Best 8 Things to Do in Colorado

Find the best things to do and the best places to go in Colorado all year long! 

If you are the outdoorsy, adventure-seeking type and are looking for the next destination where you can let your adventurous soul loose, then look no further; Colorado is, without a doubt, the place for you. 

Although Colorado is commonly known as a ski destination, this naturally gorgeous state offers more than snow-capped mountains and ski lodges. Aside from the state’s stunning landscape of snowy peaks, rushing rivers, and dramatic canyons, Colorado has something for everyone, from cultural hubs and historic landmarks to annual festivals that bring the entire state to life. 

With not one but four national parks and a variety of gorgeous lakes, Colorado offers some of the world’s best hiking experiences, especially during the spring and summer when the weather is crisp yet warm, i.e. perfect for a nature stroll. 

So, let’s find out in more detail the best things you can do in Colorado.

Get a Taste of the Great City of Denver 

Denver is a must-see place in Colorado. Home to several educational museums, historical sites, and incredible views, it is also great to visit the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

The Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science are some of the best Denver attractions. If you travel with children, they will have a blast. 

Of course, because Denver has enough to fill a whole itinerary on its own, you might find yourself lost among all the things to do and places to visit. So, booking an arranged tour around the city would be wise to experience as much of Denver as possible in your limited time. 

Hike the Colorado Trail 

If you have chosen Colorado for its one-of-a-kind nature to explore your adventurous side, the Colorado Trail should be at the top of your list of places to visit.

This 500-mile-long trail gives hikers an in-depth look at just how breathtakingly gorgeous Colorado’s nature is. From the Rock Mountains to several bodies of water, what you will encounter and witness while Hiking the Colorado Trail will reconnect your soul with nature as nothing else could. 

When preparing to hike the Colorado Trail, remember that some of its routes involve climbing. Wearing the appropriate climber’s footwear will help prevent discomfort and inconvenience. Also, ensure plenty of water because the hike could get tiring. 

Explore the Ghost Towns of Colorado 

You may not know that Colorado is full of abandoned towns, many of which were left empty due to the mining struggles of the early 1900s. Now, most of these abandoned ghost towns are open to visitors so that they can get a firsthand look at the unique history of Colorado’s people. 

One of Colorado’s most famous ghost towns is St. Elmo, located about 80 miles southeast of Aspen and around 110 miles west of Colorado Springs. In St. Elmo, you will find a saloon, a jail, and about 40 other preserved buildings abandoned in the 1920s. You can also buy souvenirs from the town’s general store, which opens seasonally. 

Along your ghost town tour, if you find yourself at Aspen or close to it, stop by Independence Ghost Town. Located at 11,000 feet, this ghost town witnesses a lot of snow yearly. Therefore, you can only visit it during the summer months. In Independence Ghost Town, you’ll find empty stables, an old general store, and remains of some abandoned old cabins. If you feel like taking a free tour around this abandoned ghost town, you can wander around freely. However, if you want to get a taste of this town’s history, the best way to do it is to take a formal tour guided by members of the Aspen Historical Society. 

Ski in Aspen 

We can’t write a list of things to do in Colorado without, of course, making a place for skiing in the optimal Ski heaven: Aspen. Millions of people head to Aspen, central Colorado, every year to hit the slopes for its ideal ski conditions and incredible ski resorts. One of the said resorts is the famous Aspen Snowmass, one of the largest ski resorts in the country, not just Colorado. Aspen Snowmass has several chairlifts and about 150 miles of trails, making it the perfect ski destination for advanced and intermediate skiers. That’s not all; Aspen Snowmass also has multiple trails for beginners and offers lessons from experienced instructors. 

If you don’t feel ready for Aspen Snowmass, you can easily ski the 44 trails at the Buttermilk Ski Resort or the 76 trails at Aspen Mountain. 

Because of the town’s vast popularity, various award-winning hotels, such as The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, and an Auberge Resorts Collection, are in the area, so you can enjoy your stay near Aspen’s one-of-a-kind slopes. 

Visit the Dinosaur National Monument 

Straddling the Colorado-Utah borders is another mesmerizing Colorado landmark: the Dinosaur National Monument. This massive landscape where dinosaurs once lived features a punch of mountains, canyons, and rivers that contain an uncanny collection of preserved fossils and remains of the dinosaurs’ existence. Although this monument is equally fascinating to adults and children, one thing that stands out among younger crowds is the on-site Quarry Exhibit Hall, which displays about 1,500 bones, all once belonging to different types of dinosaurs. Another thing that brings this magnificent area to life is the murals and fossil exhibits that encourage young kids to explore and learn more about this era in a more fun way. Something else that visitors usually greatly enjoy while visiting this monument is the petroglyphs that were drawn by members of the Fremont Indian Tribe hundreds of years ago and feature fascinating images of humans and animals. 

Outside of all this museum fun, there are also a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy, such as hiking the trails that stretch out from the visitor centres to viewpoints that overlook the unique desert landscape. Among some of the popular routes are the 3-mile Sound of Silence trail and the 1.2-mile Fossil Discovery trail. You can also enjoy some off-trail hiking in the protected area. If you don’t like hiking but want to see this magnificent Dinosaur National Monument, you can choose between cycling or horseback riding around the area. Entrance fees to Dinosaur National Monument are $25 per vehicle. 

Reconnect with Nature at the Garden of the Gods

Located in northwest Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods National Park is the perfect place to strip your mind and soul of the shackles and worries of everyday life and get back to the calm and unspoiled heart of nature. With its grand rock formations in various colourful white, orange, and red hues, Garden of the Gods Park is every adventurer’s dream destination. The views and surroundings in the magnificent national park are enough to restore your face to the infinite powers of nature. 

Among the most popular activities in the Gardens of the Gods is hiking, as it is the best way to relax and reconnect with nature while soaking in the incredible scenery around you. Some of the most recommended hiking trails are the Perkins Central Garden Trail and the Palmer Trail. 

If you don’t like hiking, you can also take an arranged Jeep tour to Balanced Rock. On this tour, you will hear all about the history of this magnificent park while enjoying a 90-minute ride among tunnels, waterfalls, and other genuinely breathtaking wonders. 

Surf at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve 

If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can’t skip visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, where you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind sand surfing experience not found anywhere else in Colorado. 

If you trust your sand surfing abilities and feel extra courageous, you can choose to surf some of the more challenging and massive dunes of the park. However, if you want to test the waters first, you can simply walk about half a mile, where you will find smaller and easier-to-surf dunes. 

For surfing boards and equipment, head to the Oasis store four miles from the entrance. It is the closest and most popular rental store in the park. 

Other activity options in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve include hiking around the park and swimming in Madeno Creek. 

Camp out at Black Canyon of the Gunnison Park 

Colorado’s Black Canyon is one of a handful of places with the power and ability to both astonish and humble you with its unique beauty and breathtaking nature. One of the exciting things about this national park is that even though it is pretty tiny, it holds incredible dark peaks within its 50 square miles and some of the most amazingly breathtaking canyons and views. 

One of the huge perks of how small the Gunnison National Park is is that it gives its visitors a sense of intimacy thanks to the lack of crowds. Another huge perk is that it is one of the few national parks that are small enough that you can see all of it in just one day. However, the best way to do so is by car, as its steep nature doesn’t make for the best hiking environment. Therefore, most, if not all, visitors choose to explore that park by driving. 

This magnificent national park is divided into the North Rim and the South Rim. The North Rim has three trails and six overlook areas, while the South Rim has five nature walking areas and twelve overlook areas. The South Rim is considered the more developed part of the park, mainly because of its visitor centre, which offers arranged road trips around the park. 

Colorado is one of North America’s most underrated gems, but it is not alone. This hugely diverse continent is filled with rare beauty and enriching adventure opportunities, so check our website to find where your next adventure lies.