9 Most Breathtaking Towns In The Rockies
Stretching from Alberta in Canada to New Mexico, the vast Rocky Mountains peak in Colorado, with Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet, Mount Massive at 14,429 feet, and Mount Harvard at 14,421 feet. Virtually no adventure is off the table in the Rockies, from chasing waterfalls to gondola and ski gondolas to hot springs and wildflowers carpeting the slopes.
Hiking along the ridges is a popular way to stretch your legs in rolling views of the sheerness, upholding heavens at the horizon. In addition to skiing and hiking, opportunities for relaxation await at Ouray's natural hot springs, the glitzy après-ski scene between Aspen and Vail, and prime territory for historic districts through its innumerable mining boom towns. From Idaho to Colorado, tour the most breathtaking towns in the Rockies.
Aspen, Colorado
Originally inhabited by the Ute Indians, Aspen was the nation's largest silver-producing mining district before the 1893 market collapse. As an Alps town doppleganger known for upscale skiing, the views are as breathtaking as the atmosphere. Surrounded by the peaking Elk Mountains in the heart of the White River National Forest, Aspen draws thousands for a complete mind, body, and spirit experience based on the Paepckes' “The Aspen Idea,” driving Aspen's cultural renaissance in the 1940s.
Adventures range from hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing to fly-fishing in the Roaring Fork River through town. The Aspen Snowmass resort sprawls on four ski mountains, including the towering Ajax downtown and the legendary Highland Bowl. Aspen’s après-ski scene lands you in the heart of world-class restaurants and venues like the Michael Klein Music Tent and Harris Concert Hall. John Denver Sanctuary is ideal for dialing back through a floral landscape with engraved rocks.
Creede, Colorado
Incepted like many others in the San Juans during the late 1880s silver mining boom, Creede was born within a historic volcanic caldera. Flowing from the peaks, the Willow Creek laces the rustic downtown in charm, with kayaking and rafting from the doorstep. Visitors enjoy 19th-century retro appeal while shopping, dining, and lodging for every budget in a real small-town feel. In addition to starring in the 1976 John Wayne film The Shootist, The Lone Ranger was filmed here in 2013.
Wedged between ancient walls at the eastern end of the range, the sheer cliffs preventing further growth add a stunning backdrop to a compact downtown, which takes sightseeing to a new level. Beyond the Underground Mining Museum, completely underground, and the Creede Repertory Theatre, head a few minutes north to experience a rich cultural landscape alongside outdoor adventures on the popular Bachelor Loop, a scenic 17-mile drive through a historic mining district.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Founded mid-summer in 1880 by a speculator, what he saw from high above was likely the peak wildflower display carpeting the rolling scenery. Most recognized for its colorful summertime display, the "wildflower capital of Colorado" continues to astound photographers, history fans, and families with vivid colors of nature year-round. Rocking some of the Rockies' best foliage, the turning leaves complement its majestic National Historic District, filled with Victorian architecture.
Minutes north, Lupine Trail Trailhead is currently ablaze in yellow aspens, with purple lupine seeds warming up for the next showcase showdown in the warm season. Whether you take the nearby Woods Walk Trailhead or play at the local Rainbow Park, the breathtaking backdrop encases the highly strollable Crested Butte Downtown. In addition to hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and climbing, the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway ranks among the Rockies' best scenic drives.
Driggs, Idaho
At over 6,000 feet in elevation, Driggs is a breathtaking town in the valley amid the Teton, Big Hole, and Snake River mountain ranges. Come for high-altitude adventure and relax in a laid-back atmosphere to soak in the views, with year-round activities and insights at the local Teton Valley Museum on the imposing natural splendor. In addition to two public golf courses, minutes either way, it is a popular spot for floating and world-class fly fishing at the headwaters of the Teton River.
Having emerged as a farming community in the late 1800s, Driggs excels in gastronomy, feeding the hungry adventurers after mountain biking, the lush hiking views from New Sheep Bridge Trailhead, or skiing at Grand Targhee Resort. The gourmet cuisine goes best when washed down with local crafts, distilled spirits, and an epic century-old soda fountain that adds a distinctly rustic vibe. The Forage Bistro & Lounge caters to dog- and kid-friendly farm-to-table dining for the whole family.
Ouray, Colorado
Encased by the 13,000-foot San Juans, Ouray was born out of the silver boom. Having left its bustle behind, it is an ideal destination for thrill and relaxation seekers alike, with views that rightfully earn this town the "Switzerland of America" handle. From scenic drives to the waterfalls at two distinct parks within limits, relax those muscles at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool with views of the snowcapped peaks. The rocky Box Cañon Falls Park features an 85-foot cascade along trails and a visitor center.
Cascade Falls Trail meanders along a network of scenic cascades with a mix of rocks and a refreshing mist, for pictures, picnics, and relaxation. Whether you are chasing waterfalls or the springtime blooms, everything is within minutes to unwind and recharge. Best of all, the scenery follows you downtown, in its 1800s Victorian attire with stunning historical buildings, like the hospital-turned-museum. No leaf-peeping season goes by without driving along the Million Dollar Highway.
Silverton, Colorado
Not just another historic mining town, Silverton, the other end of the Million Dollar Highway, is the remote county seat and only incorporated town of San Juan County. The secluded feel amid steep, rugged mountains draws off-roaders, hikers, and campers wishing to get up close and personal with nature in the San Juan Mountains. Some of the best adventures begin and end downtown, designated a National Historic Landmark District, with mining heritage and Victorian architecture.
In addition to skiing at the famous Silverton Mountain ski area, the iconic Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad delights the young and young at heart, chugging between the two 19th-century downtowns. The family-run Kendall Mountain Cafe is an idyllic ruby-red building with outdoor seating and vegan options right across from the San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center, its old jail, and railroad artifacts inside a stately, no-frills brick building with a gift shop.
Telluride, Colorado
Never mind being six hours from Denver; Telluride draws visitors with a historic district in the splendid Rockies. This mining boom town turned Main Street town is a shopping and cultural hub of the range. The 80-acre downtown douses you in a hefty dose of 19th-century charm in between dining and fine boutiques. Adventures begin right downtown, minutes away from the Bear Creek Falls display over colorful strata. It is also just a gondola hop away from the Telluride Ski Resort.
The hike to the famed Bridal Veil Falls begins from the trailhead east, past the Pandora Mill. Accessible via a steep wooded trail or the longer, easier jeep road, the falls draw picnickers and photographers to the base, while the 4x4 vehicles with high clearance can drive the rough, narrow road to the top. From hiking trails to scaling the canyon via a gondola, there is no other like Telluride's holiday cheer and shopping in the sentimental embrace of the historic allure downtown.
Westcliffe, Colorado
Dating to the late 1800s, this quintessential mining mountain town is tangled amid 200 miles of hiking and biking trails near 54 alpine lakes. Sandwiched by the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges, the Crestone Group of five fourteeners draws avid rock climbers and is visible downtown. Whether you spy a wrangler herding cattle on horseback or Bishop Castle, some 28 miles southeast, the intimate setting and breathtaking scenery feel crafted from a storybook solely for your enjoyment.
The sheer range blocks light pollution, taking sightseeing beyond the peaks. The area is quiet around Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, the state's first recognized by DarkSky International. Just west in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, campgrounds offer easy access downtown and adventures, including the 30-mile Rainbow Trail along the range, favored for hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. Enjoy stargazing from your tent, or join Smokey Jack Observatory's star parties in the summer.
Vail, Colorado
Northeast of Aspen, this resort town with a Swiss-style flair is a tad more budget-friendly. In addition to golf links and fly-fishing along sparkling waterways, the summer mountains turn into a carpeted alpine landscape painted along the trails in wild blooms of delicate pinks, fuchsias, and ruby. Mountain bikers and hikers rejoice in the sheer mileage of the state's best aspen-laden trails. The vast, open back bowls and bountiful powder awestruck the resort’s founders upon summitting Vail Mountain in 1957.
Designed after Europe’s best ski towns, with families in mind, Vail promises unforgettable memories along the car-free cobblestone streets and Tyrolean architecture. The legendary 5,317-acre ski resort draws international adventurers with groomed corduroy and Blue Sky Basin’s naturally gladed trails, while Vail Village offers an après-ski scene of culinary adventures, steps from the sprawling Bighorn Park with play equipment. Take the nearby Booth Falls Trailhead to a waterfall partway and a lake.
Once great obstacles for explorers, the towering snowcapped giants preserve the mountaineering spirit of the local populace. Today, the majestic Rockies are the ultimate 3,000-mile-long, over-14,000-foot-high playground, with some of the most welcoming towns etched into the slopes.
From Aspen to Creede and Silverton, these nine showstoppers will steal your breath. Stepping out on a misty morning into a wildflower galore, spectacular sunsets, and several historic districts—this is just a small taste of the full flavors to experience against the snowcapped peaks of the Rockies.
