Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Colorado! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Colorado.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
|
Colorado is situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The state is dominated by big mountains, with
58 peaks exceeding 14,000 feet ("the fourteeners") and hundreds more just below that. Outdoor lifestyles are the norm on Colorado, and people continue to flock to the state because of it. You can expect world-class hiking, skiing, offroad driving, scenery, and whitewater rafting just about all over the state. It's an extremely expensive state to visit, but also one of the finest.
|
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN COLORADO
|
Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Colorado? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Colorado, in no particular order:
✮ Explore Rocky Mountain National Park in your vehicle and/or on foot
✮ Hit one or several of the many breweries found in and around Fort Collins
✮ Take a guided tour of ancient ruins at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado
✮ Jump on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango for one of the most scenic railway journeys in North America
✮ Enjoy a concert at the outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheater
✮ Relax in one of Colorado's famous developed hot springs pools
✮ Hike up one of Colorado's big mountains (there are many mountains over 14,000 feet tall)
✮ Go whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River
✮ Go skiing or snowboarding at any of the state's famous ski areas (e.g. Aspen Snowmass, Telluride, Vail, etc.)
✮ Climb the sand dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park
If I could select only one place to visit in Colorado, I would choose the southwestern region of the state, using Durango as a base camp.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
|
5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN COLORADO
|
Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Colorado. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Colorado bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Dinosaur National Monument, Jensen - features river canyons, fossils, desert scenery, scenic driving, whitewater rafting, and petroglyphs
✮ Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs - take an easy walk to see a 280-foot waterfall that is among Colorado's best waterfalls
✮ Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle - the highlight of this state park is a triple 70-foot tall waterfall flowing over a travertine dam
✮ Steamboat Ski Resort, Steamboat Springs - one of the premier ski resorts in the U.S.; located in an "authentic cowboy town"
✮ Strawberry Park Hot Springs, Steamboat Springs - one of several popular developed hot springs pools in Colorado; reservations are required
✮ Tubing the Yampa River - a popular summertime activity in Steamboat Springs; many start at the 5th Street bridge and float from there
✮ Whitewater rafting the Green River - one of several excellent whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado
✮ Whitewater rafting the Yampa River - one of several excellent whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado
Western Colorado (including Grand Junction and Montrose)
✮ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose - visit an impressive dark and deep canyon; both the north and south rim offer views
✮ Colorado National Monument, Fruita - highlights include a scenic drive and hiking trails that pass sandstone and other desert rock formations
✮ McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Fruita - a remote park with an abundance of natural arches; a 4x4 vehicle or long hike required
✮ Museum of the Mountain West, Montrose - an indoor and outdoor history museum with a collection of historic buildings
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride)
✮ Box Canyon Waterfall & Park, Ouray - walk an elevated walkway into a tight gorge to see an 85-foot waterfall
✮ Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride - one of Colorado's best waterfalls; 365-feet tall!
✮ Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Dolores - contains 1,000s of archaeological sites, incl. cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and kivas
✮ Downtown Durango - a lively historic downtown with many shops and restaurants; one of my favorite downtown areas in the West
✮ Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores - one of the best hot springs resorts in America
✮ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango - one of the best scenic railroads in the contiguous U.S., if not the #1 best
✮ Ice climbing in Ouray - one of the best places in the U.S. for ice climbing
✮ Mesa Verde National Park - guided tours of what are arguably the most impressive ancient ruins in the U.S.
✮ Million Dollar Highway/US-550 - a twisty scenic drive with excellent views of the surrounding mountains; not for the faint of heart
✮ North Pole-Santa's Workshop, Cascade - a Christmas-themed amusement park with rides, magic shows, and workshops that is open May-Dec
✮ Offroad driving tours in/near Ouray (e.g. Imogene Pass, Yankee Boy Basin) - offers some of the most scenic off-road driving in the U.S.
✮ Offroad driving tours in/near Telluride - legendary off-road driving trails; some of the best 4x4 trails in the country
✮ Ouray Hot Springs, Ouray - a series of small developed hot springs pools in Ouray, a town dubbed the "Switzerland of America"
✮ San Juan National Forest - one of America's most beautiful national forests; amazing hiking, backpacking, and 4x4 driving
✮ Soaring Tree Top Adventures, Durango - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Telluride Mountain Village Gondola, Telluride - take a free, scenic 13-minute gondola ride from the town of Telluride up to Mountain Village
✮ Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride - one of the premier ski resorts in the U.S.
✮ Whitewater rafting the Animas River - one of several excellent whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado
✮ Whitewater rafting the Dolores River - one of several excellent whitewater rafting rivers in Colorado
Central Colorado: Aspen & Glenwood Springs area
✮ Aspen Highlands, Aspen - one of Colorado's best ski resorts; famous for its Highland Bowl; "some of CO's best steep, big-mountain skiing"
✮ Aspen Snowmass, Aspen - one of the premier ski resorts in the U.S.
✮ Downtown Aspen - upscale downtown area packed with shops, art galleries, and restaurants; an extremely expensive area
✮ Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs - a mountain top family-fun center with lots of activities (coasters, giant swings, etc.)
✮ Glenwood Hot Springs, Glenwood Springs - soak in the the world's largest mineral hot springs pool
✮ Hanging Lake, Glenwood Springs - take a steep hike to see waterfalls flowing over travertine rock formations; permits required
✮ Independence Pass / Highway CO-82, Aspen - one of CO's best paved scenic drives; includes an excellent ghost town and many scenic views
✮ John Denver Sanctuary, Aspen - free park with landscaped grounds and engraved rocks honoring the singer; live performances in season
✮ Maroon Bells, Aspen - take a shuttle and then a moderate hike to see what are arguably Colorado's most beautiful mountains
✮ Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway - one of Colorado's best paved scenic drives; starts in Aspen and ultimately branches to head to either Minturn (near Beaver Creek) or Copper Mountain
Central Colorado: Crested Butte & Gunnison area
✮ Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte - one of Colorado's best ski areas
✮ Crystal Mill, Gunnison - take a guided 4x4 driving tour to see an exceptionally photographic historic mill in front of a small waterfall
✮ Curecanti National Recreation Area, Gunnison - a series of three scenic reservoirs fed by the Gunnison River; very popular for boating
Central Colorado: Breckenridge, Georgetown, Leadville, and Vail area (near I-70)
✮ Arapahoe Basin, Keystone - one of Colorado's best ski areas; known for its extended season (it often stays open until June)
✮ Beaver Creek Resort, Vail - one of the premier ski resorts in the U.S.
✮ Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail - a beautiful high-elevation botanical garden (one of the world's highest)
✮ Breckenridge - a small and historic ski town with great mountain scenery and world-class skiing/snowboarding; has a lively downtown area
✮ Breckenridge Resort, Breckenridge - one of Colorado's best ski resorts in one of Colorado's best ski towns
✮ Capital Prize Gold Mine Tour, Georgetown - guided tours of a historic gold and silver mine
✮ Copper Mountain, Copper Mountain - one of Colorado's best ski resorts
✮ Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown - popular narrow gauge railroad rides
✮ Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (The Amp), Vail - a beautiful outdoor performance venue
✮ Guanella Pass (CO-381) - one of Colorado's best paved scenic drives; tops out at 11,669 feet and provides views of Mt. Evans & Mt. Bierstadt
✮ Keystone Ski Resort, Keystone - one of Colorado's best ski resorts
✮ Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, Leadville - take a scenic, high-elevation railroad ride
✮ Loveland Ski Area, Georgetown - one of Colorado's best ski resorts
✮ Main Street, Breckenridge - a lively historic district / tourist area in one of Colorado's best ski towns
✮ National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum, Leadville - stories and exhibits celebrating mining history
✮ Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway - one of Colorado's best paved scenic drives; starts in Aspen and ultimately branches to head to either Minturn (near Beaver Creek) or Copper Mountain
✮ Vail Mountain Resort, Vail - one of the premier ski resorts in the U.S.
✮ Vail Recreation Path - a popular, 8.75 mile paved bike path
Central Colorado: Buena Vista and Salida area
✮ Buena Vista River Park, Buena Vista - a public "whitewater play park" with river surfing and beginner-level whitewater kayaking
✮ Captain Zipline, Salida - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Monarch Mountain, Salida - a great, medium-sized ski area that lacks the crowds of the more popular ski areas in the state
✮ Whitewater rafting the Arkansas River - this is the most commonly rafted river in Colorado
Central Colorado: Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs area
✮ Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, Manitou Springs - guided underground cave tours
✮ Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs - one of the finest medium-sized zoos in the U.S.
✮ Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs - scenic park with tallgrass and beautiful red sandstone fins/spires
✮ Manitou Springs Incline, Manitou Springs - climb 2,700 steps in only one mile to gain 2,000 feet in elevation; a unique fitness challenge
✮ Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, Cripple Creek - guided underground gold mine tours
✮ National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado Springs - a relatively new museum with many historic planes on display
✮ Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Calhan - a colorful geologic park located about an hour northeast of Colorado Springs
✮ Pikes Peak - hike, drive, or take a cog railway up this famous 14,115 foot mountain
✮ Pikes Peak Cog Railway - take a ride to the summit of Pikes Peak on the world's highest cog railroad
✮ Pikes Peak Highway - a 19-mile paved toll road that ends at the top of Pikes Peak; outstanding views along the way
✮ United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs - self-guided tours of the prestigious military academy
Southcentral Colorado (including Alamosa, Canon City, and Pagosa Springs)
✮ Bishop Castle, Rye - visit a three-story stone castle that was built entirely by one man; one of Colorado's most famous roadside attractions
✮ Colorado Gators Reptile Park, Mosca - wildlife park with alligators and other reptiles
✮ Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - Colorado's most impressive sand dunes; the climbable dunes are framed by large mountains
✮ Hot Springs @ The Springs Resort, Pagosa Springs - one of several excellent commercially developed hot springs resorts in Colorado
✮ North Clear Creek Falls, Creede - take a short walk to visit one of Colorado's best waterfalls; roughly 100 feet tall
✮ Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Canon City - one of the most spectacular pedestrian bridges in the U.S.
✮ Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Canon City - popular 2-hour railroad rides in 1950s-era trains
✮ Royal Gorge Via Ferrata, Canon City - one of only a few places in the U.S. that offer guided via-ferrata climbing (you must try this!)
✮ Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours, Canon City - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Skyline Drive, Canon City - a one-way paved scenic drive that follows a razorback ridge that overlooks Canon City
✮ Treasure Falls, Pagosa Springs - a 0.5 mile hike leads to a scenic 105-foot waterfall
✮ Wheeler Geologic Area, Creede - a long hike or 4x4 drive within Rio Grande National Forest to one of Colorado's geologic wonders
✮ Whitewater rafting the Arkansas River - this is the most commonly rafted river in Colorado
✮ Wolf Creek Ski Resort, Pagosa Springs - one of Colorado's best ski resorts; this resort typically receives the most amount of snow in the state
Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain National Park - a scenic road with hiking trailheads that lead to some of Colorado's best mountain scenery
✮ Benson Park Sculpture Garden, Loveland - an outdoor art park with more than 150 sculptures
✮ Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, Boulder - a series of preserves that offer more than 145 miles of trails; see the famous Flatirons
✮ Breweries in Fort Collins - the Fort Collins area has more than 20 craft breweries (e.g. New Belgium Brewing)
✮ Colorado Chautauqua, Boulder - a nature and cultural park with lodging, 40 miles of hiking trails, historic buildings, live music, and more
✮ Cycling in and around Boulder - the Boulder Valley has more than 300 miles of bikeway, including 50 miles of designated bike routes
✮ Downtown Estes Park - a lively and attractive high-tourism area with many shops and restaurants
✮ Eldorado Canyon State Park, Boulder - a popular and scenic park with great hiking, rock-climbing, and picnicking; limited parking
✮ Estes Park Aerial Tramway, Estes Park - take a mountain cable car up to the summit of Prospect Mountain for scenic views
✮ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Fort Collins - an excellent science, history, cultural, and children's museum
✮ Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park - one of the classic mountaineering adventures in Colorado; a spectacular climb to a 14,000-er
✮ Offroad driving tours in/near Estes Park - one of the best places for 4x4 driving and ATVing in the state
✮ Pearl Street Mall, Boulder - a popular four-block pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder
✮ Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, Estes Park - one of Colorado's best paved scenic drives; travels 55 miles from Estes Park south to I-70
✮ Rocky Mountain National Park - one of the premier national parks in the U.S; features scenic drives, awesome hiking, and tons of wildlife
✮ Royal Arch, Boulder - a natural arch with good views of Boulder and the Flatirons rock formations
✮ Stanley Hotel, Estes Park - a historic and famous 3-star grand hotel near Rocky Mountain National Park; paranormal tours are offered here
✮ Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park - the main paved driving route through the national park; timed entry may be required
✮ Winter Park Resort, Winter Park - one of Colorado's best ski resorts
Denver and surrounding area
✮ Argo Mill and Tunnel, Idaho Springs - guided tours of a historic gold mine that processed millions of dollars worth of gold
✮ Coors Field, Denver - a famous MLB stadium; home of the Colorado Rockies
✮ Denver Art Museum, Denver - one of the largest and best art museums in the U.S.
✮ Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver - a botanical garden in the Chessman Park neighborhood; has a variety of theme gardens
✮ Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver - a good science museum with an IMAX theater and planetarium
✮ Denver Union Station, Denver - popular hotel, shopping, and dining area in downtown Denver
✮ Denver Zoo, Denver - a large zoo boasting more than 3,000 animals from more than 450 species
✮ EDGE Ziplines & Adventures, Castle Rock - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Empower Field at Mile High, Denver - NFL football stadium; home of the Denver Broncos
✮ Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver - a great transportation museum with many cars, planes, motorcycles, trains, etc. on display
✮ Guided food tours in Denver - several companies in Denver offer excellent guided food fours
✮ Mount Evans Scenic Byway - a 28-mile long scenic drive to the top of a 14,264ft mountain; the highest paved road in North America
✮ Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison - one of the very best outdoor amphitheaters in the U.S; an unbelievable place to catch a concert
✮ Roxborough State Park, Littleton - beautiful state park with dramatic red-rock scenery
✮ Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver - features more than 50 aircraft and flight simulators
Northeastern Colorado
✮ Overland Trail Museum, Sterling - museum with buildings and exhibits covering the famous 19th century stagecoach/wagon trail route
Southeastern Colorado
✮ Art Cartopia Museum, Trinidad - a roadside attraction of wildly painted vehicles; one of Colorado's best roadside attractions
✮ Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, La Junta - visit a reconstructed 1840s adobe fur trading post
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Colorado? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
AZ |
KS |
NE |
NM |
OK |
UT |
WY
|
BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN COLORADO
|
These towns and cities in Colorado are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
Northwestern Colorado
✮ Steamboat Springs - a high-elevation ski town/small city with great mountain scenery, world-class skiing/snowboarding, and hot springs
Southwestern Colorado
✮ Durango - a small city with awesome access to the great outdoors (e.g. hiking, backpacking, 4x4 driving, skiing, etc.); great tourist railway
✮ Ouray - a very small town with beautiful mountain scenery; famous for its hot springs, ice-climbing, and nearby 4x4 driving trails
✮ Telluride - a small ski town with awesome mountain scenery and world-class skiing/snowboarding
Central Colorado
✮ Aspen - a small ski town with awesome mountain scenery and world-class skiing/snowboarding; has a lively downtown area
✮ Breckenridge - a small and historic ski town with great mountain scenery and world-class skiing/snowboarding; has a lively downtown area
✮ Buena Vista - a small town with access to awesome whitewater rafting and other outdoor activities (e.g. hiking)
✮ Canon City - a small city with access to awesome whitewater rafting and other outdoor activities (e.g. rock-climbing, fly-fishing)
✮ Crested Butte - a small ski town with with great mountain scenery and world-class skiing/snowboarding; the "wildflower capital of CO"
✮ Glenwood Springs - a small city famous for its giant hot springs pool and access to nearby outdoor activities (e.g. hiking, cycling, etc.)
✮ Manitou Springs - a small town known for its mineral springs and a hippy/arts culture; close to Pike's Peak and Colorado Springs
✮ Vail - a high-elevation small ski town with world-class skiing/snowboarding (it's the largest ski resort in the state)
Denver & Rocky Mountain National Park area
✮ Boulder - a medium-sized city located at the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park; has an strong outdoor sports-loving culture
✮ Denver - a major city famous for sunshine (300 days per year), breweries, museums, and professional sports; a very walkable city
✮ Estes Park - a small town that serves as the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park; has a lively downtown area
✮ Fort Collins - a medium-sized city that is famous for its cycling trails and breweries; the "cultural hub of northern Colorado"
My favorite major city in Colorado is Denver - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
My favorite medium-sized city in Colorado is Boulder - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
If you want to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, stay in Montrose.
If you want to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park, stay in Alamosa.
If you want to visit Mesa Verde National Park, stay in Cortez or Durango.
If you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, stay in Estes Park.
If you like 4x4 driving, visit Ouray or Telluride.
If you like breweries, visit Boulder, Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, or Denver
If you like cycling, visit Boulder.
If you like hot springs, visit Dolores, Glenwood Springs, Ouray, Pagosa Springs, or Steamboat Springs
If you like museums, visit Denver.
If you like ski towns, visit Aspen, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, or Vail
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
|
WHAT IS COLORADO FAMOUS FOR?
|
Here are some things that Colorado is famous or well-known for:
✮ 14,000-foot mountains
✮ 4x4 / off-road driving
✮ archaeological sites
✮ aspen trees
✮ backcountry skiing
✮ breweries
✮ canyons
✮ dude ranches
✮ first state to legalize marijuana (along with Washington)
✮ ghost towns / old West towns
✮ gold mines
✮ hiking and backpacking
✮ hot springs
✮ mining ruins
✮ mountain passes
✮ national forests
✮ professional sports teams
✮ rocky mountains
✮ scenic landscapes
✮ ski/snowboard towns & resorts
✮ trout fishing
✮ whitewater rafting
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
|
NATIONAL PARKS IN COLORADO
|
Colorado is absolutely packed with national parks and other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Parks
✮ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - visit an impressive dark and deep canyon; both the north and south rim offer views
✮ Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - Colorado's most impressive sand dunes; the climbable dunes are framed by large mountains
✮ Mesa Verde National Park - guided tours of what are arguably the most impressive ancient ruins in the U.S.
✮ Rocky Mountain National Park - one of the premier national parks in the U.S; features scenic drives, awesome hiking, and tons of wildlife
National Monuments
✮ Browns Canyon National Monument
✮ Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument
✮ Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
✮ Chimney Rock National Monument
✮ Colorado National Monument
✮ Dinosaur National Monument
✮ Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
✮ Hovenweep National Monument
✮ Yucca House National Monument
National Recreation Areas
✮ Arapaho National Recreation Area
✮ Curecanti National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Arapaho National Forest
✮ Grand Mesa National Forest
✮ Gunnison National Forest
✮ Manti-La Sal National Forest
✮ Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
✮ Pike National Forest
✮ Rio Grande National Forest
✮ Roosevelt National Forest
✮ San Isabel National Forest
✮ San Juan National Forest
✮ Uncompahgre National Forest
✮ White River National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Amache National Historic Site
✮ Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
✮ California National Historic Trail
✮ Old Spanish National Historic Trail
✮ Pony Express National Historic Trail
✮ Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
✮ Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Here are my recommendations for the minimum amount of time a first-time visitor should spend at each of Colorado's national parks
✮ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - 1 day
✮ Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - 1 day
✮ Mesa Verde National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Rocky Mountain National Park - 2-3 days
Take note that reservations are likely needed to enter Rocky Mountain National Park and also to take a guided tour of the ruins of Mesa Verde National Park.
For more information on Colorado's national parks, visit the Colorado page of the National Park Service.
For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
|
Colorado is an undeniably beautiful state, but honestly most of its prime locations are found on federally-managed land. However, there are still more than 40 state parks in Colorado, including these favorites:
✮ Eldorado Canyon State Park, Boulder - a popular and scenic park with great hiking, rock-climbing, and picnicking; limited parking
✮ Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Golden - a mountain park near Denver with 35 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails
✮ Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle - the highlight of this state park is a triple 70-foot tall waterfall flowing over a travertine dam
✮ Roxborough State Park, Littleton - beautiful state park with dramatic red-rock scenery
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
|
BEST WATERFALLS IN COLORADO
|
Colorado has several hundred natural waterfalls. Here are some of the best waterfalls in Colorado:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Fish Creek Falls, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests (near Steamboat Springs)
✮ Rifle Falls, Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, and Telluride)
✮ Box Canyon Falls, Box Canyon Falls Park, Ouray
✮ Bridal Veil Falls, Ophir (near Telluride)
✮ South Mineral Creek Falls, San Juan National Forest (near Silverton)
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Hanging Lake, White River National Forest (near Glenwood Springs)
✮ Helen Hunt Falls, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Colorado Springs
✮ Seven Falls, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
Southcentral Colorado (including Alamosa, Canon City, and Pagosa Springs)
✮ North Clear Creek Falls, Creede
✮ Treasure Falls, San Juan National Forest (near Pagosa Springs)
✮ Zapata Falls, BLM land near Great Sand Dunes National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Adams Falls near Grand Lake
✮ Alberta Falls near Bear Lake
✮ Chasm Falls off Old Fall River Road
✮ Ouzel Falls
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Colorado, visit the World Waterfall Database.
|
BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN COLORADO
|
Colorado is one of the very best states in the country for scenic drives. In fact many of the major highways in the state have a scenic drive feel to them. Here is a list of many of the best scenic drives in Colorado:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Harpers Corner Road, Dinosaur National Monument - a seasonal 31-mile paved route from the Canyon Visitor Center to Harpers Corner
Western Colorado (including Grand Junction and Montrose)
✮ Rim Rock Drive, Colorado National Monument - a 23-mile paved route that offers Utah-quality desert scenery; open year-round
✮ South Rim Road, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - a seasonal 7-mile paved route from Tomichi Point to High Point
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride)
✮ Alpine Loop - a seasonal 63-mile dirt/gravel route in the San Juan Mountains (incl. Imogene Pass) that requires a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle
✮ Million Dollar Highway/US-550 - a 25-mile paved route from Silverton to Ouray with many curves and steep dropoffs; open year-round
✮ San Juan Skyway - a 236-mile paved loop that travels on several state and federal highways in the San Juan Mountains
✮ Mesa Verde National Park roads - both the Main Park Road and Wetherill Mesa Road in this national park offer great scenic views
✮ Yankee Boy Basin Road - a seasonal 4.7 mile dirt/gravel route from Camp Bird Road to Yankee Boy Basin; 4x4 high clearance needed at end
Central Colorado
✮ I-70 through Glenwood Canyon - this section of I-70 is one of the most scenic sections along the entire U.S. interstate system
✮ Boreas Pass Road/FR 33 - a seasonal 20-mile mostly dirt/gravel route from Breckenridge to Como that crosses an 11,505-foot mountain pass
✮ Cottonwood Pass - a seasonal 57-mile paved route between Buena Vista and Almont that crosses the Continental Divide at 12,126 feet
✮ Guanella Pass Road - a seasonal 22-mile paved route from Grant to Georgetown that crosses an 11,669-foot mountain pass
✮ Kebler Pass - a seasonal 30-mile mostly dirt/gravel route from Crested Butte to Paonia that crosses a 10,007-foot mountain pass
✮ Independence Pass - a seasonal 32-mile paved route between Twin Lakes and Aspen that crosses a 12,095-foot mountain pass
✮ Loveland Pass - a 20-mile paved route along US-6 between I-70 in Dillon to I-70 in Silverthorne that crosses an 11,990-foot mountain pass
✮ Mount Evans Scenic Byway - a seasonal 50-mile paved route that climbs to 14,271-feet; this is the highest paved road in North America
✮ Pikes Peak Highway - a seasonal 19-mile paved toll road that climbs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak
✮ Skyline Drive - a 2.6-mile paved one-way route in Canon City that travels along a razorback ridgeline; open year-round
✮ Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway - a 130-mile paved route from Aspen that branches to Minturn and Copper Mountain; the western part of this byway is closed in winter (e.g. Independence Pass)
Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Old Fall River Road, Rocky Mountain National Park - a seasonal 9-mile dirt/gravel route from the Endovalley Picnic Area to Fall River Pass
✮ Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - a 68-mile paved route in the 'Front Range' region of Colorado that travels from Estes Park south to I-70
✮ Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park - a seasonal 48-mile paved route; this is the main park road and it requires timed entry permits
The Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway is also a good drive, but I'm not convinced the scenery is on par with the roads I've listed above.
Gold Belt Scenic Byway (which includes Phantom Canyon Road, Shelf Road, High Park Road and Teller County Road) may also be a worthwhile drive as well, but I haven't driven it yet.
Take note that the Million Dollar Highway/US-550 is also known as the Red Mountain Pass. It is also considered part of the 230-mile San Juan Skyway scenic drive. Independence Pass is also considered part of the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway. The famous Imogene Pass is part of the high-clearance 4x4 route known as the Alpine Loop.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
|
BEST RAIL TRAILS IN COLORADO
|
Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Colorado:
Western Colorado (including Grand Junction and Montrose)
✮ Colorado Riverfront Trail
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail
✮ Mineral Belt Trail
✮ Rio Grande Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Poudre River Trail
Denver and surrounding area
✮ Bear Creek Trail
✮ Cherry Creek Regional Trail
✮ High Line Canal Trail
✮ Platte River Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Colorado, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
|
BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN COLORADO
|
There are only a few notable amusement parks in Colorado:
✮ Elitch Gardens Theme Park, Denver
✮ Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs - you could call this a "family fun center" instead of an "amusement park"
✮ Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver
✮ North Pole-Santa's Workshop, Cascade
✮ Water World, Federal Heights
|
Colorado is far more famous for its scenery than its museums, but there are several great museums in the state. The best museums in Colorado include:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Museum of Northwest Colorado, Craig
Western Colorado (including Grand Junction and Montrose)
✮ Museum of the Mountain West, Montrose
✮ Museum of the West, Grand Junction
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Argo Mill and Tunnel, Idaho Springs
✮ Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame, Vail
✮ National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado Springs
✮ National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum, Leadville
✮ ProRodeo Hall Of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy, Colorado Springs
Denver and surrounding area
✮ Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, Golden
✮ Children's Museum of Denver, Denver
✮ Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden
✮ Denver Art Museum, Denver
✮ Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver
✮ Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver
✮ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Fort Collins
✮ History Colorado Center, Denver
✮ Molly Brown House Museum, Denver
✮ Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Denver
✮ Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver
Northeastern Colorado
✮ Overland Trail Museum, Sterling
Southeastern Colorado
✮ Art Cartopia Museum, Trinidad
✮ Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, La Junta
|
BEST DAY HIKES IN COLORADO
|
Colorado has thousands of miles of hiking trails, making it one of the very best states in the U.S. for hiking. There is fantastic hiking to be found all over the central and western sections of the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Colorado:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Devil's Causeway, Flat Tops Wilderness
✮ Fish Creek Falls, Mount Zirkel Wilderness
✮ Gilpin Lake, Mount Zirkel Wilderness - this hike can be combined with Gold Creek Lake
✮ Harpers Corner Trail, Dinosaur National Monument
Western Colorado (including Grand Junction and Montrose)
✮ Monument Canyon Loop, Colorado National Monument
✮ North Vista Trail to Exclamation Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
✮ Rattlesnake Arches, Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness
✮ Warner Point Nature Trail, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, and Telluride)
✮ Blue Lakes, Mount Sneffels Wilderness
✮ Bridal Veil Falls, Uncompahgre National Forest
✮ Columbine Lake, San Juan National Forest
✮ Handies Peak, Uncompahgre National Forest
✮ Ice Lakes Basin, San Juan National Forest - this hike can be extended to visit Island Lake and/or to scramble up nearby 13,000-foot peaks
✮ Mount Sneffels, Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Uncompahgre National Forest
✮ Ouray Perimeter Trail, Uncompahgre Wilderness
✮ Petroglyph Point Trail, Mesa Verde National Park
✮ Redcloud-Sunshine Peak, Uncompahgre Wilderness
✮ Sand Canyon Trail, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Bison Peak, Lost Creek Wilderness, Pike National Forest
✮ Chihuahua Lake, White River National Forest
✮ Electric Pass, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Fools Peak, Holy Cross Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Garden of the Gods Park trails, Colorado Springs - e.g. Perkins Central Garden Trail
✮ Grays & Torreys Peak, Arapaho National Forest
✮ Hanging Lake, White River National Forest
✮ Huron Peak, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, San Isabel National Forest
✮ Manitou Incline, Pike National Forest
✮ Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail, Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness
✮ Mayflower Gulch, White River National Forest
✮ Missouri Lakes / Holy Cross City, Holy Cross Wilderness
✮ Mount Belford, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, San Isabel National Forest
✮ Mount Bierstadt, Mount Evans Wilderness
✮ Mount Democrat/Cameron/Lincoln, Pike National Forest
✮ Mount Elbert, Mount Massive Wilderness
✮ Mount of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Mount Sherman, Pike National Forest
✮ Mount Sopris, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Ptarmigan Lake, San Isabel National Forest
✮ Quandary Peak, White River National Forest
✮ Rustler's Gulch, Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Seven Falls, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs - take note that this is very commercialized and an entry fee is required
Southcentral Colorado (including Alamosa, Canon City, and Pagosa Springs)
✮ High Dune & Star Dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park
✮ Humboldt Peak, Sangre De Cristo Wilderness, San Isabel National Forest
✮ Mount Adams, Sangre De Cristo Wilderness, San Isabel National Forest
✮ North Crestone Lake, Sangre De Cristo Wilderness, Rio Grande National Forest
✮ South Colony Lakes Trail, San Isabel National Forest
Rocky Mountain National Park & surrounding area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Chasm Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Emerald Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Emmaline Lake, Roosevelt National Forest
✮ First and Second Flatirons Loop, Chautauqua Park, Boulder
✮ Flattop Mountain & Hallett Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Lake Isabelle & Long Lake, Brainard Lake Recreation Area
✮ Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Longs Peak via the Keyhole, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Mount Ida, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Royal Arch Trail, Chautauqua Park, Boulder
✮ Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park
Denver and surrounding area
✮ Roxborough State Park trails
Eastern Colorado
✮ Paint Mines Trail, Paint Mines Interpretive Park
Take note that the list above does not include off-trail hikes or anything above class III scrambling. Colorado does offer many great off-trail and scrambling adventures. If you put some effort into researching those adventures, you will be rewarded.
The highpoint of Colorado is Mount Elbert (14,440'). A challenging day hike is required to reach the summit. Ideally, you would already be acclimated to high elevation before attempting this hike.
|
BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN COLORADO
|
Colorado offers some of the best backpacking opportunities in the country. Here are some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Colorado:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Continental Divide Trail
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, and Telluride)
✮ Chicago Basin, Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest
✮ Colorado Trail
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ San Juan National Forest
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Colorado Trail
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ Conundrum Hot Springs, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Lost Creek Wilderness Loop
✮ Pikes Peak via Barr Trail
Southcentral Colorado (including Alamosa, Canon City, and Pagosa Springs)
✮ Wheeler Geologic Area, La Garita Wilderness, Rio Grande National Forest
Rocky Mountain National Park area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Devil’s Thumb to King Lake Loop, Indian Peaks Wilderness
✮ Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Rawah Lakes, Rawah Wilderness
|
CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN COLORADO
|
Colorado offers many outstanding outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ 4x4 driving on the Alpine Loop
✮ Backcountry skiing just about anywhere in the state
✮ Backpacking in Chicago Basin
✮ Backpacking the Colorado Trail
✮ Backpacking the Continental Divide Trail
✮ Backpacking to Conundrum Hot Springs
✮ Backpacking the Four Pass Loop in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Lower Gunnison River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Yampa River
✮ Canyoneering in Ouray
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trail System
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Breckenridge Nordic Center
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Crested Butte Nordic
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Devil's Thumb Ranch
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Frisco Nordic Center
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Keystone Resort Nordic Center
✮ Cross-country skiing at the Nordic Center at Eldora Mountain Resort
✮ Cycling the Cherry Creek Regional Trail
✮ Cycling around Fort Collins
✮ Day hiking the Blue Lakes, Mount Sneffels Wilderness
✮ Day hiking Grays & Torreys Peak, Arapaho National Forest
✮ Day hiking Longs Peak
✮ Day hiking the Manitou Incline, Pike National Forest
✮ Day hiking Mount Bierstadt, Mount Evans Wilderness
✮ Day hiking Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Dog-sledding in Breckenridge
✮ Dog-sledding in Steamboat Springs
✮ Fishing in Eleven Mile State Park
✮ Floating the Green River
✮ Floating the Yampa River
✮ Helicopter tours in Canon City
✮ Hot air ballooning in Lafayette
✮ Hot air ballooning in Pagosa Springs
✮ Hot air ballooning in Steamboat Springs
✮ Ice climbing in Clear Creek Canyon
✮ Ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park
✮ Mountain biking the Buffalo Creek trail system (including Buffalo Creek Big Loop)
✮ Mountain biking the Kokopelli Trail
✮ Mountain biking the Monarch Crest Trail
✮ Mountain biking in Winter Park
✮ Rock climbing pretty much anywhere in the state (there are too many good places to list)
✮ Skydiving in Delta, Fort Morgan, La Salle, Limon, Longmont, or Penrose
✮ Snowmobiling in Durango
✮ Snowmobiling in Steamboat Springs
✮ Snow tubing at the Fisco Adventure Park, Frisco
✮ Tubing on Cleer Creek
✮ Tubing the Colorado River
✮ Tubing on Saint Vrain Creek
✮ Tubing the South Platte River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Animas River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Arkansas River - this is the most popular river for rafting in Colorado
✮ Whitewater rafting the Blue River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Cache La Poudre River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Cleer Creek River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Colorado River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Dolores River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Gunnison River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Uncompahgre River
|
BEST SKI RESORTS IN COLORADO
|
Colorado has more than 20 ski areas, and many of them are considered in the top tier of ski resorts in the country. These ski resorts are generally considered the best in Colorado:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Arapahoe Basin - 147 trails; 2,530ft vertical drop; 13,050ft summit
✮ Aspen Highlands - 117 trails; 4,352ft vertical drop; 12,392ft summit
✮ Aspen Mountain - 76 trails; 3,267ft vertical drop; 11,212ft summit
✮ Beaver Creek - 150 trails; 3,340ft vertical drop; 11,440ft summit
✮ Breckenridge - 187 trails; 3,398ft vertical drop; 12,998ft summit
✮ Copper Mountain - 140 trails; 2,738ft vertical drop; 12,441ft summit
✮ Crested Butte - 121 trails; 2,787ft vertical drop; 12,162ft summit
✮ Keystone - 128 trails; 3,128ft vertical drop; 12,408ft summit
✮ Snowmass - 98 trails; 4,406ft vertical drop; 12,510ft summit
✮ Steamboat - 169 trails; 3,668ft vertical drop; 10,568ft summit
✮ Telluride - 148 trails; 3,790ft vertical drop; 13,150ft summit
✮ Vail - 195 trails; 3,450ft vertical drop; 11,570ft summit
✮ Winter Park - 166 trails; 3,060ft vertical drop; 12,060ft summit
✮ Wolf Creek - 133 trails; 1,604ft vertical drop; 11,904ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Eldora
✮ Loveland
✮ Monarch
✮ Powderhorn
✮ Purgatory
✮ Silverton
✮ Sunlight
Aspen, Beaver Creek, and Vail usually have the most expensive lift tickets in Colorado.
In 2022, Travel & Leisure Magazine published an article with their selections of the top eight ski areas in Colorado. Their list included Aspen Snowmass, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, and Vail.
|
UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN COLORADO
|
Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Colorado:
✮ chili verde (green chili)
✮ rocky mountain oysters
✮ slopper
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Colorado (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Colorado (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
|
OTHER KEY COLORADO INFORMATION
|
Here is some helpful key information about Colorado:
State Capital:
Denver
Major Airports:
Denver International Airport (DEN) and to a much lesser extent, City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS)
Largest Cities:
Denver (738,594), Colorado Springs (491,467), Aurora (398,497), Fort Collins (174,974), Lakewood (158,584), Thornton (146,487)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-25, I-70, I-76
State Highpoint:
Mount Elbert (14,440') near Leadville in central Colorado. A challenging day hike is required to reach the summit; thunderstorms are very common in summer.
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Colorado Rockies
NBA: Denver Nuggets
NFL: Denver Broncos
NHL: Colorado Avalanche
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Dinosaur and No Name
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
|
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
scrambling down the Gunnison Trail in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
Blue Lakes near Telluride, Colorado
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado
Ice Lakes Basin, Colorado
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
|
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
|
Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
|
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
|
|
