11 Best Places To Retire In The Rockies
When selecting a place to retire, there are several considerations ranging from climate to affordability to activities. The Rockies are one such place. In these picturesque mountains, retirees can enjoy splendid scenery, top notch healthcare and much more spread out among several Western States. In these small towns, retirees will have access to magnificent ranches, relaxing hot springs, and historic Old West sites like the Buffalo Bill Museum. Here are 11 of the best towns to retire in the Rockies.
McCall, Idaho
Idaho is not as well known as other states in the United States, but it hides many small towns that are perfect for retirees, including McCall. This picturesque town has some of the most relaxing outdoor recreation in the Rockies. It is next to multiple hot springs that are perfect for rejuvenation, such as the Gold Fork Hot Springs, which has six pools with 85 to 110-degree Fahrenheit water. It also sits by the serene Payette Lake for fishing, boating, or dipping your toes in the North Beach.
McCall hosts a Farmers Market from June through September to pick up fresh food. McCall has several retirement communities, such as the McCall Senior Citizens Center. It is worth noting that home prices are a bit higher in McCall, as the median listing price was $950,000.
Salida, Colorado
This town has a bit of everything for active seniors and those looking for a slower pace of life. Due to Salida's close location to the Arkansas River, it is famous for watersports, with the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area offering rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, and much more. Fishing is also a common activity, with up to 5,000 trout living in the river per mile.
The downtown area in Salida is cute and artsy and hosts Gallery Art Tours every second Saturday of the month, along with live theater performances at the Steamplant Event Center. The median home price here is $710,000, with the crime rate sitting about at the national average. For healthcare facilities, the Rockies Regional Medical Center is available.
Deer Lodge, Montana
In Southwest Montana, the curiously named Deer Lodge sits right in the middle of the Rockies. Deer Lodge was the home of one of the largest ranches in Montana: The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Within this site, one can see 88 historic buildings, take a guided tour in a wagon, or simply go on a relaxing walk in this massive ranch.
Cowboy activities sit front and center in Deer Lodge, as senior citizens can also visit the Frontier Montana Museum, which has a massive collection of spurs, chaps, cowboy memorabilia, and handguns to check out. One ticket will get you into this museum, along with the Auto Museum and historic Old Montana Prison. The median home value here is $196,400, and there are two senior care facilities in town.
Craig, Colorado
If you're looking for an Old West town to retire, then Craig, Colorado, should certainly be on your list. Here, one can discover every aspect of the Old West. For example, the Museum of Northwest Colorado teaches about cowboy history with a massive collection of memorabilia. There's also the Wyman Living History Museum, which gives an intimate view of what life was like here over the past 100 years.
Another amazing spot is the Dinosaur National Monument on the border between Colorado and Utah, where visitors can see petroglyphs left behind by Native Americans. For seniors looking for a cheaper place to live, Craig is certainly worthwhile, as the median home price is just over $288,400.
Salmon, Idaho
This Far West town was originally a mining and ranching town, and today, it is an outdoor paradise on the Franch Church River of No Return Wilderness. Salmon, Idaho, is perfect for seniors looking for a bit of outdoor adventure. The Lewis & Clark Trail cuts through the town, along with the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. However, for those who want to take a drive out of town, there are multiple marvelous hot springs to explore, such as the Sharkey Hot Springs.
The town also has plenty of amenities, ranging from the Steele Memorial Medical Center to the Salmon Valley Senior Center, which has bingo, card games, and other activities. Residents can get a better look at the history of the region at the Lemhi County Historical Museum, which has exhibits on mining, ranching, and Native Americans.
Aspen, Colorado
In the White River National Forest, Aspen, Colorado, it should be front and center for anyone looking to move to the Rockies. With the magnificent Elk Mountains surrounding Aspen, it's easy to see why skiers love to come here, especially to the Aspen Snowmass resort. Residents can also visit the Maroon Bells, 14,000-foot mudstone peaks, which are the most photographed mountains in all of North America.
Aspen itself is a grand patron of the arts, which seniors can experience at Theater Aspen, or the Aspen Musica Festival & School, which holds 400 events during the Summer. The median home price here is quite expensive at $3.4 million, but its beautiful landscapes make it a very attractive place to retire. Its crime rate is also much lower than the national average.
Laramie, Wyoming
Sitting at 7,220 feet in the Rocky Mountains, Laramie is a stunning Western town. Around 32,000 people call this town home, making it the third most populous place in the sparsely populated state of Wyoming. However, it still maintains a wonderful small-town feel with numerous activities to do and places to see. For example, at the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming, one can check out rare manuscripts, books, and other treasures.
The town is filled with rare places like the Laramie Plains Museum at the Historic Ivinson Mansion, an 1892 Queen Anne Mansion that will enchant visitors and residents alike. The University also has an art and geological museum for eclectic tastes. The median home price is $355,000, and there is free public transit to get around town with ease. Despite its college, the town doesn't have a party reputation either, so one can expect calm living here.
Woodland Park, Colorado
Sitting just outside of Colorado Springs is Woodland Park, Colorado. It is called The City Above the Clouds due to its high elevation. The air here is amazing to breathe in, and the views are equally magnificent, thanks to Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range. The town is inside the Pike National Forest, which has a wide variety of outdoor activities ranging from fishing on the South Platte River and Manitou Lake to playing golf in the mountains at the Shining Mountain Golf Club. Seniors can also explore the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center or see fossils at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. The median home price here is $489,400, crime is low, and UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital is top-notch.
Dillon, Montana
This intriguing town is in the heart of the snowy side of the Rockies. Dillon sits by the Big Hole River, a spot where blue-ribbon trout are abundant. The most interesting aspects of Dillon are the nearby ghost towns that sprang up as major mining centers. At Bannack State Park, visitors can see a well-preserved ghost town, which was the former Territorial Capital of Montana.
Another spot is Coolidge within the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, which sprang up in 1919 for silver mining. For active seniors who enjoy hikes, there is the Beaverhead Trails Coalition, which has both short and long trails to explore. Dillon has an active center called the Bearhead Senior Citizens to keep seniors busy. The median housing cost is $528,000.
Estes Park, Colorado
For retirees who want to be close to the Rocky Mountains, there's no place better than Estes Park, Colorado. It is the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. This national park is perfect for exploring the mountains, as there are more than 100 peaks to see or explore. Active seniors can go hiking or horseback riding or even take a drive on the Trail Ridge Road to take in the sites.
Estes Park also sits by both the Big Thompson River and Lake Estes, which are famous for fly fishing. There are a few mini golf places in town, like Meadow Mini Golf. This fun town has an Estes Park Senior Citizens Center, which offers games, Yoga classes, and much more. There's a hospital right in town as well.
Golden, Colorado
This historic town is an ideal place to spend one's golden years. Golden, Colorado, is a cute town with attractions that are both big and small. The heart of Golden rests on Clear Creek Trail. On this trail, one can go hiking, fishing, sunbathing, or taking a boat out on the clear waters.
History is baked into the foundation of Golden, which one can see at the Colorado Railroad Museum or the most famous attraction here: the Buffalo Bill Museum. Learn all about this entertainer and promoter of the Wild West. The median home price here is $850,000, and Denver's world-class hospitals are nearby for any healthcare needs. The crime rate is also lower than the national average.
Top Rocky Mountain Towns for Retirement
The Rockies are an excellent place for retirees to live for a number of reasons. There's the clean mountain air, the serene lakes, rivers, and creeks to fish in, the fascinating museums of Buffalo Bill, the Rock Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, and much more. Many of these towns also have affordable housing, and there are great healthcare facilities and senior activity centers nearby as well. When considering retirement, spend some more time researching these 11 towns in the Rockies.
