Horseback riding available all over the state.  Grand Lake for example.

Nice waterfall a short hike from Grand Lake as well.

http://www.mountainlake.com/mlp/Falls3.htm

Check out the other scenery on that site:

http://www.mountainlake.com/mlp/Scenery.htm#location

Near Breckenridge a Forest Campground is available just outside Frisco.
 Peak One or Heaton Bay.  No hookups.  Flush Toilets at Peak One.

Usually lots of Elk and a moose or two near the west entrance to the park.

Since you will be on the east side of the park and intend to head west
you will have to decide if you are going to pull your trailer over trail
ridge road or go south to Denver and take I70.  Many pull even large
trailers over the top but you need a good tow vehicle.  Berthoud and
Eisenhower tunnel are over 10,000 feet.

Berthoud has had a lot of work for the past five years.  Now has passing
lanes on both sides.

Be aware this is mountain lion country.  Attacks are extremely rare but
often fatal.

When my wife ad I went out there 8 years ago we were still tent people.
I'd recommend going jeeping over the Continental Divide around the
Silverton/Telluride areas. That was the best $100 I ever spent renting
the jeep). The feeling of going up a old mining road and getting out
when we reached the pass was incredible. Standing in snow in late June
and not a single other person around while we looked out over the snow
capped mountains. The Central City area was a bust unless you like
gambling. They have at least brought back the town from near ghost
status but the old feel is now gone. The western side of Rocky Mountain
National park is much nicer because Estes Park has way too much of a
touristy feel to it. Camping at Pagosa Springs was very nice also and
the pass just east of there was beautiful. I'll never forget leaving out
of Silverton one morning during a snow storm in June and the sight of
the snow covered pine trees as we were heading up the highway north out
of Silverton. You and your family will have a blast.

Not to frighten you but friends of mine camped several places in CO in a
pop-up camper. A bear must have smelled food and ripped off the whole front
of the camper.  The camper was trashed.  She said had the bear got there a
bit sooner it would have entered while they were getting ready to leave for
the morning. Make sure you stay away from areas with bears. Since she passed
away last year I cannot find out which park this happened in.

-snip

-snip

Be sure and visit the Bishops Castle -The Largest One Man
Construction Project in the Country, quite possibly the World!

The easiest way to get to Bishop Castle is from I-25. Take exit
#74 at Colorado City and head towards the mountains. (right off
the exit ramp from the north and left off the exit ramp from the
south) This puts you on Colorado state highway 165 and it's 24
miles without a turn to the Castle. You will see signs for the
castle as you come upon it, and there's usually many cars out
front.

The Scenic Route, from Colorado Springs, is to take Hwy. 115
south to Florence, turn left at the first traffic light onto
Hwy. 67, turn right onto Hwy 96 in Wetmore and at the next
junction you will see signs for the BishopCastle. Turn left
there onto Hwy. 165 and it's 12 miles.

Bishop Castle can also be reached from the Salida area by
heading east on Hwy. 50 to Texas Creek and turning right onto
Hwy. 69 into Westcliffe. Turn left once in Westcliffe onto Hwy.
96 and travel until you see the Bishop Castle signs at the
junction with Hwy.  165. Turn right and it's 12 miles.

For more information, feel free to call the property at
719.485.3040

-- Bob Stan, I love simple things
<www.insty-grill.com>

Eric:
Boy you ask a lot of questions but it sounds like you have the loop figured
out.

1) RMNP is a great start.  We have been able to visit about 18-20 National
Parks and Rocky is at the top of our list.  Our biggest problem is we often
return there instead of somewhere new (we live in Kansas).  Glacier basin is
a beautiful campground with a nice panoramic view of the range.  There are
several good hiking trails very close to the campground a) Bear Lake -
short, scenic and not strenuous.  b) Breirstat (sp?) Lake Trail.  Trailheads
at Bear Lake and near Glacier Basin Campground.  Climbs to a lake on a ridge
between the two and back down - Moderately Strenuous but well worth it.
There are Many more good trails in the park.  Also, if you have fairly good
ground clearance, try the old Fall River Lake Road.  It starts near Sheep's
Meadow and takes you to the summit.  It is the old original summit road (you
do not need 4x4 but don't try it in a Camery).  Sheep's Meadow is a great
place to get a look at Bighorn sheep, elk and many other animals.  By all
means dedicate at least one day to crossing the divide on Trail Ridge Road
and spend some time on the West Side.  The Granby area lakes are beautiful
and there are some nice shops and restaurants on that side.  On a good day
you might see moose in the West entrance area.

You mention horseback riding.  This is available in the area between Moraine
Park Campground and Glacier Basin.  As memory serves me the meeting and
start location is just below Moraine Campground.  Also, don't miss the
evening campfires.  If shopping and shops are your thing Estes park is well
worth a day or evenings.  Several shops and resturants but crowded during
the summer and kinda pricy.

2) In my opinion Brekenridge is more of a winter destination but it is a
very touristy area.  Exception is Lake Dillon which does have a nice
campground.  I, personally would spend more time at some of your other
destinations.

3) Mesa Verde is a fascinating place.  If your kids are five or above the
whole family will love this place.  We have been there three times and each
offered new experiences.  During peak season you might have to rely on park
shuttles to get you to some of the dwellings but they do that pretty well.
Also check out some of the shorter day-hikes that are available on mesa tops
or along the ridges below the tops.  There is a very easy trail near the
campgrounds that takes you along the ridge on the North face of the main
park mesa.  It provides a spectacular view of Cortez, the desert and nearby
mountain ranges.  Very pretty evening hike when sun is going down and lights
are coming on below.

A short day-trip from Mesa Verde takes you to Four Corners (not really a big
deal but you can say you were there) and Ship's Rock.  Ship's Rock is
actually visible from several points in Mesa Verde but it is 1+ hours drive
to the South of Cortez.  It is a very interesting and photogneic volcanic
plug with rays of magma extending miles across the desert floor.

3) Main attraction in Durango is the Durango-Silverton train ride but you
will need reservations.  If you can't take the train, Silverton is an hour
or more North of Durango and well worth the drive.  There is another
excellent train ride the runs between Chama NM and San Antonito (sp? again)
Colorado (About 35 Mi south of Alamosa and the Sand Dunes area).  It
probably requires reservations too but they might be easier to get.  It is
called the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad and you have the option to take the full
ride from Chama to Antoinito or a half-trip from Chama to a halfway point
and back.  If you start from Antoinoto you take a bus to Chama and end up in
Antoinoto.  There is a very nice campground in Chama just minutes from the
railhead.

4) Great Sand Dunes.  Another great choice.  We have been there several
times and consider it to be one of the most peaceful among the National
Parks and Monuments.  This, of course will be tempered with summer crownds,
but the dunes change colors and personality as the morning and evening sun
sweeps across the sky.  The kids will love the dunes and be sure to throw in
a snow saucer or cardboard sheets for sleds.  Real sleds are useless because
the sink into the sand.  This is another good place to take in the evening
campfire programs.  The park campfire theater is on a mountain side that
provides a view across 100 miles of desert.  Like Mesa Verde, you can sit in
this area in the evening and watch shadows sweep darkness across the desert
as lights go on in Alamosa, Del Norte and other cities.

The campground at the dunes can fill and I recommend getting there by mid
afternoon.  Full or not there is an excellent alternative just 10-15 minutes
West of the National Park.  San Luis Lake State Park provides a great view
of the dunes from the west instead of the east.  The park also has hookup if
you use them.  We spent several days there two years ago and found the
afternoon 'light show' to be beautiful.  This occurs when the late
afternoon/evening showeres move across the mountains with the sun at you
back.  Rainbows and sheets of refracted sunlight pass across the dunes and
Sangere De Cristo range behind them.

A hidden jewel of the Sand Dunes/Alamosa area is the town of Lan Luis which
is about a one hour drive south of the Dunes.  San Luis is one of the oldest
towns in Colorado.  In addition to local culture you will be treated to a
feature that nearly floored us during our first visit.  A mountain on the
edge of town has a trail that leads to the top though the stations of the
cross.  Each station is depicted by 2/3 to life size BRONZE SCULPTURES.
These are world-class art as we found out after our first hike up the hill.
The artist that created the statues, Huberto Maestas, lived in and had a
studio on main street of the town.  Mr. Maestas has sculptures in churches
and cities across the world including the Vatican.  We were lucky enough to
watch him pour and separate a piece of a statue while we were there.  I am
not sure he still lives there but the stations are.  A drive from the sand
dunes to San Luis and then across the desert toward Say Antoinito will
provide you and your children with a great look at the local indian culture
as it is (Not all pretty but real).

By the way, Alamosa is a nice high-desert college town full of good folks.

5) As you work you way from Mesa Verde/Durango over toward Alamosa you will
cross Wolf Creek Pass.  At the east base you can head up a good canyon road
to the town of Creede.  This is an old, box-canyon mining town that is full
of things to see and friendly people.  Creede has good campgrounds including
the Antlers  http://www.colorado-directory.com/antlersriograndelodge/ just
outside of town.  This park is small, friendly and has an excellent
resturant.  By all means take time to drive the mining roads above Creede.
If you don't have 4x4, let a little air out of your tires because the roads
just above town are steep.  The only problem with Creede is it would be
considered an overnight or multi-day destination because it take an hour or
so to get there from the main highway.

6) Colorado Springs is OK but you might consider a night in Cripple Creek
instead.  It is another one of Colorado's old mining towns.  Unfortunately,
it like Blackhawk, Central City (both near Breckenridge) have been badly
compromised by the Colorado Gaming industry.  The problem with the springs
is it is a large tourist area and it is hard to choose quality during a
short stay.

By the way, don't worry too much about bears.  Talk to the rangers in the
national park areas and DO WHAT THEY SAY TO DO.  In 30+ years of camping in
National Parks and other areas we have seen two bears in Yellowstone (two
weeks in park) and about five in Smoky Mountain NP.  The park service does a
pretty good job of controlling and informing.  Lock food in your car and NOT
in the camper.  Keep the scent away from you living area and you shold be
ok.  We pull a 5th wheel now but pulled two different popups for years.

Lord, this has turned into a travel brochure.  Ignore typos, because I ain't
checking.  Good Luck and enjoy your trip.

RonB

---- SNIP -----

Just got back yesterday from two weeks in western Colorado. Great trip.

We usually dry camp so don't have much experience at RV campgrounds with
hook ups.

Stayed at Priest Gulch RV campground near Dolores, Right on Dolores River.
Trees between campsites, not much spacing. Good fishing.

Drove thru Telluride, wasn't too impressed. Liked Ouray. Took Million Dollar
Hwy to Silverton. Beautiful drive but make sure you're confident that TV can
handle STEEP. Lots of off-road activity in this area. Lots of Jeep rental
places, ATV guided trips. Lots of trails with some trails, I think, to
several of the "Fourteener's", Colorado's 14,000 ft + peaks.

Spent three nights at Lightner Creek RV campground just outside Durango. OK
campground, trees, marginal spacing, lots of amenities. Liked Durango area.
Durago-Silverton Railroad trip to Silverton is a must if affordable and
space available. Allday trip thru spectacular country. Try for outside
gondola car.

LOTS of rafting & fishing in Durango area.

Went up to Pagossa Springs to Wolf Creek Pass and Continental Divide and
camped at Lake City. Good fishing, pretty area.

Spent three nights at Three Rivers RV campground in Almont, between Gunnison
& Crested Butte. OK campground, no trees, no spacing, lots of amenities,
right on Taylor River. LOTS of rafting & excellent fishing. Head up to
Gothic & Irwin Lake beyond Crested Butte for LOTS of hiking, with some
trails to several of the Fouteener's, I think. LOTS of gorgeous, relatively
easy, wildflower hikes.

Headed to Buena Vista via Cottonwood Pass, 12,126 ft and dirt road.
Spectacular scenery. Decided to not take PU over Independence Pass so headed
to MIntern & I-70 to Aspen area. Lots to do in Aspen, VERY expensive. Camped
at Difficuat FS campground on Roaring Fork River 5 miles east of Aspen. Nice
camp site, on river, excellent fishing and access to tons of trails, some to
the Fourteeners, I think.

Hope this helps.

Have a Great trip.

Jim & Joan
Thousand Oaks, CA
2000 Coleman Cheyenne - 2000 GMC Yukon>