-Get in the best shape of your life. There are plenty of elk on public land, no need for a guide unless you are set on only b&c bulls, or aren't in good enough shape to do without pack horses.
-Get blm and usgs maps of the areas you plan to hunt and scout on maps if unable to take some time to scout in person.
- read the colorado elk hunting university through and through here
http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/EHU.aspx
- don't plan on dragging your elk out of the woods like a deer back east. Be prepared to quarter and or debone in the field, and pack out your meat. Plenty of YouTube videos showing how to do this.
- enter in the lottery in April for the tags that you want. Either sex tags or cow tags will give you the best odds, but decide what and where you want to hunt. If you miss the draw, you can still get over the counter bull tags in 2nd and third season either way. First season tends to give the most favorable weather.
- have a good pair of binos, multiple layers of clothes. One big hunting coat won't work, the temp and weather changes too fast. Avoid all cotton, cotton kills.
- rifle, can probably use what you hunt deer with, anything 270 and up with quality loads will work.
- as far as which spots, most people are not going to give up that kind of information. You've got to put the time and research in.
- get excited, nothing else compares to a back country elk hunt