Hi! It's been a long while. I know. The last time you heard from me, I was en route to Rwanda. That was an incredible trip, which I will discuss in more detail later. But first, my recent Colorado road trip. (Considering most of you are from the US, a trip to Colorado is far easier than one to Rwanda.)

My First Fall in Colorado

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In the midst of Colorado's fall colors peaking, I scooped up my camper van from RoadSurfer's new Denver location and headed west along I-70 towards Aspen. A fresh face in Colorado, this was my first fall adventure. (Which makes zero sense because I lived in Arizona, but it never crossed my mind to venture out from Phoenix in September.)

To help give you a little inspiration for 2026, here's a quick rundown of how my road trip was organized, and hopefully, it'll give you a few ideas.

With temperatures beginning to drop, having a camper van was a great choice for staying warm and cooking meals without going outside. Additionally, all four Roadsurfer camper options feature a refrigerator, stove, bathroom, shower, and bed. It's a fantastic way to explore, and with so much public land in Colorado, you don't even have to pay for campsites. (But please, keep your area clean and leave it better for the next person.)

2 Nights in Aspen

My first time in Aspen did not disappoint! The main focus was Maroon Bells, one of North America's most scenic destinations - especially for sunrise. You are required to have a reservation to enter, or you can hop on the shuttle.

However, the shuttle doesn't run early enough for sunrise, so you'll need to get a highly sought-after reservation if you wish to join the dozens and dozens of photographers waiting for the morning light ot hit the peaks. It was one of the most incredible sunrises I've ever seen. A small break in the clouds lit up the sky for three minutes. Then, as fast as it came, it went away.

Later that day, we left the crowds and went up Castle Creek Road for a great hike to Cathedral Lake. It was a challenging hike, but the views from the top were magical. Highly recommend. (6 miles, 2,000 feet of gain)

Considering we stayed in the campground, we decided to return to Maroon Bells again and watch the sunrise. Another magical experience unfolded.

2 Nights in and Around Crested Butte

After making breakfast, we headed west towards Carbondale, and then south. Our first stop was Penny Hot Springs, a small, natural hot spring alongside the road. After 75 minutes of driving, it was nice to stretch our legs.

From here, we headed up and over McClure Pass and toward Kebler Road. Although this is a dirt road, it's in excellent condition and has far more traffic than I could have imagined. But there's a reason why. It is FULL of yellow and gold aspen during the fall.

We started our relatively easy four-mile hike to an overlook spot from Horse Ranch Park (which allows dispersed camping). Hiking through aspen groves and past a beaver pond to reach our spot was beautiful, and watching the sunset on the far peaks made for a 10/10 day.

The following morning, after tossing up the drone, we headed down from Kebler Pass into Crested Butte. It was my first time here and I fell in love with the historic town and scenery. We grabbed a free campsite at Washington Gulch (dispersed camping), which has excellent views of mountains, aspen, and the valley.

Being in the Roadsurfer made it so easy. All I did was drive up and wa-la, I was good to go! Getting a chance to slow down in CB and enjoy the last few warm days was exactly what the doctor ordered.

1 Night in Ridgway and the San Juans

Driving from Crested Butte to Ridgway takes approximately 2.5 hours. I broke it up by checking out Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - my 36th NP! Considering it was midday, it wasn't a photography trip. Still, I enjoyed seeing a new area and bopping around to the various overlooks.

We made Ridgway State Park our home base. Many Colorado campgrounds close on October 1, so it was nice to find a spot with water and showers.

From there, we headed up to Owl Creek Pass. At 10,000+ feet, you get a lot higher than you realize, offering some pretty cool views. I recommend Deb's Meadow for photography and watching the sunset. We attempted a terrible bushwhacking hike, and I gave up halfway. Then, I launched the drone to ensure I didn't miss the sunset.

A quick shower and we were off to bed with another early morning in the books.

Unfortunately, it was a cloudy morning, and 12 minutes after we arrived, it started to rain. So that was a dud. Luckily, after grabbing coffee and breakfast, we went to the Dallas Divide Overlook and enjoyed the very windy, yet beautiful, conditions while taking in the view of Mt. Sneffels and the stunning San Juan Mountains.

I wish I had had more time to explore the San Juans. But that's what next year is all about!