Thanks all for your replies. We have never been to Colorado Rockies for a fall hiking trip. We are retired and typically take a 5 to 6 week trip - preferably timeshare plus Airbnb fill -in. We are currently in Glacier NP area after visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Crowds and lack of parking has been challenging without getting into the parks very early. Don't know if we want to repeat this challenge again next fall esp with timed entry into RMNP?
Always more RCI availability in Granby and Winter Park - never see anything for Estes Park even with ongoing search. Isn't Winter Park pretty far from RMNP trailheads? Would it be best to just pay for an Airbnb rental in Estes Park for a hiking vacation - how many days given the pricey rentals? Would you spend another week in the Granby or Winter Park TS after Stay in Estes Park?
Is stay in Vail and Steamboat advisable for easy to moderate hiking opportunities? How about followed by week at Pagoda Springs further south? DURANGO.?
Any other suggestions for an extended hiking trip within a 8 to 9 hr transit drive? Park City area? ZION NP area ( St George)?
I can't imagine dealing with timed entries, when we go to spend a whole week at a NP. That said:
Yes to RMNP for best hiking and Estes Park for probably best access, a week isn't too much time if you can get. I'd take Winter Park if I couldn't. We piggybacked 2 wks in CO: first a wk in Vail to acclimate to lower altitute, which had enough good but not spectacular hikes except 2 stand out: drives to Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, then enjoy the springs, and Maroon Bells near Vail. You can visit Breckenridge to get ready for high altitudes of RMNP, if that's an issue, it is for me. Our second wk in Estes Park featured daily excellent hikes. I know timeshare availability isn't what is used to be there, too bad.
We piggybacked Santa Fe + Pagosa Springs TS's. Pagosa had some good but not spectacular hikes except Chimney Rock, nice time spent at springs, drove to Durango, intended to drive up towards Telluride but there was a road closure. Then we headed onto Mesa Verde for a couple of days, then Chaco Canyon, circled back to Santa Fe to return the rental car, great trip.
Lots to see and do and hike to from St George: Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, Brian Head, Scenic Byway 12 with Kodachrome State Park and more, you can get as far as Capitol Reef, etc. Timing temps can be tricky: there was snow at Cedar Breaks, temps in the hundreds at Zion, this was in May. Desert hiking in high temps is really hard for me.
I loved Park City for summer hiking, lots of trails close by, also drove to Sundance for excellent hike, IMO it's an under-appreciated hiking destination.
btw my idea of a great fun trail is take a lift up, and walk down - lots of that near Park City. One of my favorite RMNP hikes was park at a lower lot, hitchhike a ride to upper trail head, and walk downwards. I could probably figure out which that was by looking at a park map if anyone asks.
Hope that helps.