8 Incredible Vacation Spots In Colorado
Colorado is full of incredible vacation spots, with landscapes in every dimension and adventures that never repeat. Upholding the heavens with San Juan Peaks, the mesas and the sand dunes offer something for every outdoorsman and their family on a memorable vacation in the Centennial State. So whether you are a Colorado native or discovering the state for the first time, these vacation ideas will not leave you underwhelmed.
From the quaint, picturesque towns to the surrounding landscapes, it may as well be called the adventurous state. Find your high alpine dream of unique experiences all year long, including the three W's: wildlife, wildflowers, and waterfalls. Climb, sink, and slide the highest sand mountains in North America.
Barr Lake State Park
Located just southeast of downtown Brighton, the 2,715-acre Barr Lake State Park boasts an over 1,950-acre reservoir at its heart. This wildlife sanctuary feels like a safe haven from the bustling city. Attracting photographers, solitude seekers, and families on vacation, bring camping gear for a prime spot near the lake at Barr Lake RV. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty in the fresh air, including trails, archery, Barr Lake Nature Center, or even hosting a birthday party at the park. It is a premier bird-watching area, among other wildlife, so join the zoo with your four-legged friend or on horseback along the dog-friendly 8.8-mile Perimeter Trail. The dogs are not permitted in the wildlife refuge area.
Over 371 winged species fly over or nest in the trees, like wintering bald eagles, with one mating couple in particular that raises their young every year. The lake teems with channel catfish, bass, rainbow trout, walleye, bluegill, wiper, and tiger muskie. From picnic spots to wildlife viewing stations, enjoy fishing and access to kayak, paddleboard, and canoe in the warm months. Eagle Express Rides run to the Gazebo, while Brighton is a go-to for dining and history behind Barr Lake, plus museums, art, and an aquatic park. The outdoorsy should plan a vacation around the annual Eagle Festival or Raptor Run 5K, while families enjoy the park's Winter Wonders Trail and Toddler Story Time.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
"Gunnison Uplift" brought up 1.8 billion-year-old metamorphic rock about 60 million years ago, buried by volcanic rock in large volcanic eruptions on either side some 30 million years later. The erosive aquatic force and time cut into the metamorphic rock, and the Gunnison River began carving the steep chasm some two million years ago. Black Canyon is a 48-mile-long prehistoric marvel, and of those, 14 are within the picturesque park. Its greatest depth is 2,722 feet, and the narrowest, 40 feet, is at the river. Exposing multiple layers, natural history is on display, from the nearly two-billion-year-old Precambrian "basement rocks" to Jurassic and Cretaceous fossil plants and invertebrates. Take a scenic drive on either side of Black Canyon or descend the steep East Portal.
The North Rim and South Rim of the Black Canyon offer prime viewing areas, but with no road between, drive around to the other entrance on the opposite rim. South Rim Drive features 12 overlooks, while the very limited development and light pollution are favorable for stargazing. Get a permit to explore the inside via a challenging wilderness route; the average descent is 43 feet/mile. Open from mid-April to mid-November, with access via the main roads, the visitor's center is the best guide for short canyon rim trails, plus ranger summer programs and AstroFest in September. With almost no cell service, bring offline maps and visit the nearby towns of Montrose or Crawford. There are two campsites for your vacation: South Rim and East Portal Campgrounds.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Whether seeking views, relaxation, or adventures, the lesser-known Curecanti National Recreation Area has everything to cool off on a memorable summer vacation. Encompassing three spectacular alpine reservoirs, the 42,000-acre reserve is perfect to explore and unwind by the refreshing waters with your pet. From fishing to boating and kayaking, Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal are favorable for your favorite aquatic pastimes, with rentals from the marina. After a hike to Pioneer Point, Bay of Chickens is a great picnic spot along the Gunnison River with mountainous views, including Pearson Point and mesas, a funnel for the best stargazing, and the Milky Way in the inky backdrop.
The surroundings shield hikers from the wind and weather, plus you can camp under the clear nights. Among various campgrounds, it's easy to score a great viewing spot for your vacation, like the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Thousand Trails Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch offers cabins along the highway between two creeks, while Elk Creek Campground features an amphitheater, where park rangers highlight the significance of dark skies and name stars. Gunnison Valley Observatory offers a cool dome tour and astronomy talks on Friday and Saturday evenings. For a well-rounded experience, drop by the closest town, Gunnison, 20 minutes east, for coffee, dining, and Wild West sites.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Averaging around 10,000 feet in elevation, this sandbox of epic proportions is sheltered where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains buckle inward, the San Luis Valley. Building up and sifting over eons, the dunes still shift with shadow play under the sun and changing wind patterns, with new and unique ridges to explore. So bring out your inner child, charging at the soft sands and sledding down the highest sand mountains in North America. It is open year-round with weather-permitting activities like picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. From the challenging four-wheel scenic drive on Medano Pass to the disappearing Medano Creek, the views of the over 14,000-foot Crestone Needle and Peak attract highly skilled climbers.
This International Dark Sky Park and rural surroundings are perfect for stargazing from a campground, like the Piñon Flats Campground, with 88 sites—half for first-come, first-serve, and half for reservations. There are special astronomy programs from May through September, plus the Junior Ranger program. Backpackers can book free backcountry permits at the visitor center, required to pitch their tent anywhere outside of the day-use area, a good 1.5-mile hike over the dunes to a mystical overnight setting. Permit holders can also camp along the Sand Ramp Trail within the park, where the dunes transition into mountains, a magical setting. Within an hour's drive, San Luis Wildlife Area offers both primitive and hook-up campgrounds, while Alamosa is just 30 minutes southwest.
Mesa Verde National Park
Built in 1914 and awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition in 1978, this national park is an exceptional archaeological area, with sites like a modified basket maker from 626 CE and a masonry pueblo from Classic Pueblo times (1226 CE). Step House is a self-guided cliff-dwelling hike via a one-mile steep trail. Offering Mesa Verde's unspoiled beauty day and night, plan a vacation around Morefield Campground, with 267 single and group camping spots. Both bus and hiking tours depart from the campground. The glorious wooded canyon setting, four and a half miles from the park entrance, is surrounded by native Gambel oaks and wildflowers. Don't be surprised if some unexpected guests poke their heads into your tent—the deer and turkeys are friendly.
The seasonal Knife Edge Café serves delicious breakfast in the beautiful scenery at Morefield's full-service village. Begin early along the 7.8 miles along the Prater Ridge Trail, a round trip from the west end of Morefield, up and looping around Prater Ridge, with elevation changes highlighting various vegetation. The 2.2-mile round-trip Point Lookout Trail is full of switchbacks up the back side of Point Lookout, traversing the top of the mesa with views of both the Montezuma and Mancos valleys. From the northwest corner of Morefield, Knife Edge Trail is a two-mile hike towards the Montezuma Valley Overlook at sunset. You will feel one with nature along the trails and the nights under bedazzled skies.
Ouray
Ouray, the Switzerland of America, is surrounded by sparkling waterfalls, hot springs, and lush landscapes carpeting the sky-scraping San Juans. Established during the gold and silver strikes of the late 1870s in the river valley, you can almost hear the echo against the mountains of those boom-and-bust days through the European-styled downtown. Soak up the views while shopping along the Main with unique artisan shops, galleries, and world cuisine at nearly 8,000 feet. The geographic bowl forms rugged and steep mountainsides up to 13,000-foot jagged peaks. Home to Ouray Hot Springs Pool, it is a luxurious escape without the sky-high prices on a rejuvenating vacation for any group. Allegedly, even Chief Ouray enjoyed soaking in the therapeutic waters and held ceremonies at the vapor cave.
Relax in the springs after a short summertime hike down to Box Cañon Falls for spectacular photos by the 285-foot thundering waters into a narrow canyon. Surrounded by other canyons, ice climbing is popular in winter. Visit after the holidays in January during the annual Ouray Ice Festival at Ouray Ice Park, and don't miss the beloved Mouse's Chocolates. Surrounded by quaking aspens and scrub oaks, the evergreens are a canvas for the brilliant colors enveloping the town. Take the Million Dollar Highway in the fall. The trails and backcountry roads attract off-roaders and Jeep tours, including the San Juan Skyway scenic and historic byway. For a history lesson, the Bachelor Syracuse Mine displays the life of a local miner, while many lodgings offer hot spring pools.
Steamboat Springs
Find Colorado's friendliest town in the upper Yampa River valley along Hwy 40. The proximity to both the Continental Divide in the east and the Rocky Mountains Rabbit Ears Pass to the west makes "The Boat" an incredible vacation spot. You can browse local shops, bars, and restaurants, plus the Tread of Pioneers Museum. Few know that the name comes from the sound early French settlers heard, which reminded them of a steamboat but turned out to be the nearby spring. Welcoming many in winter, the famed Steamboat Ski Resort on Mount Werner features 297 runs for every level, including 14% for beginners and 44% for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Chill out after in the hot springs or during the Steamboat Winter WonderGrass Music Festival. Summertime adventure seekers must take the trail to relax by Fish Creek Falls, while the paved Yampa River Core Trail has pretty views for bikers. Release the stress of the hectic city by soaking in the mineral pools at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. For some seriously gorgeous scenery, hop on the Steamboat Gondola over the unforgettable foliage sweeping the surrounding mountains. Plan your vacation around the upcoming Yampa River Festival or a holiday escape to the 2,965-acre resort during the Winter Carnival. You can pick up a new skill, like snowshoeing, at Haymaker Nordic Center.
Vail
Often reported as Aspen's more budget-friendly cousin, Vail features an amazing après scene, live music and seasonal festivities, and kid-friendly dining. Just 100 miles from Denver, Interstate 70 is a straightforward, scenic adventure with shuttles, so you can forego renting a car. In addition, 14 cities nationwide offer connection via American Airlines to Eagle County Regional Airport, which is just 35 minutes west of Vail. At over 5,000 acres, Vail Ski Resort is larger than Aspen's. Encompassing runs for all levels, from family-friendly to double black diamond skiers on the iconic seven-mile-wide back bowls, enjoy epic powder through the blissfully long ski season.
At an elevation of 8,022 feet, the decidedly laid-back downtown really hits the spot for relaxation in views of the 11,570-foot summit. Catering to families on vacation with casual diners and local coffee shops alongside fine dining and local breweries, there is no need to dress up after a day in the snow. Accommodation options vary by season, plus premium, the closer to the resort. It's an extravagant vacation, but you can control your budget and window to visit and spend on what matters more, like a hefty lift ticket. From Booth Falls Trailhead to the nearby Sapphire Point Overlook, Battle Mountain, Tenmile Peak, and surrounding lakes, there is no shortage of free warm-weather adventures.
Colorado is beautiful in every season, drawing millions year-round to get swept off their feet. These vacation spots cater to every taste, season, and budget vacation. From incredible land formations to amiable small towns, you can look forward to skiing down the slopes, foliage drives, and summertime hikes to pristine alpine lakes.
So whether it is time for the annual summer vacation, you are escaping the city in the off-season, or planning a holiday trip, get infected with the outdoorsy spirit. Witness the jaw-dropping San Juan peaks in Ouray. Home to back bowls and summertime hiking trails, it is the family-friendly vibe that gets many excited for a Vail vacation.
