There are hundreds of incredible places to visit in Colorado, and this is not an exaggeration. Colorado is a fantastic travel location in the US, offering some of the best places to visit. You could go to a mountain town and engage in pursuits like mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, fly fishing, and hiking. Or, visit one of the amazing cities in Colorado. Colorado also offers a wide variety of cultural pursuits. Read on to find out about incredible places to visit in Colorado’s summer and winter, the best places to visit in Colorado for couples, and the best time to visit Colorado.
So, where in Colorado are the top tourist destinations? Visit well-known places in Colorado like Rocky Mountain National Park, sure, but our list also covers some lesser-known locations. Let’s get started by introducing you to Colorado’s top 15 tourist attractions.
Best Places to Visit in Colorado
Looking for Colorado’s top tourist attractions? Here are some amazing places to visit in Colorado!
When it comes to mountains, breathtaking landscapes, and unrivaled outdoor activities, Colorado is a dream.
This enchanted state’s attractions include looming snow-capped peaks, vibrant cities, breathtaking alpine lakes, small mountain towns, and a broad variety of national and state parks with otherworldly-looking landscapes.
#1. Rocky Mountain National Park
Discover for yourself why Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks by visiting it. Hike among the park’s 100+ lakes or amid the park’s high peaks, or, in the winter, switch your footwear for a set of skis or snowshoes. Drive the picturesque Trail Ridge Road (open seasonally) and experience the top of the world if you’d prefer to explore from the comfort of your car. The route rises more than 12,000 feet in elevation at its highest point. This park is also perfect for a camping adventure.
#2. Denver
The cultural center of Colorado is found in its most populous city. Denver offers the best of both worlds, even though you can enjoy outdoor adventures almost anywhere in Colorado. The city is home to numerous world-class museums, exciting sports arenas, premier retail areas, and a thriving brewery sector. You may easily visit the Rockies from just outside the municipal boundaries, as well as the picturesque Mount Evans Scenic Byway. Attend a performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for an amazing experience at a special outdoor music venue with breathtaking views of Colorado’s renowned red rocks.
#3. Telluride
Despite its small size, Telluride is big on outdoor fun and adventure, earning it recognition as one of the top small towns in the USA. Telluride is well known for its renowned ski slopes, with more than 2,000 skiable acres and terrain that is appropriate for all skill levels. In the meantime, during the warmer months, festival-goers visit the town’s abundance of food-, music-, and film-focused events as hikers and cyclists swarm the paths and paragliders soar through the skies. Drive the San Juan Skyway or take the gondola to Mountain Village for some of Telluride’s best views.
#4. Glenwood Springs
This small hamlet in northwest Colorado is ideal for both a luxurious spa vacation and an active retreat in the Rocky Mountains. Visitors to Glenwood Springs can catch some rays while whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or trekking the well-known Hanging Lake Trail. Make time to visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, which offers cave tours, an alpine coaster, and more, if you want to amp up the thrills. The area’s natural hot springs are used in the treatments at one of the town’s renowned spas, where you may later relax your sore muscles.
#5. Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park, which was once the home of the Ancestral Pueblo people, is home to 600 cliff houses and around 5,000 of America’s best-preserved archaeological sites First-timers should prioritize visiting the well-known Cliff Palace, the largest cliff house in North America. Before visiting, visitors should take into account their physical condition and limitations because many of the sites are only accessible via ranger-led excursions that may involve a lot of walking, climbing, and, in some cases, crawling. Nevertheless, the park’s fascinating history makes the somewhat challenging treks worthwhile.
Read Also: 27+ Best Places to Travel to in July 2023 (Updated)
Best Places to Visit in Colorado’s Summer
The best skiing and snowboarding in the world can be found in Colorado during the winter, but the state is also known for its abundant summer landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. When it comes to finding the perfect balance of both, these Colorado towns could be the best of them all.
#1. Vail
Vail is one of the most well-known ski resort cities in the world, but it also has a lot to offer when the weather is nicer, such as hiking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and golfing. It is among the best places to visit in Colorado in the summer. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado, hosts orchestras like the New York Philharmonic as well as the Vail International Dance Festival and the Vail Jazz Festival. Botanical tours through the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, rock climbing outings in Vail Valley, and the abundance of stores, pubs, and restaurants in Vail itself are just a few of the other delights.
#2. Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is one of the most popular ski resorts in the state. While it may be a winter wonderland in the colder months of the year, the summer delivers an unending expanse of green sprinkled with bright wildflowers, making it one of the best places to visit.
The Yampa River offers fly fishing, inner tube rides, rafting adventures, endlessly beautiful hiking and mountain biking paths, and natural hot springs that are perfect for healing aching muscles afterward. This is when this Wild West town comes to life. You can attend the renowned annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park festival if you visit in late June or early July. This event features a large collection of vibrant hot air balloons as well as about 50 artist vendors, live entertainment, food, and drink vendors, and an interactive children’s art area.
#3. Telluride
One of the best places to visit in Colorado’s summer is Telluride, which has a classic mountain town feel. In addition to having streets lined with opulent Victorian structures, this remote town in a box canyon has evolved into a mecca for adventurers, athletes, and artists of all stripes. Visitors can still ride the gondola up the mountain to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the town and its gorgeous surroundings, even though skiing isn’t an option at this time of year. Additionally, hiking to the state’s longest free-falling waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls, as well as excellent biking, golfing, and fishing are options. The annual Bluegrass Festival draws a large number of bluegrass bands to the area to enjoy the weather and the music in the outdoor amphitheater. This small town is also big when it comes to festivals.
#4. Ouray
In particular, if you travel the Million Dollar Highway, which follows a 25-mile section of US 550 from Silverton to reach here, getting to Ouray is a breathtaking journey in and of itself. One can see some of the most jaw-dropping views in the world because of the road’s never-ending turns and twists, many of which are at the edge of precipitous cliffs. Ouray is frequently referred to as the “Switzerland of America” because the views of the towering, angular peaks of the San Juan Mountains appear to improve with each turn. It’s the perfect location for enjoying natural hot springs, admiring several waterfalls, and even exploring abandoned mines.
Visit Bachelor-Syracuse Mine to gain a thorough understanding of the town’s gold and silver history and to learn what it was like to work as a miner in the past. On the main street, there are also a ton of interesting stores, historical walking tours, and, if you’re adventurous enough, a ghost tour.
#5. Durango
Durango happens to be one of the best places to visit in Colorado’s summer. Multi-sport explorers who want to have access to activities on land and in the water will find this mountain town in the southwest ideal. The Animas River, which flows through Durango, is known for offering some of the state’s best kayaking and rafting. While the lowlands offer exceptional mountain riding on more than 1,000 miles of trails in the Durango area alone, the high mountains offer hiking in extraordinary alpine landscapes just a short distance uphill.
Getting on board the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a narrow gauge steam train built specifically to handle the narrow mountain routes, is one of the must-dos no matter when you visit. It chugs along at 18 mph as it climbs the steep and stunning mountain passes between Durango and Silverton. The San Juan County Historical Society, located in the former county jail, as well as the Mayflower Gold Mill National Historic Site and the Old Hundred Gold Mine, are just a few of the intriguing spots to explore in the city’s downtown area, which has been recognized as a National Historic District.
Best Places to Visit in Colorado Winter
Colorado has a magnificent winter season. Some claim that winter is the best time of year to visit places in Colorado and that the entire country of the United States is ideal to visit during this time.
People who enjoy Colorado in the winter must be fans of the great outdoors and visit chilly places with outdoor activities, right?
It’s partly accurate. In reality, a large portion of the population who visit places in Colorado during the winter are skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers. Many individuals like spending time outside in the cold, whether it’s for winter sports or just to take in the scenery.
They’re not the only ones who enjoy Colorado in the winter, though. During the winter, there are a ton of indoor activities and sights to see when you visit Colorado, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Colorado in the winter is thrilling, gorgeous, and unlike anywhere else in the country or the world. Let’s tell you about the plethora and diversity of locations throughout the state. We’ll advise you on where to visit and how to pass the time in Colorado.
#1. Denver
The largest and most populated city in Colorado is called Denver. The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the city’s immediate suburbs but excludes Boulder to the north and Colorado Springs to the south, has just over three million residents, even though the city itself has a population of just over 700,000.
There are four professional sports teams, four world-class museums, lovely parks, a terrific music culture, an excellent food scene, an intriguing history, and hospitable, inviting people everywhere in this city on the edge of the plains and the mountains.
#2. Boulder
Boulder is the city that Denver shares a border with to the northwest. Although there used to be approximately thirty miles between the two cities, suburban sprawl has practically merged them in recent years, making them feel like one large city when one is traveling between them. Even still, the characters of the two cities are significantly different.
Boulder’s quaint college town atmosphere is appealing. Beautiful mansions surround the school and, the high-end yet hippie shops and eateries that dot the city are built to cater to a very particular kind of customer base.
#3. Fort Collins
Another college town, Fort Collins, has a completely distinct atmosphere from Boulder. It’s lovely and welcoming, but because Wyoming is so close by, it has a more laid-back, Old West vibe than an upmarket, high-end one. Although it is one of the state’s major cities, with a population of 165,000, it feels modest.
#4. Black Hawk
Previously, Central City was a candidate to serve as Colorado’s capital.
During the 1859 gold rush, it undoubtedly attracted a sizable number of people to Colorado, earning it the moniker “The Richest Square Mile on Earth.” Even now, it retains a certain Western allure; if you find yourself in a town on an empty street, you might very well believe you’ve traveled back in time.
Best Places to Visit in Colorado for Couples
Due to the numerous unique experiences, you may share with your sweetheart, Colorado is ranked as the 17th most romantic state in the US. The Centennial State (Colorado) is full of places that couples can visit with plenty of activities, like watching sunsets over mountain lakes, relaxing in hot springs, and stargazing in national parks. Looking for a romantic getaway with your special someone? The top destinations in Colorado for couples are listed below.
#1. Loveland
How could a place with such a lovely name not be at the top of our list? The community of Loveland is referred to as Colorado’s “Sweetheart City” and is situated along the north Front Range, close to Fort Collins. Bronze foundries, a lively art community, and the Valentine Re-Mailing Program have made it famous. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, which features ‘the keyhole’ and 12 miles of trails, is a paradise for those who enjoy wildlife and the outdoors. This fascinating arch is a local monument that you can hike through. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go in Loveland—you’ll always be able to see the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
#2. Aspen
For a memorable occasion (maybe a proposal), Aspen is difficult to top. When it is covered in snow and you can go skiing, this opulent location glows. But it’s also a fantastic vacation spot all year. During the warmer months, couples can go hiking, bathing in nature, cycling, fly fishing, golfing, and other activities. There are also several noteworthy museums for couples who are interested in culture.
#3. Strawberry Park, Hot Springs
Wherever you go, it’s nice to get hot and steamy with your partner, but there’s nothing more romantic than bathing in a hot spring as the snow falls all around you. Due to its romantic setting in a forest and its exquisite stonework, Strawberry Park Hot Springs is one of the best for couples. You should be able to find a pool for yourself because there are so many different pools to relax in. You can get a couple’s massage and aquatic therapy to unwind even more.
#4. Georgetown
One of the most beautiful and romantic train journeys in all of America may be found in the historic Town of Georgetown in Clear Creek County. Trains are inherently romantic. As soon as you board the narrow-gauge Georgetown Loop Railroad, you travel back in time. You go by train through the constrained Clear Creek Canyon and arrive in Silver Plume. You can see the rough romance of the Colorado Rockies in the 1880s when you gaze out the window and the panorama speeds by. It is wonderful.
#5. Rocky Mountain National Park
Despite being one of the busiest parks in the country, you may still discover some isolated, tranquil areas in Rocky Mountain National Park. You and your partner can enjoy the scenery, quiet, and each other’s companionship in the park while you hike, picnic, or just sit and take in the sights. Driving the Trail Ridge Road, one of the best road trip routes in the US, is one of the most romantic ways to experience this gorgeous park. Just you, your significant other, and the open road while you take in the breathtaking Rocky Mountain views and sounds.
Best Time to Visit Colorado
The ideal weather, however, is often seen from June through October. Snowfall is rare (but not impossible) during this warm-weather window, and the sun is usually out. Avoid the typically warm months of July and August if you tend to get hot easily. Plan your trip for the spring or fall instead.
What Is the Prettiest Spot in Colorado?
Southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains
Colorado is home to numerous stunning mountain ranges, but the San Juans are undoubtedly the most picturesque. The San Juan Mountains, commonly referred to as the “American Alps,” soar over southwest Colorado and offer stunning vistas all year long.
What Is the Safest City in Colorado to Visit?
Colorado’s safest city is Brush. Brush, which is located in northeastern Colorado, has a population of 5,315 and a laid-back vibe. Brush has a crime rate of only 111 per 100,000 people, which makes it 93% safer than the national average.
How Many Days Are Enough for Colorado?
There is a lot to see and do in Colorado, and at least 10 days are required if you want to visit all four national parks. You will be progressing extremely swiftly, even within 10 days.
What Is the Cheapest Month to Go to Colorado?
If money is tight, you should travel during the “shoulder seasons” between the busiest travel times. Early fall (September to October) and late spring (April to May) are often the most affordable times to travel to Colorado.
Summary
We’ll sum up by restating our opening statement: Colorado is home to numerous breathtaking locations. Colorado offers a variety of fascinating outdoor activities for people of all ages and skill levels.
Take a hike through the Rocky Mountains or up Pikes Peak. Visit a popular destination like Breckenridge Ski Destination or Vail Ski Resort to go cross-country skiing. Alternately, take a seat and soak up the sun in Glenwood Springs. There is a spot in Colorado that will accommodate any pace you want for your vacation.
Enjoy your trip to the fullest and all the things Colorado has in store for you.
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