Start your itinerary with Colorado

Mountain towns beckon skiers of all kinds, hikers, mountaineers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, but they’re also great places to soak up some peace and enjoy the mountain air. Tourists will find scenic drives running through the parks, and state highways are some of the best ways to see the amazing places the state has to offer. The remnants of the cultures that lived in the area and the dinosaurs that once roamed the land can be seen and better understood by visiting some national parks and monuments. In short, Colorado is an unrivaled destination that will make you rethink your future travel plans. Kick-start your itinerary with our list of the best places to visit in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Located just a few miles from the mountain town of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. Soaring mountain peaks, alpine lakes and meadows, forests and abundant wildlife showcase nature at its best. There are more than 100 peaks in the park over 10,000 feet, including Longs Peak, which at 14,259 feet is the highest point in the park. Trail Ridge Road itself reaches an elevation of more than 12,000 feet, being the main driving route through the park and offers easy access to this incredible land. Sightseeing from the comfort of your car, or stop along the way for a stroll or easy hike.

Mesa Verde National Park

Regardless of whether you’ve seen cliff dwellings before, you’ll be surprised by the amount of actual ruin access Mesa Verde and the park allow visitors. The centerpiece of the park, Cliff Palace, is one of the most impressive residences in the entire Southwest, with its dramatic setting and incredibly preserved ruins. Ranger-led tours held regularly during the summer high season allow you to climb the stairs up to the heart of the residence. If you’re not up for this level of activity, you can get a full view of the site from a nearby landscape.

Pikes Peak in Pike National Forest

At an elevation of 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak in Pike National Forest is one of the Southwest’s famous “fourteen”, referring to mountains that stand over 14,000 feet. The snow-capped peak is easily recognizable from the nearby town of Colorado Springs. This is one of the most visited mountains in the world, only Mt. fuji Unlike many mountain peaks inaccessible to the average person, you can go to Pikes Peak on the Pikes Peak Highway off Highway 24 west of Colorado Springs. Travel time is approximately 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad for a scenic 8.9-mile journey that takes just over three hours round-trip.

Garden of the Gods

Near Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods. This registered National Natural Landmark is home to a unique landscape of jagged stone towers and fins that rise 300 meters above the earth. Giant well-balanced boulders and piles of boulders surrounding the fins mark the landscape and distant mountains, completing the scene. Fifteen miles of hiking trails, most of which are short and easy, allow you to get up close to dramatic rock formations and navigate the surreal landscape.

Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park

Gunnison’s Black Canyon is a gorgeous, rugged-looking canyon and is remote enough to feel unexplored. Steep cliff walls rising from the Gunnison River form a narrow and dramatic canyon. The depth of the canyon is about 2,000 feet, Gunnison Point and Chasm View are just over 1,800 feet, and Warner Point is at 2,722 feet. The main thing to do here is to gaze at the canyon and appreciate the surroundings, or simply wander the surrounding walking paths and short hiking trails. These are usually straight and easy trails. If you’re adventurous, you can hike into the canyon, but the trails are not maintained or marked, conditions are harsh and you’re basically on your own and are responsible for rescue costs if needed.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Located near the town of Aspen, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness showcases some of Colorado’s most spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery and offers the chance to get out of your car and immerse yourself in nature. This region has six mountains over 14,000 feet along with forests, alpine lakes, meadows, and 175 miles of trails to help you explore the land. What attracts most people to Maroon Bells are the recreational activities. The hiking here is incredible, with all kinds of day hiking and backpacking areas. Mountain bike trails cover hundreds of kilometers. Fishing in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams is popular during the summer months. In winter, people come here for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, making it a year-round outdoor playground.

Colorado National Monument

Just outside the towns of Grand Junction and nearby Fruita is a Colorado National Monument. A scenic road continues on its way past some extraordinary landscapes. This is not a typical mountain landscape, but rather a desert-like environment filled with massive rock towers, cliff walls, canyons, and small trees and bushes. Most people pass through the monument along Rim Rock Drive and stop at the lookouts overlooking the landscape below. The trail is also a popular road biking area, and hearty spirits make their way to the lookouts.

Aspen

Although most commonly associated with skiing, Aspen is a year-round destination that skiers and non-skiers can enjoy. Restaurants and shops line the streets, many of which overlook the ski slopes on the edge of town. Aspen also makes a nice getaway just over three hours from Denver. The town has no shortage of luxury hotels, and dining options abound. If you don’t want to stay here, you can take a day trip from nearby Glenwood Springs, another popular destination in the area.

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument in northwest Colorado combines dramatic scenery with natural and cultural history to create one of Colorado’s most interesting sites. While most people are drawn here from an archaeological point of view, the recreational opportunities add another dimension to your visit. Dinosaur remains embedded in the exposed rock walls reveal evidence of giants who once roamed these areas, and petroglyphs offer insight into the cultures and people that lived here long ago. The cliff walls surrounding it all and the Green and Yampa Rivers meandering through the otherwise dry landscape.