305 Best Sights in Colorado, USA

There are more than 150 mineral springs of varying temperatures in the Steamboat Springs area, including this one, in the middle of town. Old Town Hot Springs gets its waters from the all-natural Heart Spring. The modern facility has a lap pool, relaxation pool, climbing wall, and health club. Two waterslides are open noon to 6 pm in summer and 4 to 8 pm in winter; they require an additional $7 fee. The inflatable playground called The Wibit is open Friday to Sunday from noon to 6 pm between June and September, and also requires an additional $7 fee.

A National Historic District, Fort Collins's Old Town was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street USA, and Old Town Square is a bustling pedestrian zone with sculptures, fountains, a fire pit, and historic buildings that house shops, galleries, bars, and, of course, breweries. Restaurants and cafés here have plenty of shaded outdoor seating. Musicians perform during the summer on a stage, and in the winter, the square is home to Santa's Workshop and an ice-skating rink.

Family fun takes an organic approach at this friendly farm. Take a stroll through the gardens and orchards and pick your own fruits and vegetables, or choose from a nice selection at the farm market, which also features a broad selection of other local products. Enjoy your bounty immediately at creek-side picnic tables. The on-site Black Bridge Winery offers $5 tastings of its Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and other wines.

This small but surprisingly stocked museum housed in an 1887 hospital highlights the history of mining, ranching, and railroading in the San Juan Mountains. The basement features a life-size model mine tunnel, as well as an impressive collection of locally found gems and minerals. Other exhibits include Native American artifacts and depictions of domestic and commercial life in the late 1800s.

The massive, renovated Ouray Hot Springs Pool is brimming with a million gallons of naturally heated mineral water, kept between 78°F and 106°F. Kids love the two large waterslides, bouldering wall, volleyball net, and inflatable obstacle course, while grown-ups can bask in peace in the adults-only pool.

The main park road, also known as SH 10, leads you from the entrance off U.S. 160 into the park. As a break from the switchbacks, you can stop at a couple of pretty overlooks along the way, but hold out for Park Point, which, at the mesa's highest elevation (8,572 feet), gives you unobstructed, 360-degree views. Note that trailers and towed vehicles are not permitted beyond Morefield Campground.

At the Phoenix Gold Mine a seasoned miner leads tours underground, where you can wield 19th-century excavating tools or pan for gold. Whatever riches you find are yours to keep.

The town site was originally the headquarters of a cattle spread, the Bar-I Ranch. Pioneer Town, a cluster of 23 authentic buildings that re-create turn-of-the-20th-century life, includes a country chapel, the Lizard Head Saloon, original silos from the Bar-I Ranch, and a working blacksmith shop.

The old Hot Sulphur Schoolhouse—built in 1924—houses the Pioneer Village Museum. Artifacts depict Grand County history dating back 8,500 years, including tools, clothing, a railroad snowplow, and the old Winter Park Ski Train caboose.

Once the Old El Paso County Courthouse, this repository has artifacts relating to the entire Pikes Peak area, including a Native American collection, bound newspapers and city directories dating from the 1870s, the personal papers of city founder and railroad builder General William Jackson Palmer, and early images of the Colorado Springs. The historic courtroom is absolutely elegant, and so perfectly appointed that it looks as if a judge will walk in any minute to start a trial.

Three dwellings, built on top of each other from 700 to 950, at first look like a mass of jumbled walls, but an informational panel helps identify the dwellings—and the stories behind them are fascinating. The 325-foot trail from the walking area is paved, wheelchair accessible, and near a restroom.

Just behind the REI flagship store, this serene park is at the center of the South Platte River valley path. Its rocks and rapids are especially attractive in summer to kayakers, bicyclists, and hikers. Sidewalks extend down the South Platte to the east toward the suburbs and west toward the Broncos' home, Empower Field at Mile High. A pathway in yet another direction leads to LoDo. From the park, it's about a 20-minute walk to the 16th Street Mall and Coors Field, which makes it a healthy way to sightsee when the weather is good.

This 7.8-mile round-trip loop, which starts and finishes at Morefield Campground, is the longest hike inside the park. It provides fine views of Morefield Canyon to the south and the San Juan Mountains to the north. About halfway through the hike, you'll see a cut-off trail that you can take, which shortens the trip to 5 miles. Difficult.

In City Park, this biopark is home to African penguins, ringtail lemurs, and boa constrictors—housed separately of course. Favorites here include African painted dogs, lions, river otters, and the annual holiday feature ElectriCritters, an evening light display that involves more than 250,000 lights, which runs from late November through the end of the year.

At the city's airport, the Pueblo-Weisbrod Aircraft Museum traces the development of American military aviation with nearly 35 aircraft in mint condition, ranging from a Lockheed F-80 fighter plane to a MiG-15. Curator Shawn Kirscht restored a Boeing B-29 Super Fortress of atomic-bomb fame on-site, which is now on display in Hangar One.

There are tables and bathrooms at this overlook.

The terrain on this 1-mile round-trip trail is primarily flat and exposed to the sun, with a bird's-eye view into the canyon. The trail connects the visitor center and the campground. There's an interpretive pamphlet, which corresponds to markers along the route, available at both destinations. Easy.

Leaving the Rockies far behind, U.S. 50 takes you toward the eastern plains, where rolling prairies give way to hardier desert blooms and the land is stubbled with sage and stunted pinyon pines. One fertile spot—50 miles along the highway—is the town of Rocky Ford, dubbed the "Sweet Melon Capital" for its famously succulent cantaloupes.

Exquisite maple, oak, and mahogany woodwork gleams throughout this splendid 37-room mansion, with ivory glaze and gold-leaf trim. Marble fireplaces, Tiffany-glass fixtures, and frescoed ceilings complete the opulent look. The top floor—originally servants' quarters—features the odd Andrew McClelland Collection: objects of curiosity this eccentric philanthropist garnered on his worldwide travels, including an Egyptian mummy.

A ride on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad takes you under the bridge and through one of the most dramatic parts of the canyon. From the Santa Fe depot in Cañon City, the train departs up to four times a day for 1½-to-3-hour rides. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner rides are pleasant, and the food is good, although not exactly "gourmet" as advertised. Ticket options include Coach, Deluxe, and Vista Dome. Coach class does not have tables, and ticket fares do not include the cost of food and beverages available for purchase during the ride. Seasonal rides like the Oktoberfest train and Santa Express offer additional entertainment. Railfans may want to pay an extra fee to ride in the cab with the engineer.

As you approach Cuchara Pass, several switchbacks snake through rolling grasslands and dance in and out of spruce stands whose clearings afford views of Monument Lake. You can camp, fish, and hike throughout this tranquil part of the San Isabel National Forest, which in spring and summer is emblazoned with a color wheel of wildflowers. Four corkscrewing miles later you'll reach a dirt road that leads to Bear Lake and Blue Lake. The resort town of Cuchara is about 4 miles from the Route 12 turnoff to the lakes.

Founded in 1851, San Luis is the oldest incorporated town in Colorado. Murals depicting famous stories and legends of the area adorn several buildings in the town. A latter-day masterpiece is the Stations of the Cross Shrine, created by renowned local sculptor Huberto Maestas. The shrine is formally known as La Mesa de la Piedad y de la Misericordia (Hill of Piety and Mercy), and its 15 stations with bronze statues illustrate the last hours of Christ's life. The trail leads up to a chapel called La Capilla de Todos Los Santos.

Surrounded by towering red-rock canyon walls, these seven steep waterfalls plummet 181 feet into a tiny emerald pool that shimmers below. Hiking the steep 224 steps to the top of the falls is worth it for the view but you can also take an elevator to the Eagle's Nest look-out. Parking is free at the Penrose Equestrian Center, where a shuttle will take passengers to and from the site. Guides at Soaring Adventures sail patrons across the nearby canyon on 10 zip lines and lead those daring enough to make the trip across rope bridges and on rappelling adventures that feature views of the falls. Restaurant 1858 serves Southern comfort food with a Rocky Mountain twist (try the mixed grill with quail, bison, and venison or Colorado trout served one of seven ways) that is best enjoyed out on the patio overlooking the falls.

The lookout was built in 1932 and was used to station watchmen and -women until 1968. It was restored in the mid-1990s and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To access the lookout, start at the East Shore Trailhead (just outside the park, in the Arapahoe National Recreation Area), between Grand and Shadow Mountain lakes, and hike approximately 5 miles along the East Shore and Shadow Mountain trails. There's a small fee for parking in the recreation area.

Lake City used to be at the northern tip of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, which has now been extended north to its intersection with U.S. 50 at Blue Mesa Reservoir, for a total of 117 miles. From Lake City, the byway (also called Route 149) travels south 75 miles to South Fork, climbing over Slumgullion and Spring Creek passes. The route then overlooks the headwaters of the Rio Grande before dropping into the lush Rio Grande Valley. Along the way, you'll see plenty of old gold- and silver-mining camps and spectacular North Clear Creek Falls.

Get your best view of Balcony House here. You can also read interpretive panels about the site and the surrounding canyon geology.

One of the easiest and most rewarding hikes in the park, this little trail travels 1½ miles round-trip through the forest on almost completely level ground. The overlook is an excellent point from which to photograph the Chapin Mesa–area cliff dwellings. Easy.

Feel free to use unoccupied camping sites for picnicking. There are tables, fire grates, and bathrooms.

This paved 7-mile stretch from Tomichi Point to High Point is the park's main road. The drive follows the canyon's level South Rim; 12 overlooks are accessible from the road, most via short gravel trails. Several short hikes along the rim also begin roadside. Allow between two and three hours round-trip.

The park's only visitor center offers interactive exhibits and an introductory film detailing the park's geology and wildlife. Inquire at the center about free informational ranger programs.