These Small Towns in the Rockies Come Alive in Summer
When the temperature is rising and the barometer is getting low, the Rockies are the place to go. The incredible Rocky Mountains stretch from north to south through the western region, just off the center of the United States and Canada, extending from Montana to Colorado in the US. The towns around Rocky Mountain National Park are "high in demand," strewn as tiny gems throughout and along the Continental Divide.
Embark on the most refreshing escape from the city's steel and soot into Mother Nature's scenic summertime embrace under the sun with alpine vistas. From relaxing strolls, picnics, lakes, and rivers to enduring hikes and mountain biking, you will not be remiss in choosing these towns. These 13 towns come with unique characters and the common denominator of Rocky Mountain views that never get old. Immerse yourself in a summertime love affair with fresh-faced nature and return for more seasonal pursuits.
Boulder, Colorado
This little college town in the Rockies is lively through all other seasons with students but awakens in the most lovely way with nature in the summertime. Boulder is one of the closest towns to the incredible hikes and biking trails through Rocky Mountain National Park, a playground for the outdoors. It is also the perfect time to join other Shakespeare fans at the vibrant Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Visit the family-friendly Museum of Natural History to learn more about what you can encounter, and stop by the spectacular university grounds with the Fiske Planetarium.
This charming town along the foothills, 40 miles to the Beaver Meadows entrance, is only 30 miles from Denver, right into Mother Nature's scenic embrace. Find great stays ranging from chain hotels to b&bs and cozy cabins, like the Foot of the Mountain Motel's log-cabin-style lodgings. With streets emptied of the University of Colorado crowd, you can shop and dine your heart out through the downtown and the unusually tranquil Pearl Street Mall district, with small businesses catering to all guests' needs.
Buena Vista, Colorado
This tiny southcentral Colorado hamlet is just two and a half hours southwest of Denver. Buena Vista is a great destination for nature strolls and refreshing hikes through the surrounding towering Collegiate Peaks and the flowing Arkansas River. Enjoy a mix of active outdoor pursuits like the best whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and camping. Find a cozy cottage and begin your ultimate Rockies experience with the whole of scenic Chaffee County at your fingertips.
The small mountain town vibe along its laidback streets brings you back to life after days of hard work and studying over the books to relax in any way you like. Seek Spanish vestiges behind its name, complimented surely by the mountain vistas and beautiful waters to have your way with. Enjoy kayaking, SUPing, and fly-fishing, and find the Mount Princeton Hot Springs just a hand's reach away. Get dirty 4x4ing year-round via Jeeps and ATVs down some excellent off-road trails, followed by a refreshing summertime dip.
Creede, Colorado
Creede, the epitome of small mountain town living, is home to around 300 full-time residents and draws scores of tourists from around the country to its grandiose natural offerings. Rendezvous with Rockie in Creede this summer, one of the most picturesque towns in Southwest Colorado, tucked into the San Juan Mountains. Come back for year-round outdoor pursuits throughout Mineral County and Creede's spectacular downtown strip along the stunning, narrow canyon at 8,799 feet in elevation.
This former volcanic caldera encompasses the town within sheer cliffs that keep it forever small with no physical ability to expand, which is exactly why you will fall in love with this place. Creede is a popular vacation spot with activities and relaxing pursuits for all tastes that retains a charming small-town atmosphere with a historic mining town past. Find this and more, all encompassed by stunning natural attractions of mountains, dense forests, and clear waters for dreamy summertime adventures under the mild weather.
Crested Butte, Colorado
With a small population of around 1,700 people living at 8,909 feet above sea level, Crested Butte is one of the highest-set towns in the Rockies. Come in the summer when the town, in its "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" mode, greets you with vibrant blooms, definitely worthy of the 4-hour drive from Denver. Join the locals and thousands of other tourists at the 10-day annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival during the summer, full of diverse sights and activities for every age.
Immerse yourself in nature and a small-town feel with an endless supply of outdoor adventures for every group and taste. From simple strolls through town to wildlife hikes, fishing, and mountain biking, you are only an adventure away from the scenic views of the highest peaks. Come back year-round for a refreshing escape with alpine vistas and seasonal activities, like famous wintertime skiing resorts.
Dinosaur, Colorado
Much like its offbeat name, Dinosaur is a remote town in northwest Colorado, near the namesake National Monument of 200,000-acre nature preserve. The park is a real playground for adventurous types and nature lovers seeking a refreshing escape from the city to reconnect with Mother Nature, with the bonus of a remote feel. Enjoy easy access for all your summertime dreams of adventures on the border between Utah and Colorado, with Dinosaur as your base to explore around.
Fuel up with coffee over breakfast along Brontosaurus Boulevard, the main thoroughfare, and start your summer's day full of discoveries from the trailheads diverging from the Visitor's Center two miles east, perfect to warm up for those hikes. Explore via a network of biking trails through the park with incredible dinosaur fossils, rock formations, and other marvelous sights. Set up a picnic on the Colorado side with impressive canyon and river views. You are now in the hot seat of more unique activities like whitewater rafting, stargazing within the International Dark Sky Park, or a scenic drive along Harpers Corner Road, along the Green and Yampa rivers.
Grand Lake, Colorado
Grand Lake is the ultimate summertime destination, complete with the natural feature behind its name and the claim of being the western gateway into the massive Rocky Mountain National Park. Choose a lakeside hotel and peruse the compact center, with cute coffee shops and places to buy trinkets in the looming mountain background. Drive down the stunning Trail Ridge Road to an elevation of 12,183 feet with a hairpin curve, alpine views, and many trailheads along the way.
This little aesthetic entrance into the less busy side of the park means fewer crowds and more pristine nature at your fingertips. Enjoy all the wild glory on a hike or a bike ride along the beautiful trails and stop to pick a bouquet of wildflowers or set up a picnic amid the blooming scenery. Zen out by the largest natural lake in Colorado, Grand Lake, or try water sports. Join in signature events like the 4th of July Extravaganza and the Grand Lake Regatta Week during the summer and come back for year-round activities in this "Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado."
Kremmling, Colorado
No adventure is off the table in the summertime "Sportsman's Paradise" in Colorado, Kremmling. From relaxing with a fishing rod and serene strolls to adrenaline-pumping activities like hunting, whitewater rafting, and enduring hikes, you will be at the mercy of breathtaking nature. Kremmling is the gathering hub of Grand County for licensed hunters, with pronghorn, elk, bears, and even mountain lions. Visit the Middle Park Fair and Rodeo and enjoy horseback rides through the summertime naturescape.
There is also the newly-opened Gore Canyon Whitewater Park, with kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, or the experience of Kremmling's "Fire up the Cliffs" 4th of July Celebration with an incredible view of the town and river. Don't leave without driving the Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway, through Kremmling, and onto the scenic Trough Road to State Bridge. Return for nordic skiing at Latigo Ranch in the winter or try snowshoeing in the quaint scenery around town, with a hot tub awaiting.
Lake City, Colorado
This real gem of under one square mile in area is a must-see in the summertime, set snugly against the beautiful San Juan Mountains along the Continental Divide. Set up illegally by four prospectors as a mining town in 1871, the Ute people ceded the territory three years later. It was incorporated the next year around the silver and gold mine called the Hotchkiss Lode. The mecca for ecotourism of the day brims with outdoor adventures and recreation, from ice climbing to fishing, hunting, and wildlife sights in the peak summer season.
Enjoy the 4x4 roads, hikes for all levels, and drives along the Silver Thread scenic byway and to the nearby ghost towns, all with spectacular alpine backdrops of the range. Cristobal Lake is a summertime hotspot, minutes away, with swimming and watersports. Despite being removed from the main road, Lake City is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Largely untouched by technology, you can really immerse yourself in wild nature, with mountaineering for all levels and a cozy, albeit secluded town waiting to cover you for the evening pursuits in close company.
Nederland, Colorado
This teeny hamlet buried in the foothills of the Rockies is your ultimate southern gateway into the park for summertime hikes and recreation like camping. Explore the town's interesting mining history and the downtown area, full of vestiges like the Nederland Mining Museum. The family-beloved 1910 Carousel of Happiness will spin away your worries at any age.
Find the scenically old covered wooden bridge and cross the creek for a picnic and more sightseeing trails. Find a few fabulous boutiques and cafes for those rainy days and enjoy Nederland’s best natural feature, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway into Rocky Mountain National Park, a 55-mile stretch. With Black Hawk to one side and Estes Park to the other, you can visit both via a pretty drive or just 30 miles to the Wild Basin section with an incredible lake and waterfall hikes sans crowds.
Ouray, Colorado
The "Switzerland of America" is a "can’t miss" mountain town in the southern Rockies, at the heart of the snow-capped San Juan Mountains. Soak in the sun, natural hot springs, and scenic views through all of your outdoor ventures in and around town. There are many hikes diverging from the outskirts, like chasing some of the region's most beautiful waterfalls.
Discover Ouray's rich gold and silver history on a tour of the Bachelor Syracuse Mine, as well as several historic walking tours. The laidback town, flanked by the high range's peaks, offers a relaxing base to embark on your own alpine adventure. Enjoy Ouray's unique culture along the main strip with local shops, day and evening ghost tours, and the nearby vapor caves. There is also a local museum and regular exciting festivals, particularly through the summer months.
Paonia, Colorado
This pretty lady of the Rockies is tucked a mile off Highway 133, north of Crawford, in the North Fork Valley. Find a beautiful downtown area, a few blocks of local businesses with cute cafes, quality shopping, and delectable dining spots at 5,682 feet above sea level. The land with precious agricultural resources was once the hunting grounds for Ute Indians, and you can hunt today for crisp apple trees, peony sites, and wineries galore.
Immerse yourself in the small-town charm of Paonia on a summertime retreat from the city, with nature abounding and only a few tourists who know about this incredible hideaway. Explore the rich landscapes around you with enticing vineyards producing Colorado's best wines, in between discovering other treasures of the region. Join the friendly local crowd at regular events and festivals like the annual Cherry Days Festival.
Silverton, Colorado
One of the more secluded towns, Silverton, occupies one of the most spectacular landscapes in the state, in between Durango and Ouray. Its streets, tucked scenically within the San Juans, offer a spectacular backdrop for your daily perusal downtown, steeped in history and guided tours of historic mines. Find local hotspots like shops, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as hotels with peaky vistas.
One of the highest towns in the state and the US awakens every summer as a destination getaway or a relaxing summer vacation full of alpine pursuits under the sun at 9,318 feet of elevation. Explore the San Juan National Forest via hikes with picnics and camping sites, and take a rainy-day scenic train ride to Durango and Silverton for the views from the comfort of your seat along the iconic San Juan Mountains. Return for a weekend escape when Silverton Mountain opens in the winter with fewer crowds for your favorite snow pursuits.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Full of picturesque mountain views and outdoor activities throughout the year, Steamboat Springs really heats things up in the summer months. Find this mecca for the outdoorsy just three hours northwest of Denver, with mountain trails, great shopping, and incredible eateries to peruse in between. The surrounding verdant landscape bursts with brilliant blooms, while the Yampa River becomes the heart of all the activity for fly fishing, inner tube rides, and rafting.
This Wild West town features 29 park sites over 1,000 acres, dotted by six mineral springs, two skate parks, ten playgrounds, and two dozen places to play sports. Enjoy hikes and bike rides along the wildlife trails through Rocky Mountain National Park. The natural hot springs to soothe your sore muscles after, before heading for the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series every Friday and Saturday night during the summer.
The sleepy mountain towns wake up and shake off the snow later than at lower elevations, with a choice of summertime adventures in pristine nature and downtowns full of hotspots and vistas for every day. Choose a popular town or a secret gem for this summer's getaway from the city into refreshing nature to engage through wildlife hikes, flower field picnics, and winery visits.
These 13 undeniably charming towns will capture your heart through sights that will make you want to stay outdoors under the sun. Enjoy scenic highway drives and on-town cultural and modern-day pursuits during the rainy days, and come back for seasonal snow shredding.
