1. Reach Your Summit on a Hike
Whether your goal is “Summit or Bust” up the steep side of a fourteener or more of a lazy creekside amble, Colorado has hundreds of miles of trails that are just your speed. Not only are they easy to access, but the catalog of available hiking experiences is incredibly diverse — paths through wildflower-strewn meadows, treks amid cliffs and canyons to petroglyphs left by ancient people, journeys through swaying grasslands that haven’t changed since pioneers first set foot there hundreds of years ago, walks that lead to rushing waterfalls and so many more.
Popular hiking havens to see:
- Wildflowers: Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray; Shrine Pass near Frisco; Lake Isabel near Colorado City
- Waterfalls: Fish Creek Falls near Steamboat Springs; Seven Falls in Colorado Springs; Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride (find more Colorado waterfalls)
- Historic paths: Sante Fe Trail’s Sierra Vista Overlook near La Junta; Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Ancestral Puebloan dwellings); Skyline Drive (dinosaur tracks) near Cañon City
- Wildlife: Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park (elk); Mount Blue Sky Wilderness Area near Idaho Springs (bighorn sheep, mountain goats); State Forest State Park (moose)
2. Connect With Nature on a Camping Trip
There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to totally unplug from digital life on a camping trip, but Colorado will make sure you have all the inspiration to do so. There’s no better way to get close to the state’s abundant wilderness areas than by making one of its campgrounds home for a few nights, either in a tent under the stars or a fully equipped RV. With campsites in 43 state parks, on more than 22 million acres of national forests and grasslands and in hundreds of private campgrounds, it’s easy to find a tranquil spot to get back to basics and revisit the simplicity of nature. (Read 11 Amazing Colorado Campgrounds)
Campsites complete with:
- Great amenities: Cabins and yurts in Golden Gate Canyon State Park; swimming pool, bike rentals and mini-golf at the Grand Junction KOA; hot showers at Elk Creek Campground in the Curecanti National Recreation Area
- No amenities (wilderness backpacking): West Fork Campground in the Weminuche Wilderness Area near Pagosa Springs; Trappers Lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area near Meeker; Ansel Watrous Campground in the Roosevelt National Forest
- Lakeside tent/RV sites: Grand Lake / Rocky Mountain National Park KOA Journey; Cherry Creek State Park; John Martin Reservoir State Park
- Epic views: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve; Silver Bar Campground near Aspen; Lower Hermosa Campground near Durango
3. Feel the Thrill of Mountain Biking & Cycling
In Colorado, bicycle riding is not just a way to get around before you get your drivers license: it’s a way of life. From the state that invented mountain biking (Crested Butte claims that honor) and has dozens of endurance and high-altitude road biking races each year (including several where you ride for 24 hours straight), you can bet there’s an abundance of bike trails. There are also hundreds of miles of paved, flat trails for the more casual pedaler, as well as outfitters across the state that can provide all the gear needed for a two-wheel outing. One of the most unique facets of Colorado’s bike culture is that every spring, many ski areas become mountain-biking courses for every skill level. Riders take their bikes up the mountain on gondolas and then wind their way down slopes reserved for skiers in winter.
A few places to bicycle:
- Down the ski slopes: Eagle’s Loop on Vail Mountain; Silver Pick Trail at Purgatory Resort; Let it Ride Trail at Keystone Resort
- Around a bike park: Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park Resort; Corral Center Mountain Bike Park in Lory State Park; Palmer Park in Colorado Springs
- On paved routes for road bikes and cruisers: Cherry Creek Bike Trail, Denver; Gore Creek bike path in Vail; Clear Creek Trail in Golden
- A singletrack paradise: Deer Creek Trail in Crested Butte; 18 Road Trails near Fruita; Marshall Mesa Trail in Boulder
4. Make a Splash on a Boat
Colorado may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t shorelines. On thousands of acres of boat-worthy water, boaters find solace traveling through mountain basins and deep, blue-water oases on the wide-open plains. Tow a water skier or tuber or just feel the wind on your face as you glide across Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs, which often allow boaters wide wakes. Some are BYOB — bring your own boat — but many have marinas that offer rentals to get you on the water. Don't forget to practice boat safety while you're there.
Wonderful water for:
- Waterskiing: Navajo State Park; Jackson Lake State Park; Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Canoeing: Lake Granby in Granby; Gross Reservoir near Eldorado Springs; Colorado River near Palisade
- Fishing: Grand Mesa Lakes near Cedaredge; Lake Pueblo State Park; Steamboat Lake State Park
- Sailing: Lake Dillon in Dillon; Grand Lake; Ruedi Reservoir in Basalt