Beat the Gas Price Blues with a Few Tips:

With gas at its highest prices in two years, you may find yourself less excited to head on a road trip, let alone leave your house for even just a few errands!

Here are some tips to help you spend less money at the pump:

• Find the cheapest of gas prices on websites like GasPriceWatch.com or GasBuddy.com.
• Cruise Control can save you big time when highway driving will help you keep a consistent speed and conserve gas.
• Be mindful of the speed limit. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is equivalent to paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.
• Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
• Enjoy a Train Ride through the mountains:
  - Manitou & Pike's Peak Cog Railway
  - Royal Gorge Route Railroad
  - Georgetown Loop Railroad - April - Dec
  - Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
• Remove unnecessary heavy, bulky items from your trunk, less weight uses less fuel.
• Avoid packing heavy or bulky items on top of your car, this restricts the vehicle's design wind resistance and will lower your mpg.
• If you have Over Drive use it. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Colorful Colorado -

Are you looking for a summer get away? Although fuel prices are high, A day trip can often be cheaper than a full-blown vacation. Providing an incredible opportunity to see some really cool sites and recharge those emotional batteries! Below is an offering of maps, and daytrip ideas to enhance the season.

Day Trips:

Colorado Cams - check before you go!

• The Black Forest
• Cuchara Pass
• Grand Mesa Trips (2)
• Kenosha Pass
• Peak to Peak
• Rio Blanco
• Royal Gorge
• Southwest Corner

More coming soon ...

Please before you go on any road trip into the mountains, always take along an emergency kit:

•  A blanket, jacket, gloves •  A first Aid Kit •  Fresh bottled water

•  A box of crackers or candy bars •  Flares, spare belts and hoses and a good spare tire •  A flashlight w/ fresh batteries

• A state map or reliable GPS • Charged cell phone • A little extra cash for emergencies

And always tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back.

The Black Forest -
A trip through the Black Forest between September 12th and October 31st will provide a different view each day. The fiery red outcropping of bushes and golden Aspen and Cottonwood stand out from the almost black Pines that make up the lush Black Forest. 1.5 - 3 hours.
The best time: Late Afternoon
Location: East of I-25 between Denver & Colorado Springs

Cuchara Pass -
Absolutely incredible views. Pack a lunch, this trip is a good 4 - 6 hours driving, but well worth the time spent.
Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon
Location: West of I-25 between Walsenburg & Trinidad

Grand Mesa Trips (2)
There are two options for this incredible ride through the Rockies.
Option 1: The Short Trip - Wind your way through Grand Mesa National Forest across Skyway and back to Grand Junction. 2 - 3 hours
Best Time: Daytime
Location: East of Grand Junction on Hwy. 65.
Option 2: The Long Way Home - From Glenwood Springs, this long and sometimes winding journey carves it's way through canyonlands, pastures and scenic mountain and ski areas. 4 - 6 hours.
Best Time: Early morning is filled with shadows and color.

Kenosha Pass -
This drive is filled with many wonderful surprises. Possibly the most breathtaking of all is the summit of Kenosha Pass where you come out of the rugged mountains to view the vast valley below. To see this you need to start your journey across the pass from the East headed West. Of course you can park at one of the turnouts atop the summit, but it is not the same.
Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon
Location: West of Baily for the summit.

Peak to Peak -
A Front Range favorite. No matter how you get to this stretch of road you will enjoy a combination of exhilarating curves through steep and gorgeous canyon walls as well as some valley driving where viewing the Aspens can be seen from a far or up-close. A working radio is excellent on this trip because you can pick up Denver stations for most of the trip. 2 - 3 hours.
Best Time: Late Afternoon before Dusk
Location: Between Estes Park and Morrison Through Blackhawk. Enjoy this 30 second drive through Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rio Blanco -
From the headwaters of the White River and through White River, Routt and Arapaho National Forest you will see some of the biggest Aspen trees in the state! There is a stretch between Meeker and Craig that holds unbelievably beautiful scenery. Take a little extra time to walk among the turning aspens between Craig and Steamboat. Take a picnic. 3 - 6 hours.
Best Time: Early morning for the start. Or time your start to arrive in Steamboat Spring at Dusk and spend the night. You deserve it!

Royal Gorge -
Through Manitou Springs and over Wilkerson Pass, there should be enough fall colors to fill a dozen rolls of film. Some of this area is heavily wooded and can be enjoyed at dusk, unfortunately, this is in the middle of the trip, therefore the rest of the ride would be in the dark - and that would be a waste! 2 - 4 hours.
Best Time: Any Daylight hours.
Location: West of I-25 between Colorado Springs & Pueblo

Southwest Corner -
Last but certainly not least! This is possibly the most beautiful part of Colorado of them all. The red soil, the deep forested mountain side, the ride through the four corners region is incredible. If you have a little extra time ( like a few days) take the Devil's Highway (Hwy. 666) into Utah. That is an excellent appetizer to the Grand Canyon on another trip.
Best Time: Early morning - definitely! All day time is good.
Location: West Durango to Cortez. Telluride is a good place to stop for lunch. :-)