Weekend Trips
Two days. One packed car. Somewhere worth going.
Mini itineraries built around verified spots — a starting plan, not a script.
Suggested plan
The Clear Creek weekend.
Idaho Springs & Georgetown — the classic close-in weekend
- Drive time Under an hour from Denver on I-70
- Best season June through September (Guanella’s summit closes after Thanksgiving)
- Saturday St. Mary’s Glacier early (arrive before 8 a.m. — the $20 lots fill), lake time with the dog, then down to Idaho Springs for the afternoon
- Sunday Drive Guanella Pass from Georgetown, stretch legs at national forest pullouts, walk Georgetown’s historic downtown before heading home
- Dog notes Leash required at St. Mary’s; carry water — no running water at the trailhead
- Camp or stay National forest camping options exist off the corridor — but note dispersed camping is prohibited along Guanella Pass Road itself except designated areas near Grant
This is a suggested plan built from verified access details — not a diary of a specific trip. Conditions and fees change; check current info before you go.
Latest weekend trip guides
-
How to Actually Pull Off a Weekend Away With a Dog
Colorado / Weekend escapes How to Actually Pull Off a Weekend Away With a Dog Friday to Sunday,…
-
Fall Is the Best Season in Colorado and It Barely Lasts
Colorado / Seasonal adventures Fall Is the Best Season Here and It Barely Lasts Three weeks of gold,…
-
The Patio Rules Nobody Explains (And Why That Brewery Said No)
Colorado / Dog-friendly stops The Patio Rules Nobody Explains Colorado has an actual law about dogs on restaurant…
Keep exploring.
The pack-the-car checklist lives on the gear page.