2018 Summertime in Avon Colorado

Summertime in Avon Colorado….well at least a week. We had time share points to use and one of the resorts available to us is the Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon Colorado. This was a great place to stay and centrally located in this small town. What I will be sharing in this post is the highlights and what I consider the important things about this beautifully spectacular week in and around Avon Colorado.

Best line of the trip was from a shuttle driver between Lionshead gondola and the Vail gondola – “I came to Colorado for the winters and stayed for the summers”.

Hikes and walks

The hikes we chose were considered “easy” hikes, some actually said they were great for children. I guess I am more out of shape than a Colorado toddler because each night after our hikes I had to painfully lower myself into the whirlpool tub full of hot water and Epsom salt in order to be able to move the next day. Shout out to Walgreens, across the street from our place, for having Epsom salt. Don’t get me wrong, this was not a cure, just a little help so that my hobbling the next day didn’t look too bad. We hiked every other day so that I had a day in between to ache and groan and hopefully gain some strength back. I am pretty sure that the altitude was a huge factor. I did have to stop a few times if we were going up a hill or rocks to catch my breath. Next time, and I definitely want there to be a next time, I want to be in better shape to do more hiking. The scenery all around you is spectacular.

 

Royal Elk to Beaver Lake Trail is a beautiful hike across the top of the mountain in the Holy Cross Wilderness. We took the gondola from Beaver Creek Village, Centennial Lift, to the top of the mountain and walked across to Beaver Lake. You start at an elevation of 8120 and gain another 1187 feet by the time you get to Beaver Lake.  As we exited the lift Paul noticed a great walking stick. I picked it up and he became my best friend on all our hikes/walks. The walk across the mountain was 4.7 miles one way but it was an easy trail for the most part. The last 0.3 of a mile was uphill along the same trail that the horses take, so dodging road apples was necessary. We decided to walk down the Beaver Lake Trail to get back to our car. It was about a mile and a half shorter and I needed every inch I could shave off. I loved the hike and would suggest either route. There were wild flowers, beautiful aspen groves, and wild raspberries along the way. If you are not an experienced hiker look at the Hot Tips below for some suggestions.

Watch for signs of the altitude affecting you. I had trouble getting deep sleep. You could find you are short of breath, headaches, and very thirsty. Be prepared.

 

Upper Piney Lake Trail was the second hike we took. We wanted to see the water falls that were about 3 miles up. The drive to this trailhead was pretty crazy, it is a dirt road with severe divots/potholes so it will take you a while to get there if you are taking your time. The trail starts off at an elevation of 9397 feet and you gain another 350 feet. The trail started off at a beautiful lake and wound along the side of a mountain through beautiful trees and flowers. We saw a deer crossing the water in the marshy area above the lake. I was hoping to see a moose. I have been lucky in the past to name the wildlife I want to see and low and behold they are there at some point on the trip, not this time, no moose sightings. The trail seemed to go up hill the majority of the time. I had to stop and rest and lean on my walking stick quite a bit. There were log bridges with no handrails to cross, small streams you had to navigate on rocks, and some switch backs that seemed to go straight up, but I made it to the falls. There wasn’t a tremendous amount of water going over the falls but the sounds of the water and the rest on the rocks in this amazing mountain were well worth the hike.

We met a man and his dog (his daughters dog, actually) at the beginning of the trail. I guess he was an aspiring photographer because when we asked him to take our photo he spent the next 10 minutes having us walk the trail away from him and then back towards him so he could get some action shots. No “action” shots made the picture gallery but it was fun. That reminds me that most of the people on the trail had pups with them and were very friendly, both the people and the pups J

 

Cross Creek Trail is outside of Minturn and begins at an elevation of 8514 feet. We only planned on going a mile up the trail to get to the creek and wander around. It was a rocky ascent but of course the beauty was worth it. We took our shoes off and froze our toes in the cold mountain stream before heading back to the trailhead. See the pics.

The scenery all around you is what makes the summers in Colorado worth the trip. I love the colors, the serenity, and the vast openness that surrounds you. I bet the Fall in Colorado is spectacular, got to do that next time.

 

Restaurants we tried and do suggest

Vin48 Restaurant Wine Bar – great food and fabulous wine list. If your time is short make the effort to visit this restaurant we were very pleased with everything, meal and service included.

Bob’s Place –  for burgers and wings, these were some of the best wings we’ve had. Wish there was one a little closer so we could make it a regular spot.

Ein Prosit – German sausage and beer. Try the sausage platter with a couple of beers. They have a great outdoor patio that is perfect for enjoying the wonderful weather and the occasional pup that comes by with their owners.

Gashouse – In the city of Edwards and known for a place that serves wild game. This landmark has been around for 3 decades and also serves steak and seafood.

Crafthouse – We had lunch here after the Edwards farmers market. Great spot with fabulous food. If there was more time we would have gone back to try more menu items. Definitely try this place at least once if you are in the area.

The 10^th – at the top of the Vail gondola. We stopped in for a bite and to soak in the views. They are stunning from this spot and well worth a stop for at least a drink.

Route 6 Café – located in an Avon strip mall. The place was packed and for good reason. They had the “house puppies” on the patio for all to spend time with and the food was perfect after a morning hike. We had wings and burgers but the breakfast plates at the table next to us also looked like a must try.

 

Drives

If you have the opportunity while on a drive through parts of Texas and you see a Bucee’s, make the stop. It is a wonder to behold. A huge gas station, deli, market, department store and curio shop. There is so much to see here. Plan on taking your time to wander through the different sections. We order several kinds of jerky and breakfast for our road trip.

We drove to Avon from our home in the Dallas suburbs so we had that opportunity to take the 24 from Avon towards Pueblo Colorado. This is one of the most beautiful scenic drives I have been on. The 2 lane highway starts outside of Minturn and ends shortly before you get to a highway turn off towards Pueblo. The several over 14,000 foot giants (mountains) and beautiful valleys surround you. If you ever have the chance, please,  PLEASE, take this route. We wished we had a camper and could cozy up to a few of the spots we saw along the road and stay for a while.

The city of Avon has 5 roundabouts on the main road to keep the traffic moving so take your time and watch all your roads in and out.

 

Other to do’s

If you can’t hike daily, like me, spend some time at the……

• Farmers Markets – Vail Village, Minturn, Edwards, and Avon
• Free concerts in the park – Avon Live; Gerald R Ford Amphitheater in Vail
• Wandering the town
• Crossing the creek in Minturn or Avon. Wade or look under the rocks like you would as a kid

 

Make sure you take it ALL in don’t just check it off your list. Summer in this area of Colorado is something to savor.

 

Hot Tips

• There is a special lift ticket for 3 days of gondola usage for under a $100 that would be well worth it if you planned to hike and or ride up Beaver Creek, Vail, and Lionshead chair lifts. Look for summer rates and information or ask before you buy your tickets.
• Bring hiking poles if you have them and if not rent or buy them. I would not have been as comfortable on some trails without the walking stick.
• Bring snacks and lots of water on the trails. We had backpacks with us to carry a light jacket, snacks and water. Drink early and often due to the altitude, you will be better for it I promise
• If you read the Maui 2018 post you know that you need to bring your trusty sarong along with you on your hikes. You never know when it will come in handy; like a picnic in a meadow
• Avon city shuttle has routes around the city which include the City Market for groceries, Walmart, and into Vail Village if you like.
• If you are driving into Vail Village make sure you park in a free lot. There is one we were told was $50.00 for the evening. Confirm before you park.

 

I’m still working on a writing style that works for me and you so let me know your honest thoughts please.