One Week in Colorado Hiking the Manitou Incline, 2 14ers, and visiting Breckenridge and Denver: Trip Summary

Saturday, August 22, 2026: Chicago to Denver to Manitou Springs

• United flight at 10:55am from Chicago to arrive in Denver at 12:45pm

• Picked up rental car from Avis

• Drove from Denver to Manitou Springs to check into the Cliff House at Pike’s Peak

• Wandered around Manitou Springs

Sunday, August 23, 2026: Manitou Incline and Colorado Springs

• Hiked the Manitou Incline

  • Hiked from 6:00am to 10:45am

• Wandered around Colorado Springs

Monday, August 24, 2026: Manitou Springs to Breckenridge

• Drove from the Cliff House at Pike’s Peak to River Mountain Lodge in Breckenridge

  • Stopped at Wilkerson Visitor Pass

Tuesday, August 25, 2026: Mount Sherman for sunrise

• Hiked Mount Sherman for sunrise

  • Hiked from 3:45am to 10:30am

Wednesday, August 26, 2026: Quandary Peak for sunrise

• Hiked Quandary Peak for sunrise

  • Hiked from 3:45am to 2:30pm

Thursday, August 27, 2026: Breckenridge

• Wandered around Breckenridge

Friday, August 28, 2026: Breckenridge to Red Rocks to Denver

• Checked out of the hotel at River Mountain Lodge

• Hiked Red Rocks Trading Post Trail

  • Hiked from 9:00am to 10:30am

• Dropped off the rental car at Avis

• Took public transit into downtown Denver

• Checked into hotel

• Dinner at Osteria Marco in Larimer Square

• Celestia at Saint John’s Cathedral

Saturday, August 29, 2026: Meow Wolf, Denver Botanic Gardens, and LoHi

• Meow Wolf

• Lunch at Chef Zorba’s

• Denver Botanic Gardens

• 54Thirty Rooftop Bar

• Dinner at Uncle

• Nightcap at Avanti

Sunday, August 30, 2026: RiNo Art District and Denver to Chicago

• RiNo Art District

• Took public transit back to the airport

• Flew from Denver to Chicago