Breckenridge vs Gunnison vs Aspen (Denver, Glenwood Springs: condo, hotel, home)

[mkwensky]

I am planning a trip with family to spend a week in one of these towns in late September or early October. How do they compare in terms of the following:

proximity to easy hiking (for 5 year old)
scenery (I like mountain streams and lakes)
reliable high speed internet (probably not an issue in any but just thought I'd ask)
weather - I realize it can get cold but I'd prefer not too cold, not too windy and no snow.
other kid friendly activities
covid condition

If there are much better places than these let me know. Thanks.

[interloper1138]

That's an interesting choice of places. Can I ask why you're deciding between those three?

Cold weather and snow will be possible at all of those locations for that time of year. Gunnison will likely be the warmest and driest of those three town for that time of year, though (but certainly not mid-winter when it's more likely to be the coldest). Gunnison is not a mountain town like Aspen or Break, though. You've got Crested Butte just up the highway and so true mountain access is certainly not bad, but not as close as the others. It does have the Gunnison river flowing near town, so that might appeal to you, though flow will be at its most minimal due to the end of the season.

Internet access shouldn't be a problem in any of those locations, just depends on the specific rental/hotel you stay at.

Kid activities will be more plentiful in the resort towns, though Gunnison does have some nice parks for kids to play at. Resort towns cater to tourists more, so you're likely to find kid-specific activities there.

COVID precautions should be more-or-less the same in each of those towns.

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

That's an interesting choice of places. Can I ask why you're deciding between those three?

Cold weather and snow will be possible at all of those locations for that time of year. Gunnison will likely be the warmest and driest of those three town for that time of year, though (but certainly not mid-winter when it's more likely to be the coldest). Gunnison is not a mountain town like Aspen or Break, though. You've got Crested Butte just up the highway and so true mountain access is certainly not bad, but not as close as the others. It does have the Gunnison river flowing near town, so that might appeal to you, though flow will be at its most minimal due to the end of the season.

Internet access shouldn't be a problem in any of those locations, just depends on the specific rental/hotel you stay at.

Kid activities will be more plentiful in the resort towns, though Gunnison does have some nice parks for kids to play at. Resort towns cater to tourists more, so you're likely to find kid-specific activities there.

COVID precautions should be more-or-less the same in each of those towns.

No particular reason why I picked the three. They're just the names of mountain towns I know. I also want to stay on the eastern side of the mountains since I'll be coming from that direction.
I've been to Breck before so I know it would work, and I thought Gunnison is a mountain town. Thanks for letting me know that's not the case.

[Melanzana92]

Gunnison is definitely a mountain town, but it's not adjacent to large mountains like Aspen and Breckenridge are. As in, in Gunnison you can't really walk out your door to the top of a mountain. It's situated in a wide valley.

That said, it makes a good basecamp if you want to do day trips from there. You have Crested Butte and the Elk Mountains to the north, Lake City and the San Juan Mountains to the south, and the Black Canyon national park to the west.

Breckenridge is the highest in elevation of the three and probably the windiest. Due to its elevation, it would be the most likely to get snow if a cold front passed over, and would likely be the coldest overall.

Leaves will probably be past peak at that time this year, and may be mostly gone, but leaf-peeping activities will actually be best out of Gunnison (up toward Crested Butte), followed by Aspen, and not so much in Breck (compared to Gunny and Aspen, at least).

Access from the east is pretty easy with all 3, but if you were coming from DIA, Gunnison is the farthest.

[StealthRabbit]

For a one week 'mtn vacation', with mixed ages, I would consider Glenwood Springs or Vail. If you want 'views' from your condo (shelter in place), Vail and Breckenridge would be closer to the east side.

Winter Park would be close to east side as well, more limited activities, not as 'tourist centric' as Vail / Aspen.

For true East Side (quick access), Estes Park (plenty to do for a 5 yo, )

[mkwensky]

Does it always take 4 1/2 hours to get to Aspen from Denver or is it because of road closures due to fire/other things?

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

For a one week 'mtn vacation', with mixed ages, I would consider Glenwood Springs or Vail. If you want 'views' from your condo (shelter in place), Vail and Breckenridge would be closer to the east side.

Winter Park would be close to east side as well, more limited activities, not as 'tourist centric' as Vail / Aspen.

For true East Side (quick access), Estes Park (plenty to do for a 5 yo, )

I've been to Glenwood Springs and liked the town and the hot springs, but didn't spend a lot of time there.
Are there easy trails within 15 minutes from the town?

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Does it always take 4 1/2 hours to get to Aspen from Denver or is it because of road closures due to fire/other things?

It's Labor Day Weekend. There are people starting to head to the mountains as we speak. Later this afternoon and tomorrow morning I won't be surprised if it spikes to 6 hours, and Sunday and Monday afternoon it will spike going the other way. The westbound bottleneck is roughly Genesee to Frisco. Eastbound is Silverthorne to Idaho Springs.

If you want to stay closer to the Front Range then also check out Buena Vista or Salida. Outside of prime tourist season Estes is good. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day it sucks big time. I refuse to go up there during the summer because it's overrun with tourons, and I don't find it enjoyable at all.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Planning a trip to the mountains in late September or early October and not wanting snow is an impossibility. It is supposed to snow here next Tuesday! Yes, that is early, but the point is that you can get snow anywhere in the mountains in September or October. Or it can be 60 degrees.

Also note that you are looking at the very off season time here. A lot of things will be closed because summer is over and the winter activities haven't begun. Plus, there are a lot of things closed for COVID, so you really will have to look into what is open as far as things to do.

Depending on where you are leaving from in Denver, it normally takes around 3-1/2 to 4 hours to get to Aspen. In good weather, with no closures on I-70.

[Mike from back east]

IMO Breckenridge and/or Vail offer the most chances to enjoy the area. Can jump on I-70 and get to other areas along the highway for fun stuff, like the Georgetown Loop tourist train over in Georgetown, COLO or go to the hot springs at Glenwood Springs, etc.

IMO Gunnison and Aspen are too far off the beaten path. Aspen is home to many of the ultra wealthy and as a poor boy from Baltimore that just isn't my crowd and I'd never go there.