With over 300 days of sunshine each year and a welcoming, adventurous atmosphere, Colorado is a prime destination for those who appreciate the outdoors. From skiing world-class slopes and hiking alpine trails in the Rockies to exploring its lively cities and relaxing in quiet mountain towns, there's no shortage of incredible places to discover across the state.
Cities & Towns
Denver
Explore Denver starting at Union Station, an iconic landmark of Lower Downtown (Lodo). Still functioning as an Amtrak station, it's also home to the Michelin-recommended Mercantile Dining and Provisions, the Cooper Lounge cocktail bar, independent boutiques, and the Crawford Hotel. Nearby is Dairy Block, once home to a dairy in the late 1800s, has now become a micro-district filled with restaurants, shops, and bars. Dairy Block features 'The Alley' with art installations and murals, along with the Milk Market food hall. Less than a mile away is Larimer Square, the location of the original Denver settlement, which is now an urban shopping district. In the next neighborhood over, the hip RiNo (River North) district is known for its street art and breweries.
Don't miss recommended restaurants such as Rosenberg's Bagels for breakfast, Safta for Michelin-recommended Israeli food, El Five for tapas and rooftop dinner views, Linger for Asian-fusion small plates in a converted mortuary, and Little Man's Ice Cream.
Catch a home game of the Broncos at Mile-High Stadium. nicknamed due to the city's elevation 1-mile above sea-level.
Located a short drive away, make sure to visit Red Rocks Amphitheater for a show as it's considered the only natural, acoustically-perfect amphitheater in the world. Although further at an hour away, a trip through Kenosha Pass in the fall will bring you to a gorgeous display of fall foliage.
Fort Collins
This college town is known for its historic Old Town, filled with restaurants and boutique shops, which inspired Disney’s Main Street USA. It's also a brewery-town with over 26 in the area including New Belgium which hosts an annual Tour de Fat biking event through town. In the summer, explore the Cache la Poudre River by tubing, hiking or attending an outdoor concert at the Mishawaka Amphitheater along the banks of the river. Visit the nearby Horsetooth Reservoir for kayaking and paddleboarding after a hike up Horsetooth Mountain. Fort Collins is a food haven known for its delicious selection of restaurants including little on mountain, The Regional, Jessup Farm, Social, and Ginger and Baker.
Boulder
Boulder is a beautiful town and a hub for wellness, environmental sustainability, and outdoor activities. Located at the base of the Flatirons, it offers scenic hiking, the most popular being the Chautauqua Trail. The alfresco shopping Pearl Street is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment. Stop in for breakfast at Lucile's Creole Cafe or sample options at one of the collectives: Rosetta Hall, Avanti Food and Beverage, or the Rayback Collective. Visit the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, hand-crafted by Tajik artisans, for an afternoon snack with a wide variety of teas.
Colorado Springs
Home to Garden of the Gods, a free public park with sandstone formations and accessible hiking trails. Hike, drive, or take the railway to the summit of the fourteener Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song "America The Beautiful." Nearby, challenge yourself on the Manitou Incline, a steep hiking trail made from old railway ties. Located 1.5 hours south, cross the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the U.S. towering 956 feet above the Arkansas River. Dine at some of the recommended restaurants downtown including: White Pie Pizzeria, Sushi Row, and 503W.
Grand Junction
As a gateway to the mountains of western Colorado and eastern Utah, this town is also home to Nature's Trifecta: the Rattlesnake Canyon Arches, Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa. In the heart of Colorado's wine country, visit Varaison Vineyards to sample wines or visit nearby Palisade for fresh peaches in season.
Located 30 minutes from Grand Junction is mountain biking epicenter of Fruita with over 50 trails and hundreds of miles of rides for all levels.
Mountain Towns
Aspen
Aspen combines outdoor recreation with a luxurious atmosphere. Visit during the winter for premier skiing and a lively après-ski scene at four different mountains: Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk. In the summer, hike Maroon Bells and attend events such as the Aspen Music Festival. Try dining at Matsuhisa Aspen downtown for upscale Japanese cuisine. In autumn, take a scenic drive or hike to witness the vibrant yellow hues of the aspen leaves.
Vail
Vail’s European-inspired alpine village provides access to one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S, along with luxury shopping and dining. Enjoy skiing the expansive back bowls of Vail Mountain during the winter or visit the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the highest botanical garden in North America, in the summer. After outdoor activities, relax at The Remedy Bar with their famous, creamy hot chocolate.
Located just west of Vail, Beaver Creek is a more intimate ski village, featuring heated sidewalks, covered escalators, and a central ice rink. They have a family-friendly mountain with a signature tradition of handing out free chocolate chip cookies at the base of the slopes.
Telluride
Discover the historic downtown for quaint shops and dining at places such as The Butcher & The Baker for their fresh, local food. Ski the slopes of the Telluride Ski Resort or ride The Gondola in the summer for picturesque views of its box canyon setting. Attend some the town's events in the summer, including the Bluegrass Festival, or hike the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado.
About an hour outside town, Blue Lakes Trail leads to a gorgeous alpine lake surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. The best time to visit is mid-July to mid-August when wildflowers are in full bloom, and the lake shows a vivid blue color. On the way back, take a scenic stop at the Dallas Divide mountain pass and grab a bite at Taco Del Gnar in Ridgeway.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte is a laid-back mountain town with an authentic, small-town feel due to its remote location. Experience uncrowded ski slopes of the Crested Butter Mountain Resort during the winter or visit in July to see wildflowers in full bloom along Rustlers Gulch trail. Grab breakfast at Butte Bagels or head to dinner at The Secret Stash for pizza. Nearby, visit Kebler Pass for fall foliage.
For an alternative adventure, consider hiking West Maroon Pass between late June to early October. This11-mile trail connects Crested Butte and Aspen, and is full of alpine views, wildflowers, and streams.
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs offers an authentic American West feel with a lively downtown and a local rodeo. Ski at Steamboat Resort or visit Strawberry Springs to soak in the hot baths. In the summer, hike Spring Creek Trail or float on a tube down the river. Taco Cabo serves delicious tacos on the outdoor patio overlooking the river, while Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails offers charcuterie and small plates in its rustic restaurant.
Summit County
Summit County is home to four ski resorts, all within a half-hour of each other, with Frisco serving as a central hub for easy access. In the summer, its location near Lake Dillon makes it ideal for water activities. Frisco’s Main Street features local shops and restaurants, including Butterhorn Bakery, a favorite spot for breakfast.
This historic mining town of Breckenridge is now a ski haven with expansive slopes in the winter and scenic hiking trails in the summer. Stop by Crepes A La Cart for a quick meal, Breckenridge Brewery for craft beer, or Hearthstone Restaurant for an upscale, cozy meal. If you’re up for a challenge, hike to the fourteener summit of Quandary Peak.
Copper Mountain is a family-friendly resort with varied terrain that caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Outside skiing, you can go tubing and snowshoeing in winter, as well as mountain biking and taking the scenic chairlift rides in summer. Arapahoe Basin (A-Bay) is famous for its extended season and challenging terrain, making it a favorite among experienced skiers. Keystone is more of a family-friendly mountain. In addition to the slopes, the town offers the annual Bluegrass and Beer Festival in the summer
Salida, Buena Vista, & Leadville
Located along the Arkansas River, both Salida and Buena Vista offer outdoor adventures like whitewater rafting, kayaking, and hiking in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Salida’s downtown has a mix of art galleries and local shops, while Buena Vista is known for its access to Cottonwood Hot Springs.
A scenic drive north brings you to Leadville, the highest incorporated city in North America with a rich mining history and easy access to nearby fourteeners like Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. For dining, High Mountain Pies is a local favorite for pizza. Twin Lakes is nearby, with alpine lakes surrounded by massive peaks. Paddleboard the lake or hike the Interlaken Trail.
Ouray, Silverton, & Durango
These mountain towns are all located within 1-2 hours away, linked by the scenic San Juan Skyway, a drive that offers some of the state’s best views.
Durango is the southernmost town, featuring the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that once brought gold and silver from the mountains into town and now brings visitors up the Cascade Canyon, through the San Juan Mountains. The trip takes less than four hours and passengers can explore the historic mining town of Silverton for two hours before returning for the train ride back.
The 25-mile Million Dollar Highway stretches from Silverton to Ouray, know as the "Switzerland of America." Although beautiful, this drive can be intimidating driving along the edge of a cliff. Once in Ouray, you can visit the Box Cañon Falls and Ouray Hot Springs Pool, or hike the Perimeter Trail.
Glenwood Springs
This is a larger mountain town situated along the Colorado River, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. The mineral waters are responsible for the town's fame. Although there are three hot springs, the world's largest is Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, fed by the nearby Yampah spring that naturally heats to 122 degrees. Hike the Hanging Lake Trail just outside of town to be met with a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by waterfalls.
Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs is a small town that sits on top of the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. Spend a day skiing at Wolf Creek, before unwinding in the hot baths at The Springs Resort and going out for dinner at the Alley House Grille. In the summer, visit San Juan National Forest for a hike on the Piedra River Trail.
Crestone
Crestone is a tiny town located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. Nearby tall peaks such as the fourteener Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle, it's known as a spiritual capital for world religions. Other popular trails include those leading into the Great Sand Dunes National Park or up to alpine lakes.
National Parks
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain. Grab a drink at the Stanley Hotel bar, the setting from Stephen King's The Shining or visit the locals shops downtown such as Trendz At The Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide and features alpine lakes, wildlife, over 300 miles of hiking trails, and the scenic Trail Ridge Road. The Park is also home to one of the hardest and most dangerous fourteeners, Longs Peak.
Sand Dunes National Park
North America’s tallest sand dunes set against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Explore the dunes by hiking or sandboarding, with the option to rent sleds from local shops. Medano Creek, fed from the snowmelt of the mountains, flows seasonally at the base of the dunes.
Mesa Verde National Park
The cliffs at Mesa Verde have over 4,000 archaeological sites, including Cliff Palace and Balcony House, built by the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the Four Corners region between the 6th and 12th centuries. You can take a guided tour or self-guided hike from walks that lead to viewpoints overlooking the dwellings to more difficult hikes that take you further into the surrounding landscape.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
This Black Canyon has some of the steepest cliffs in North America, with the steepest section of the canyon reaching depths of over 2,000 feet. South Rim is the preferred section for its viewpoints or hiking, such as the Rim Rock Trail or the more challenging descent to the river via the Gunnison Route.
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