11 Cutest Small Towns In Colorado
The Centennial State of "Colorful Colorado embodies its two nicknames with deep history and a vibrantly diverse nature. Find the evidence in the glorious blooms along the Rocky Mountain slopes and foothills in the spring that surrounds these mountainous enclaves. Each small town with a big character permeates its unique culture through sights and attractions.
From artist enclaves to ice climbing adventureland, you will find a pursuit and stunning scenery on a real city getaway of a lifetime in Colorado. Visit during the most charming holiday season that Colorado celebrates with a bang through the local festivals and many ski destinations in the country, which are best accessible from these towns.
Creede
This picturesque little town under spectacular cliffs is a popular destination in Colorado for those who know about the remote literal enclave. Creede's population of 300 is year-round inflated with tourists, drawn by the sheer vistas magnified within the small-town feel. Experience this unforgettable scenery, unlike anywhere else in the state, on a stroll along magnificent rock walls that posed the perfect backdrop for films like The Shootist, The Lone Ranger, and The Assassination of Jessie James.
Creede's past is intertwined with the Wild West when it was home to a robust 10,000-person population, many lured by the prospects of the once prosperous silver mining town in the mountains. See history alive on the streets and at the Underground Mining Museum, with tours hosted by locals and descendants of mine workers. Take a free tour of Last Chance Mine and visit the modern Creede Repertory Theater for an unforgettable performance at this nationally recognized venue, highlighted in The New York Times for its classicism.
Crested Butte
This rather removed town in the state along the East River Valley is both overlooked and the "last great ski town" among those who know. Enjoy the crowdless atmosphere off-season to absorb the charming culture and breathtaking nature all around. Stroll through Crested Butte National Historic District, which reminisces its mining past through beautiful Victorian buildings. With many transformed into charming eateries, gift shops, and historic boutique hotels, you can get an insider's perspective while enjoying your favorite pastimes.
Visit when the snow starts falling at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, which holds value as Colorado's skiing and snowboarding destination, despite many more in the state. Other popular wintertime activities include cross-country skiing and ice skating at the Nordic Center. Come summertime, the town switches to the "Wildflower Capital," with evidence around the valley and the Wildflower Festival in July. Enjoy hiking and biking with trails all around for 750 miles, as well as Bike Week in June and mountain biking, another major activity in Crested Butte.
Crestone
Crestone, a cute town at 7,500 feet with extended views of the San Luis Valley, is definitely a unique Colorado destination, with the nickname "Colorado's most spiritual." The town induces an instant peace of mind to really get away from the city sights and sounds to a scenic location at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range's western slope. Immerse yourself in this charming local scene of prayer flags, chiming crystals in the wind, and street names like Carefree Way.
Choose a "spiritual path" as you explore the town among its whole array of impressive sites, like ashrams, monasteries, temples, retreat centers, and Ziggurat, modeled after the ancient Babylon temple. Its sight atop a hill just outside of the center of town magnetically pulls you for a joyous one-mile hike to this unique structure. Sightsee what is behind the town's name in the 14,000-foot peaks domineering the east side of Crestone, called Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak. As some of the most accessible spots in the state, you can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, climbing, and camping at the nearby National Forest Service campground along with other nature fans.
Estes Park
This adorable town, framed by towering snow-capped peaks, is a sightseer's paradise with the real adventure land of Rocky Mountain National Park, which surrounds the town on three sides. Founded in the mid-1800s on the banks of a glistening lake, Estes Park quickly became a popular resort-style getaway amid wilderness that feels much deeper than its mere 70 miles north of downtown Denver. Enjoy easy access to the best of the outdoors at the park, like an adventurous trek down the Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake for a day by the water.
From skiing in the winter to summertime hikes and pleasant bike rides around the town's developed trails, you will find nature calling out to you from all sides. The small town of 5,800 is home to a walkable Victorian-style main street for charming strolls and the beautiful Riverwalk Park, with common elk sightings. Check out the notable Edwardian-style Stanley Hotel from 1909, inspiration for the adaptation of The Shining (1980), and ride the aerial tramway for an eagle's-eye view of the scenery from atop Prospect Mountain.
Evergreen
Evergreen is a cute little town with a pine-scented name emanating fresh vibes, nestled quietly in the foothills of the Rockies' front range. Enjoy convenient access, just 45 minutes from Denver, to the state's most spectacular nature, including the town's iconic Evergreen Lake. The alpine community, blessed with beautiful mountain views right from the streets, offers adventures and recreation in the outdoors for all tastes, groups, and levels.
The charming historic downtown feels homey amid the spectacular range of attractions like shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques, and art galleries. Find nature literally a hand's reach away over dinner along Bear Creek right downtown. Enjoy year-round pursuits within a hand's reach, like kayaking, fishing, ice skating, and ice fishing, as well as trails with various sights and difficulties for hiking and biking through the surrounding wilderness.
Fairplay
The small town of Fairplay is one of the homiest places around, set dead center in Park County amid lush greenery and the spectacular backdrop of the nearby Mosquito Mountain Range. Stroll through the vibrant streets, characterized by cultural attractions and a thriving art scene, which is no wonder with all the stunning nature around. Find year-round fun in the outdoors right in Fairplay's own backyard, including world-class skiing and ice climbing in the winter.
Enjoy wondrous snowmobiling and snowshoeing adventures through the pristine backcountry wilderness that wakes up in the spring with wildlife, lush meadows, and wildflowers, and those still snow-capped peaks in the distance. The "fly-fishing capital of Colorado" is an angler's paradise on the middle fork of the South Platte River during the summer. Visit in time to celebrate local events like the fun Burro Days Race during the summer, as well as a free summer concert series and the unique South Park Arts Celebration.
Lake City
The charming town of Lake City, at the intersection of two scenic byways, calls your name from the county of Hinsdale, which comprises 96% public land. Enjoy easy access to what feels like the end of the world via a memorable drive down the Silver Thread Scenic Byway or the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway for awe-inspiring beauty. Change the scenery from the city fumes into refreshing nature in Lake City, the most removed town from the roads with the fewest roads per person. This unique small town in Colorado is truly like no other in the state, with its intriguing Hinsdale County Museum about Colorado's only cannibal, Alferd Packer.
Get away from it all with fun natural outings for every taste during the day and check out the impeccably preserved historic downtown, a National Historic District. The surrounding San Juan Mountain range and the nearby San Cristobal Lake are year-round adventureland, with hiking, biking, and angling in the summer months. Enjoy ice skating at Lake City Ski Hill, San Cristobal Lake, or the Lake City Ice Park, with more snow pursuits like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking in winter.
Ouray
A town nicknamed "Switzerland of America" cannot be any cuter or boast more alpine scenery than here in Ouray. Its stunning natural environment nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains attracts globe-trotting adventurers for ice climbing at Ouray Ice Park. If slippery adventures aren't your cup of tea, hiking through the fantastic Box Canyon Falls Park is a must-scenic experience for all.
Enjoy in-town strolls with awe-inspiring mountain vistas of jagged snow-capped peaks and steep valley walls that embody the moniker. Visit for natural hot springs galore to soak up good vibes and test your metal in the winter at the stunning Ouray Ice Park, or stroll along this canyon lined with walls of ice. The remote town not far from Telluride is worth every minute of the 6-hour drive from Denver.
Paonia
Paonia is a cute little town full of good vibes and optimal weather conditions to spend all of your time outdoors in the cradle of the North Fork Valley. The warm air flowing up the valley at night makes it ideal for camping, while the cool air from the mountains during the day is a blessing for all the active adventures you can enjoy around the town. With its ideal climate for agriculture, expect vibrant markets with a colorful array of fruits, like grape varietals, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and vegetables.
The thriving art scene of this "certified Colorado Creative District" has many painters, sculptors, jewelers, and musicians calling Paonia home. Experience their work on the streets, galleries, and venues in the Creative District, along with shops and artist studios. Paonia is also home to farmers and winemakers, with an award-winning wine industry. Revel in the up-and-coming farm-to-table cuisine, including local wineries and sustainably raised meats. Visit this cool oasis tucked away from the typical dry Colorado climate during the Ciderfest for all things apple, boot-stomping, music, and delicious eats in a cozy fall time atmosphere.
Steamboat Springs
This sleepy, picturesque town nestled amid the remote northwest region of Colorado wakes up as "Ski Town USA" in winter. It is a popular and affordable skiing destination to shred the snow while maintaining its small-town appeal without the tourist trap vibe of Vail. Take a summertime hike over Rabbit Ear Pass into the lush, green Yampa Valley for scenery that must only be experienced in person.
The cute mountain town along the rugged Yampa River shore will keep you busy outdoors with fishing, hiking, kayaking, chasing waterfalls, and boating. Steamboat Springs is also a prime cycling area, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Make the worthy three-hour drive from Denver in winter to its valuable Rocky Mountain location with two top-notch skiing areas, offering over 3,000 skiable acres worth every minute. Choose the top of Mount Werner, just out of town, or the smaller Howelsen Hill Ski Area, named after the town's first ski jumper in 1913.
Trinidad
Trinidad is a unique small town with a storied past as a stop-over along the historic Santa Fe Trail, the commercial highway in the 1800s. Some travelers, including the Spanish and Mexicans, became settlers, thus adding business to local ranchers and traders. Settled before Colorado even became a state in 1876 for the convenient historic trading route, Trinidad is a great place to revisit the past, including coal mining, at the Trinidad History Museum.
Trinidad has been the "Drop City" destination for creatives with a claim to fame in arts and cannabis since 1965, with a hippie commune just to the north. Visit this eclectic town near the border of New Mexico in southeastern Colorado. "Weed Town USA" today, with a vibrant counterculture of liberated artists and filmmakers and their descendants, boasts 25 marijuana dispensaries that revitalized Trinidad's economy, according to High Times.
Colorado is a rich natural state with the Rockies, the Colorado Plateau, canyons, rivers, lakes, and state parks. Visit any of these enchanting towns with the ability to charm anyone with quirky characters and awe-inspiring vistas. Stroll through the history-laden streets amid breathtaking mountains, with art galleries, shops, and restaurants.
Trek through the Rockies National Park, with waterfalls, hot springs, and other natural wonders around, like rugged shorelines, cliffs, and gaping canyons that will steal your breath. Enjoy activities for any level or relax through easygoing recreation pursuits, and these towns will welcome you back with honest sincerity for the evening, like local wineries and a fresh farm cuisine dining scene.
