305 Best Sights in Colorado, USA

With 32 tables and 30 fire grates, this is the largest picnic area in the park. Here, you'll find aspen groves, nice views of Fall River Pass—and lovely Fan Lake a short hike away.

The museum showcases Ute and pioneer artifacts, displays on the founding of Rocky Mountain National Park, and changing exhibits. It also publishes a self-guided walking tour of historic sites, which are mostly clustered along Elkhorn Avenue downtown.

The Discovery Room, which houses everything from old ranger outfits to elk antlers, coyote pelts, and bighorn sheep skulls for hands-on exploration, is a favorite with kids at this visitor center.

This was likely one of the most densely populated areas in Mesa Verde, comprising as many as 50 villages in a ½-square-mile area at the top of Chapin Mesa. Most of the sites here were built between 900 and 1300. Begin the self-guided tour at the interpretive panels in the parking lot, then proceed down a ½-mile, level trail.

This 30-minute, ½-mile loop begins and ends on the spur road to Cedar Tree Tower, about 1 mile north of the Chapin Mesa area. It meanders through a series of check dams, which the Ancestral Pueblo built to create farming terraces. Easy.

At an elevation of 10,120 feet, this lookout affords a panoramic view of the Colorado River near its origin and the Grand Ditch, a water diversion project dating from 1890 that's still in use today. You can also see the once-volcanic peaks of Never Summer Range along the park's western boundary.

Heading to Odessa Lake from the north involves a steep hike, but on most days you'll encounter fewer other hikers than if you had begun the trip at Bear Lake. Along the way, you'll come to the Arch Rocks; the Pool, an eroded formation in the Big Thompson River; two waterfalls; and Fern Lake (3.8 miles from your starting point). Less than a mile farther, Odessa Lake itself lies at the foot of Tourmaline Gorge, below the craggy summits of Gabletop Mountain, Little Matterhorn, Knobtop Mountain, and Notchtop Mountain. For a full day of spectacular scenery, continue past Odessa to Bear Lake (9 miles total), where you can pick up the shuttle back to the Fern Lake Trailhead. Moderate.

Park at a dedicated lot to disembark on a wildflower-rich, 0.2-mile trail. Easy to access for all skill levels, this glacial valley overlook offers views of ice-blue pools (the Gorge Lakes) framed by ragged peaks.

Inside a converted warehouse are an 1898 Renault coupe, Amelia Earhart's immaculately maintained "Goldbug," and a Big Boy steam locomotive, among other historic vehicles. Other exhibits in this eccentric museum consist of antique bicycles, cable cars, and even experimental car-planes. This trivia-laden showcase is outside of the downtown loop: Go north on Brighton Boulevard; the museum is adjacent to the Denver Coliseum on the south side of I–70.

The museum entertains and informs visitors of all ages with interactive science, history, music, and natural history exhibits. The OtterBox Digital Dome Theater screens a mix of planetarium space shows and captivating educational films on its 35-foot dome screen. Also, meet the two resident black-footed ferrets. This is the only museum in the world to host these endangered animals.

One of Colorado's first military posts, Fort Garland was established in 1858 to protect settlers. It lies in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mountains were named for the "Blood of Christ" because of their ruddy color, especially at dawn. The legendary Kit Carson commanded the outfit, and some of the original adobe structures are still standing. The Fort Garland Museum features a re-creation of the commandant's quarters and period military displays. The museum is 16 miles north of San Luis via Route 159 and 24 miles east of Alamosa via U.S. 160.

Housed in a replica of the town's 1880s-era train station, this museum displays Galloping Goose No. 5, one of only seven specially designed engines built in the 1930s. The "Geese" were motored vehicles built from touring-car bodies that could operate for much less than steam-powered engines.

You can see and hear a real player piano and a nickelodeon at this indoor "town," a permanent example of Colorado’s Wild West towns complete with a stable, general store, saloon, and smithy. There's also gold panning in the summer.

At the Gilpin History Museum, photos and reproductions, as well as vintage pieces from different periods of Gilpin County history, paint a richly detailed portrait of life in a typical rowdy mining community.

It took the Colorado River a half-billion years to carve the deep granite, limestone, and quartzite gullies—buff-tint walls brilliantly streaked with lavender, rose, and ivory—of this 16-mile-long canyon. Then, man stepped in, seeking a more direct route west. In 1992, the costly work on I–70 through the canyon east of Glenwood Springs was completed, with much of the expense attributable to the effort to preserve the landscape. When contractors blasted cliff faces, for example, they stained the exposed rock to simulate nature's weathering. Bike the canyon on a paved, riverside recreation path, hike to the steep (but worth it) trail to Hanging Lake or try to focus on fishing or rafting the river with views of the canyon walls towering above.

Glenwood Springs is home to the Historic Fairy Caves (now part of the adventure park), whose subterranean caverns, grottoes, and labyrinths are truly a marvel of nature—the area was touted as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when it opened to the public in the 1890s. The still-amazing caves are easily accessible year-round via the Glenwood Gondola, which offers a bird's-eye view of downtown, the Colorado River, and surrounding mountains. Choose from two different 40-minute walking tours of the caves, or opt for the crawl-on-your-belly "Wild Tour" spelunking adventure. For a second helping of adrenaline, try the gravity-powered alpine coaster that winds down 3,400 feet down the mountain; sail out over 1,300 feet above Glenwood Canyon on a giant swing; or drop, roll, and twist on the Defiance roller coaster that overhangs a cliff.

Even before the heyday of the adjacent Hotel Colorado, Western notables such as gunslinger Doc Holliday came to take advantage of the area's curative spring waters. The smaller pool at Glenwood Hot Springs is 100 feet long and maintained at 104°F. The larger is four times that size and contains more than a million gallons of constantly filtered water that is completely refilled every six hours and maintained at a soothing 90–93°F. Seasonal favorites include a children's area with a splash pad, fountain, waterslides, and an on-site pizza stand and café.

Two properties—the Golden History Center and the Clear Creek Golden History Park (formerly Clear Creek History Park)—have combined under the name of Golden History Museum and Park. The park interprets the Golden area circa 1843–1900 via restored structures and reproductions, including a teepee, prospector's camp, one-room schoolhouse, and cabins. It is also populated with live chickens and bees. On select days, guides in period clothing lead 45-minute tours, but you can stroll the park and peek into the buildings anytime, and picnic lunches on the grounds are welcome. There's also a research center and an interactive area for kids.

The world's largest flat-topped mountain towers nearly 11,000 feet above the surrounding terrain and sprawls an astounding 53 square miles. Grand Mesa National Forest attracts the outdoor enthusiast who craves the simple life: fresh air, biting fish, spectacular sunsets, a roaring campfire under the stars, and a little elbow room to take it all in. The landscape is filled with more than 300 sparkling lakes—a fisherman's paradise in summer. The mesa, as it's referred to by locals, offers excellent hiking and camping (try Island Lake Campground) opportunities. There is also a handful of lodges that rent modern cabins. You can downhill ski at Powderhorn Resort, cross-country ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, or ice fish.

This byway is 63 miles long and winds its way along Route 65 through meadows sprinkled with wildflowers, shimmering aspen groves, aromatic pine forests, and endless lakes. Scenic overlooks (Land-O-Lakes is a standout), rest areas, and picnic areas are clearly marked. There are two visitor centers on the byway, which has endpoints at I–70 near Palisade and in Cedaredge.

Located within Ten Acre Farm right at the base of the Little Bookcliff mountains and next door to the Wine Country Inn, Grande River is an easy stop right off the highway. Visitors can meander the demonstration vineyard on their own or book a free tour before or after a stop at the tasting room that's open daily. The vineyard is in the process of launching a brand, Ten Acre Winery, and the combined vineyards produce a staggering variety of varietals: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot for the reds, and Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Viognier for the whites, along with their well-known red and white Meritage blends. Tasting fees range from $7 for four one-ounce pours to $12 for three three-ouncers.

View exhibits and artwork, browse in the bookstore, and watch a 20-minute film with an overview of the dunes. Facilities include restrooms and a vending machine, but no other food.

After a long day of hiking the dunes, take a dip in the soothing soaking tubs inside the 10,000-square-foot greenhouse at the Sand Dunes Pool. Just 30 minutes northwest of the park is a sanctuary that offers 70ºF comfort year-round. Visitors 21 and older can soak in four hot tubs ranging from 98ºF to 111ºF, or take a dip in the large, 98ºF swimming pool surrounded by lush gardens. A bar offers cocktails and sweet and savory small plates. For families, a giant outdoor pool with views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains is a popular amenity.

South of Georgetown, the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway treats you to marvelous views of the Mt. Evans Wilderness Area. Along the way—while negotiating some tight curves, especially as you head down to Grant—you'll get close views of Mt. Evans as well as Grays and Torrey's Peaks—two Fourteeners. It takes about 40 minutes to cross the 22-mile fully paved road.

Anyone interested in the region's history shouldn't miss the Pioneer Museum. The complex spreads across six acres and includes an extensive collection of vehicles, from Model Ts to 1960s sedans. There are also two old schoolhouses; an impressive display of arrowheads; mining exhibits; and a train, complete with coal tender, caboose, and boxcar. Admission is cash only.

This free recreation area is a haven for mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders, rock climbers, and ATV riders in the summer and Nordic skiers and snowshoers in the winter. With 8,000 acres of public land, encompassing 45 miles of single-track trails and 45 miles of road, there's enough room for everyone.

On a tree-lined street in downtown Leadville you'll find the Healy House and Dexter Cabin, two of Leadville's earliest residences. The lavishly decorated rooms of the Healy's clapboard house provide a sense of how the town's upper crust, such as the Tabors, lived and played.

This museum paints a vivid portrait of life in Leadville at the turn of the last century, with dioramas depicting life in the mines. There's also furniture, clothing, and toys from the Victorian era.

This isn't the park's highest dune, but it's high enough to provide a view of all the dunes from its summit. It's on the first ridge of dunes you see from the main parking area.

When the sun is unforgiving, this overlook offers more shade than most of the other picnic areas. There are tables and bathrooms but no fire grates. This spot also has the park's most reliable cell phone reception.