Day 1: Great Sand Dunes National Park- Partial Day

Arrive and rent sand boards (and wax) from Great Sand Dunes Oasis (about 4 miles outside the park). Check seasonal hours. The park doesn’t rent sleds, so you could also bring your own.
Start sledding/sandboarding on smaller dunes, then work up to the big ones.
Hike around and watch the sunset, the dunes are spectacular at dusk.
When you finish, drive to Holiday Inn Express Mesa Verde - Cortez (1 night) and check in.
Dinner stop en route: Chavolo's Mexican Restaurant (Del Norte).

Day 2: Mesa Verde National Park

Enter Mesa Verde and take the classic National Park sign photo.
Stops and overlooks: Mancos Valley Overlook, Montezuma Valley Overlook, Park Point North (highest point in the park).
Explore Far View Sites to see towers, reservoirs, and ancient houses (750+ years old).
Park at Chapin Mesa Museum/Amphitheater for food and walk the Petroglyph Point Trail (~2.4 miles) to see ancient rock art.
Spruce Tree House Cliff Dwelling — view from outside or book a ranger-led tour to go inside (seasonal).
Drive the Mesa Top Loop: stop at Pithouse, Navajo Canyon View, Square Tower House Trail (ancient cliff dwelling with tower), then Pit Houses and Villages.
Continue Mesa Top Sights and visit Sun Point Pueblo and Sun Point View Cliff Dwelling Overlook.
Stop at Oak Tree House and Fire Temple for additional cliff dwellings, then visit Sun Temple.
Take the Cliff Palace Loop — view Cliff Palace (ranger-led tours available), House of Many Windows, and Balcony House.
Hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail (1.2-mile roundtrip).
Near the park exit, detour to Cedar Tree Tower for more ruins. Note: Wetherill Mesa Road is seasonal and has additional sites if open.
Wildlife note: not a huge wildlife park, but black bears and other animals are possible sightings. We saw a black bear with 3 cubs cross right as we entered the park!
Drive overnight toward Rocky Mountain National Park (approx. 8 hours). Stay at Discovery Lodge (2 nights) (Estes Park).

Day 3: Rocky Mountain National Park

Enter RMNP via Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (take US-36).
Drive to the far end of the park first and work back toward the visitor center to avoid redoing stops later.
Hike East Inlet Trail to Adams Falls (0.6 miles roundtrip). This is a short, scenic waterfall hike; East Inlet Trail continues for longer treks.
Stop for the National Park sign photo and watch for wildlife — the park has abundant wildlife and long meadows that are prime moose habitat.
Walk the Coyote Valley Trail (roughly 1 mile, accessible gravel path along the Colorado River) for a chance to spot black bear, moose, or elk.
Lunch at Beaver Ponds picnic area. Look for beavers and other wetland wildlife.
Visit viewpoints: Fairview Curve (≈10,000 ft), Alpine Visitor Center (hike Alpine Ridge, 0.6 miles roundtrip), Gore Range Overlook, Lava Cliff Overlook, Forest Canyon viewpoints, Rainbow Curve.
Hidden Valley viewpoint and the Abandoned Beaver Colony boardwalk provide marsh and pine forest views.
End with the Cub Lake hike (4.6 miles roundtrip) — beautiful and moderate; great in fall.
Return to your accommodation for the night.

Day 4: Rocky Mountain National Park – Partial Day

Start at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and take Bear Lake Road for morning views.
Sunrise at Sprague Lake for a short hike and beautiful reflections at dawn.
Walk the Bear Lake loop (easy, stunning morning views) and then the West/East Alluvial Fan trails to see waterfalls and river features.
Lunch at Endovalley Picnic Area. Can be a moose viewing spot (we saw a cow with calf and a bull).
If time allows, drive Bear Lake Road and Moraine Park Campground road for elk viewing (rut season is in the fall, the elk will be screeching like crazy).
Conclude your trip and head to the airport.

Colorado

Passports and PTO