Western Colorado Road Trip – Chasing Stillness in the Mountains

There’s a kind of stillness you can only find deep in the mountains — and on this Western Colorado road trip, I found it.

Aspen, my adventure-loving pup, and I took off one weekend with no set plan. We drove through quiet mountain towns, winding highways, and endless curves that opened to stunning views. Eventually, we stumbled across a peaceful lake near Telluride, where two abandoned cabins stood quietly among the trees.

We pitched camp, breathed in the crisp spring air, and spent the day surrounded by snow-capped peaks and wild serenity. At one point, I snapped a photo of us — just me and Aspen, standing still under the wide Colorado sky, wrapped in that rare kind of calm you only get after a long drive and a deep breath.

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Reflections from a Western Colorado Road Trip

That stillness sparked memories.

Though I was born in the U.S., I spent nearly 19 years growing up in Tehran, Iran. I learned how to snowboard in the Alborz Mountains, and the rugged beauty of peaks like Damavand shaped my childhood.

For the past two decades, I’ve lived in Colorado — where the Rockies have shaped my sense of home just as deeply. Driving through Western Colorado reminded me of both places: two mountain landscapes, two homes, two parts of myself.

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Gratitude and Weight

This trip also came during a heavy time. Recent attacks on Iranian soil weighed on me — not because of politics, but because of people. I thought about friends, family, and the everyday folks just trying to live. Governments clash, but it’s always the people in between who carry the cost.

Out in the mountains, standing with my dog by my side, I felt both grateful for the quiet and deeply aware of the noise elsewhere.

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Why These Trips Matter

Sometimes adventures aren’t about itineraries or checklists. They’re about slowing down, listening, and letting a place remind you of what matters.

This Western Colorado road trip wasn’t long or complicated, but it left me with gratitude — for the stillness of the Rockies, for the memories of Iran’s mountains, and for the chance to hold both homes in my heart.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own Colorado adventure, you can explore more in my Colorado Elopement Guide, or see my reflections from hikes like Mount Yale, Grays and Torreys Peaks, or Twin Lakes.

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📩 Inquire About Your Colorado Elopement Here

For couples dreaming of a Colorado adventure of their own — whether in Telluride, Twin Lakes, or the alpine summits — I’d love to capture your story. Reach out here to start planning.