Road Tripping on Colorado's Western Slope

Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure through the breathtaking landscapes of Western Colorado? Imagine driving through those majestic mountains, where every twist and turn unveils a new panorama of stunning beauty. With a brand new Subaru from rentalcarmontrose.com, your journey becomes more than just a drive—it becomes an experience of a lifetime. Readers of West of 105 receive 15% off your rental by using the code: WO105SUBARU

Day 1: Montrose

We kicked off our road trip by flying in to Montrose and picking up a Subaru Ascent from Rental Car Montrose. They have Crosstreks, Outbacks and Foresters in addition to Ascents, but we liked the fact that the Ascent can seat up to eight passengers and has plenty of cargo space. We also liked the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control, which provides excellent traction making it great for mountainous terrain.

With our Subaru packed and ready, we headed to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The car handled the winding roads effortlessly, giving us the confidence to explore every overlook and trail. Standing before the Painted Wall, we felt somewhat insignificant. We planned to come back at some point on the trip to experience the park at night as it is a designated Dark Sky Park.

We spent a couple of hours in the park and by the time we got back to the car evening was approaching and it was time for food and libations so we headed to Pomona Brewing. An Otter Pop IPA and a hearty portion of Bock Bock Fries (waffle fries, diced fried chicken tenders drizzled in queso and ranch and topped with jalapeños, bacon and green onion) was the perfect way to satiate our appetites. We then drove less than two minutes to Shelter Distilling where we sat outside and watched the Uncompahgre River flow by as the sun set—cocktail in hand naturally. The recently opened Fairfield by Marriott is walking distance from Shelter, and that was where we headed for the night.

Day 2: Ouray

The next morning, we set off for Ouray. Often referred to as the "Switzerland of America," the hiking here is amazing and accessible. We drove straight to the trailhead for Bear Creek trail which is a fairly strenuous trail that begins at Highway 550 and ends at the Yellow Jacket Mine. Switchbacks on the first part of the trail rise steadily for an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet and cross a large talus field of unstable rock, so watch your footing. There are lots. of ledges and cliffs, so hiking with dogs is not recommended. A burger at Maggie’s and a relaxing soak at Ouray Hot Springs capped off a pretty spectacular morning and afternoon.

After checking in at our lovely rental found through the Vacation Rental Collective and relaxing for a little while we took the Ascent for a pre-dinner cruise on the Million Dollar Highway. The car handled the steep, narrow roads with ease.

Dinner that evening was at the Bon Ton restaurant, a charming little place offering rustic Italian cuisine with a lovely and historic ambiance. The arancini, bruschetta and ravioli were all great.

Day 3: Telluride

Our final destination was Telluride, and we headed straight to Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado before heading back into town to sit with coffee and do some people watching before strolling around the charming downtown area, browsing shops and galleries including the fantastic Second Chance Humane Society Thrift Shop.

Lunch was at Brown Dog Pizza where we tried Detroit-style pizza for the first time. It was as good as we’d heard.

Famed for its ski resort, Telluride is equally amazing in the summer and offers just as much including the lift-served Telluride Bike Park which has a variety of interconnected trails. Telluride is also home to one of the the highest elevation golf courses in the world. Set atop Turkey Creek Mesa, tucked within the highest concentration of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks in the US, the 18-hole par 70, 6,546-yard course has stunning views guaranteed to take your breath away, possibly literally if you haven’t acclimated!

There are several excellent restaurants in Telluride including Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge and Noodle Bar and 221 South Oak. Similarly, there are some great places to stay. We opted for the very nice Peaks Resort & Spa which is also home to Mind Blown Telluride, an amazing magic show from magician Ty Gallenbeck.

Discover the Majestic Beauty of Western Colorado in a Brand New Subaru

Picture yourself behind the wheel of a reliable and adventure-ready Subaru, provided by RentalCarMontrose.com. Their fleet of top-of-the-line vehicles is designed to handle any terrain, ensuring that your road trip is smooth, safe, and enjoyable. Whether you're cruising along scenic byways, winding through rugged mountain passes, or exploring hidden gems off the beaten path, a Subaru is your perfect companion.