one of the premiere adventure travel hotspots with whitewater rafting, top-notch hiking trails, ziplines, Segway trail tours, and of course biking trails.
  2. The Rio Grande Trail is 42 miles long, perfect for a day of pedaling and touring.
  3. Even getting to Glenwood Springs is fun with Amtrak service that lets you off right by the famous hot springs, hotels, restaurants and, best of all, two world-class bike trails.
  4. Aspen is a blast just to hang out, people watch, visit art galleries, and eat lots o' gelato.
  5. The RFTA transit system makes your return trip a cinch since it's found in handy locations and welcomes bikes on the bus racks.
I haven't even mentioned the fun towns in between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, or the trail activities, or the scenery, or the wildlife, or ....



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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Trail. Mt. Sopris is an impressive peak and looms so large in that area that it's hard to believe it's not one of the famed 14ers. In fact, it's not even a 13er.

trailsnet said...

On the same trip, I did some backpacking in the Snowmass area, and the higher peaks didn't look nearly as impressive from up close. It's the old "Can's see the forest for the trees" syndrome.
Sometimes it's better to get the big view of mountains from afar.

Anonymous said...

Hi - I am certainly delighted to find this. cool job!

Anonymous said...

Hi - I am certainly delighted to find this. cool job!

greatplainstrail said...

Beautiful Trail. Mt. Sopris is an impressive peak and looms so large in that area that it's hard to believe it's not one of the famed 14ers. In fact, it's not even a 13er.