9 Prettiest Towns In The Rockies
Clean, crisp air, sparkling river canyons, and snowy peaks abound in the Rockies. Perfect for skiers, holiday shoppers, avid Instagrammers, and professional photographers, the Rockies are a nature lover's delight with flowering fields and slopes, fertile soils, and a whole wine country that is an unexpected cherry on top of your best Rocky Mountain escape.
Choose a town like Paonia for a magical getaway, or hit up Leavenworth in Washington's Cascades, a favorite among domestic and international crowds! From the highest town in Northern America, Leadville, to the waterfront Grand Lake and the fantastic boardwalk and hot springs in Glenwood Springs, there is also Ouray, the "Switzerland of America,” in a box canyon in the heart of the San Juans.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Pretty far from the capital, Denver, this prettiest sleepy mountain town is "the Wildflower Capital of Colorado” for its many blooms. With flowering slopes in the spring, Crested Butte is a favorite fishing and hiking destination to enjoy alongside the subdued pace of life. The downtown area is glorious, thanks to the coal and silver boom, with rich history on display along the stunningly beautiful East River Valley. There's so much to do here in the tranquility of the Rocky Mountains, where nature does all the talking in every season, so start at the favorite caffeine spot, Camp 4 Coffee, with outdoor seating, and end the night at the most popular Secret Stash to see what it is all about!
Bounded by wilderness to the north, there's also Town Park in the heart and Town Ranch Loop Trailhead just south, while Peanut Lake is minutes northwest from downtown! From the stunning wildflower trails in the summer to excellent wintertime skiing, the town bursts with falltime colors, decorating its Victorian galore in the National Historic District. Nature blesses this town with a second-to-none backdrop of a majestic range for photographers and historians on a hunt for artifacts. There is also mountain biking and climbing, as well as the wildlife-ridden West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
At the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers in Western Colorado, this seriously pretty town shines through the peaks with natural beauty and historic charm. Glenwood Springs is like a dialed-down Vail resort vibe with a hot spring—a one-of-a-kind destination in the winter season. As Garfield County's seat and its most populous town, the calm vibe with just the right amount of liveliness and so much to do in nature is the perfectly balanced respite you desire. From long-beloved shops for thrifters to those after sweets, the "Most Vibrant Small Town Arts Environment in the United States" in 2015 boasts an upgraded downtown with cultural sights, outdoor dining, and a drinking scene.
You can spend a day browsing the independent bookstores and boutiques, and head in winter to the second-to-none Sunlight Mountain Resort for fun in the snow, good vibes, and mineral waters to restore your muscles apres-ski! The picturesque Hanging Lake attracts summer crowds among mingling locals to its fantastic boardwalk—a family-friendly scene for hiking and sunset strolls. With something for everyone, the bubbling springs have got your back" before, after on between a coffee in the views, the thrills of paragliding and rafting, serene Gold Medal fishing, and riverside trails for biking!
Grand Lake, Colorado
The largest natural lake in Colorado, Grand Lake town bursts with more accolades along its unbeatable lakeside setting, from the "Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado" to the Western Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park! A classic laketown getaway in the summer with hiking and mountain biking in the Rockies, its renowned Grand Lake Nordic Center offers the best snowshoeing and nordic skiing trails. Complete with a scenic boardwalk, you can escape the every day for strolls, mingle and watch water sports, or pick up a new skill yourself, like from the several ATV/OHV outfitters in town.
Blessed with nature, Grand Lake bends in rustic charm and notes of modernity for a unique and beautiful weekend escape with plentiful accommodation options around the lake. From the signature 4th of July Extravaganza to Grand Lake Regatta Week, you can catch sight of the bugling elk in the fall, cross-country ski in the winter, and enjoy the Instagram-worthy historic boardwalk with art galleries, shops, and restaurants anytime!
Lake Louise, Alberta
This really tiny, pretty village of unproportionate fame offers a mountain escape in its purest form! Some 40 minutes west of Banff, Lake Louise greets you with majestic wilderness without crowds, Lake Louise Resort, independent shops, local restaurants, and boutiques. A real queen of experiences in the alpine department, you can reconnect with Mother Nature in the pristine Canadian Rockies' landscapes near the iconic lake of phenomenal jewel beauty. There are many accommodations tucked right in the heart of nature, alongside a bakery, deli, sporting goods store, and information center.
You will feel like one of the fortunate locals in no time after a few visits to the renowned mountainside tea houses in the summer and the popular ice carving festival in January, just in time for World Cup skiing at Lake Louise Ski Area! Once just a railway stop, the hamlet, one of the most romantic places on earth, is a mecca for adventure, with incredible hiking and skiing just outside. The nearby Valley of the Ten Peaks Moraine Lake features a 450-meter quartzite spire crowning the landscape, called the Tower of Babel—simply breath-taking! Let the gleaming Bow River be your driver's guide, flowing towards Jasper along the 230-kilometer Icefields Parkway—one of the world’s most stunning drives—through two great national parks.
Leadville, Colorado
At 10,152 feet, the highest incorporated city in North America shines with alpine beauty between Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, which seemingly guard this little enclave. Leadville's fortunate location lends itself to bountiful outdoor activities with jaw-dropping views, whether you are hiking or prowling through the picturesque downtown. Originally a lawless mining town, Leadville was reborn as a mecca for recreation in the alpine scenery alongside cool discoveries from the past.
The Leadville Railroad, popular among kids and old historians alike, offers a joyous ride through the Rocky Mountain splendor in open air under close sunlight. Feel higher than you have ever before while exploring seventy square blocks of Victorian architecture in the designated National Historic Landmark District, including Oscar Wilde's favorite saloon. There is also a church where “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” got married in 1886 and the largest opera house west of the Mississippi.
Leavenworth, Washington
A scenic, strollable, and, wait for it, Bavarian village is full of recreation and activities in an authentic alpine setting at an elevation of 1,200 feet, underneath the towering mountains of 8,000 feet. Transforming into a Bavarian-themed village in the 1960s along the Wenatchee River Valley in Chelan County, Leavenworth is just 135 miles east of Seattle for a 2.5-hour day trip to visit a mountainside town in Germany without the expanses. From wineries and golfing to river rafting and rock climbing to skiing and dog sledding, Leavenworth sees over two million annual visitors. Just southwest, the Enchantments offer unreplicable alpine beauty in the Stuart Range, one of the most spectacular parts of Washington's Cascade Mountains and a popular area for hiking and camping!
The four-season pretty city, with flower baskets from the blossoming springtime through vivid fall colors, is also painted with murals! Complete with historic-themed architecture housing independent shops and chain restaurants like McDonald's, you can try local cuisine, join Octoberfest, and visit the theater in the evening. Receiving 95 inches of average seasonal snowfall per year, the mountains hug Little Bavaria in a white embrace just in time for the stunning Village of Lights celebration within. Leavenworth is one of the US's best Christmas towns for celebrations, with a Christmas Market among other festivals throughout the year amid the Washington Cascades.
Ouray, Colorado
Geniously hidden by nature deep in a box canyon, you will find the "Switzerland of America” in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. With impressive mountain views and cliffs for climbing, you can explore the area via easy strolls or on "all fours." What could be better than a relaxing soak in the warm waters after, you ask? Right in the heart of town amid jaw-dropping scenery, the hot springs are steps away from Main Street's old western spirit—a real Victorian-era sight—with century-old brick-faced and mining town-style buildings, all part of the National Historic District.
The pretty mountain town is under two hours away from skiing in Telluride across the Sneffels range, with Mount Sneffels at 14,150 feet visible throughout, although the Black Bear Pass, famous for being treacherous, requires off-road and four-wheel driving skills. Quaint and historic, Ouray in the shade of the high peaks is never crowded to enjoy the outdoor bounty in the sweeping, panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains with your loved ones. From museums to a local brewery, waterfall park, ice park, and popular mine tour, all in the stunning river valley at nearly 8,000 feet in elevation, the town is undeniably handsome!
Palisade, Colorado
Named after the scenic palisades of Mancos Shale—the dramatic formations from localized erosion and downcutting of the Colorado River—you bet this Mesa County town is pretty! With wafting scents of zesty baking, Palisade, the “Peach Capital of Colorado," owns its reputation for “Palisade Peaches" due to its unique high desert climate, which is great for growing sweet fruit. At an elevation of 4,728 m, the hot days and cool nights make the heart of the Grand Valley an agricultural haven filled with blossoming orchards, lavender fields, and acres of vineyards.
The postcard-like town offers several blocks of shops and restaurants, as well as lodging for all styles, with views at each turn and Mt. Garfield visible throughout. Just fifteen minutes east of Grand Junction, Palisade is part of Colorado’s wine country on the Western Slope, with the motto “Life tastes good here!” From Colterris Winery to the fantastic Anita’s Pantry & Produce, you can end the day over a top-tier meal at Pêche and the state’s top craft distilleries like Peach Street Distillers.
Paonia, Colorado
What could be prettier than a town named after your favorite flower and a whole havoc of them in the surrounding area? Paonia's mountain scenery is second to none to explore along the lush landscapes with fertile soil, also renowned for growing fruits and vegetables. Have yourself an organically inspired escape, with tons of markets for produce and fresh farm-to-table eateries with an inspired wine scene from some of the highest-altitude wineries in North America. The pretty town with a pretty name feels like an upscale getaway that sensually envelops in beauty and scents without prices!
Home to a Creative District, you’ll find artist studios, galleries, and many interesting shops, like Refinery, a boutique for upscale men's and women's clothing resale, gifts, and handcrafts. Created by artists, sailors, and winemarkers Ty and Helen Gillespie, Azura Cellars and Gallery offers tasting exceptional varietals of wine while viewing world-class art, all at West Elk Mountains views! The adorable wine-meets-art gallery, as picturesque as it sounds, is never crowded to enjoy the best Riesling and incredible scenery with your loved ones in an aesthetic interior and fantastic outdoors for strolls!
From Alberta's queen of alpine scenery along the bejeweled lake to Colorado, Utah, and Washington, you can taste "Palisade Peaches," catch a Vail resort vibe by the horns without prices, and probably see a few horns on your drive along the Elk Loop Scenic Byway near Crested Butte and even downtown.
Every town, truly unique, will become your favorite destination in years to come, but don't miss out on checking a few adorable, small towns off for serious, pretty views and views of alpine scenery. Prettifying nature, these towns both in your face and hidden in the dusted Rocky Mountain folds offer vistas for days on a daytrip, a weekend escape, or a full-blown vacation.
