9 Days On The Road With My Six Year Old Daughter

[ab1985]

I’ve had my eye on a trip to Colorado for a while now but work and life kept getting in the way. A few weeks back my daughter and I finally got away for an adventure. She’s six and starting 1st grade on Monday. We’ve been discussing and planning the trip loosely since the spring. By loosely, I mean we knew where we wanted to go, how we would get there, and how long we had to stay. Beyond that everything was day-to-day.

We left Saturday the 25th from Nashville, TN. Our two day drive took us 1,400 miles through TN, KY, IL, MO, KS, and finally CO. We arrived in Lake City, CO as the sun was preparing to set on Sunday and set up camp on Lake San Cristobal. The next morning we had breakfast, then I went over the maps to plan a route while my daughter tried her hand at some angling (no luck).

The morning view from our Land Cruiser’s pop-top:

“Fishing”:

Preparing to head into town:

 

[ab1985]

We stopped off in Lake City to get fishing licenses and a few other supplies. We had lunch at Restless Spirits Saloon (great people) and dessert at San Juan Soda Company. I had been there as a child and thought it was neat to see my daughter bellied up to the soda counter drooling over the menu. With our stomachs full we headed off to towards Engineer’s Pass.

My goal was to spend only a few hours a day in the car so we took it easy enjoying the scenery while exploring – stopping often to get out and stretch our legs. We called it a day around 11,000 feet and found a great camp site right on Henson Creek.

Lake City:

Heading up Engineer’s:

 

[ab1985]

We were up again early Tuesday. We ate breakfast, planned our route, and took a few pictures before breaking camp. Our plan was to take Engineer’s Pass to California Gulch to Corkscrew Gulch to Hwy 550 then up to Ouray. It was a longer day on the trail than the previous, but my daughter handled it like a champ and even slept for an hour on Corkscrew.

We made it into Ouray late in the afternoon and had lunch at the Goldbelt Bar & Grill then hit the Hot Springs. Ouray was a great little town and maybe my favorite of the entire trip. We stayed at 4J that night in a little spot right on the river behind a cabin they had decided to rent out that week. Dinner and town and warm showers the next morning made for an energizing stay in town.

Camp in the morning just shy of Engineer’s pass:

Heading up the pass:

Making our way to Ouray:

Made it to Ouray:

 

[ab1985]

On day 5 of the trip we grabbed warm showers at 4J and a great breakfast at Cavollo’s before leaving town. Our plan for the day was to drive over Imogene Pass into Telluride, see the town a bit, then camp somewhere further south on 145.

Imogene was easily my favorite trail of the trip. The scenery was beautiful, and the first section leaving Ouray was just challenging enough to pique my interest without making my daughter seasick. She actually fell asleep in the car (starting to see trend) and had to be woken up for a picture at the top.

In Telluride we ate lunch, hung out at the city park, and restocked on supplies (candy and high gravity micro-brews). We ended up camping at Sunshine Campground just south of town. At the time I didn’t realize Alta Lakes was just a couple of miles down the road. But our neighbors were hospitable and we struck up conversations which was fun. My daughter made a little “town” and a flower headdress for her chipmunk, Nuts, that attracted a few passerby’s for photos. I made a nice beef stew for dinner and we watched the sunset over the mountains:

Heading towards Imogene:

Black Bear in the background (I promised my wife we would not attempt):

Telluride:

Frustrated by this fishing thing:

Sunshine Campground:

 

[ab1985]

Next morning we had snacks and coffee and set our course toward Ophir Pass. We didn’t really have a plan other than to see Silverton and find a place to camp. Ophir was an easy trail but very scenic and a quick way into Silverton. In town we had breakfast at the Brown Bear Café. I’m still dreaming of the green chile salsa they smothered all over my hashbrowns.

From there we went and explored Animas Forks then drove up over Cinnamon Pass. Our search for campsites kept going and going and going… we seemed to have hit a busy point in the week… and we ended up back outside Lake City at Lake San Cristobal. That night my daughter played with the kids at the site adjacent to ours while I enjoyed adult conversation for the first time in a few days.

Ophir:

Silverton:

Animas Forks:

Cinnamon Pass:

 

[ab1985]

The next morning we said goodbye to our new friends and went into to town for breakfast at Lake City Café. They, thankfully, were also serving wonderful green chile salsa. We spent the next couple of days headed east through CO, NM, TX, OK, AR, and finally into Tennessee.

 

[ab1985]

All in all it was a great trip. I was proud of my daughter and how well she did. She was glad to be home, but she’s excited to tell her story this week at school when they ask here what she did this summer:

 

[FJRanger]

Great trip. Moments like these are what make being a parent so rewarding.

 

[unkamonkey]

Nice report, it looks like both of you had a good time. I ddn't do any exploring when I was in Tennessee, I'm sure there are some special places there as well.

 

[ab1985]

Nice report, it looks like both of you had a good time. I ddn't do any exploring when I was in Tennessee, I'm sure there are some special places there as well.

We love Tennessee. Lots of beautiful places to explore. Nothing as wide open as the west, though

 

[ab1985]

Great trip. Moments like these are what make being a parent so rewarding.

Agree x2

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Great trip.

 

[unkamonkey]

We love Tennessee. Lots of beautiful places to explore. Nothing as wide open as the west, though

The rig I was driving was over 37' long, not too good for offroading. The Natchez trace was a nice drive. I was out there for the Trail of Tears motorcycle ride.

 

[mph]

Well played dad...My favorite shot is of her was in the cafe in Telluride...great lighting!

Until next year, right

 

[stioc]

What an awesome daddy/daughter trip! Mine's a few years older but a daddy's girl through and through, they grow up so fast! We'll be doing almost exactly the same trip starting next week and pretty much the same situation as far as the planning; have a general idea of where and what places we want to see but no definitive itinerary.

Nice LC80 btw, I remember following your 4Runner build some time ago but hadn't seen updates on the LC in a while.