The Top 15 Things to Do in Colorado

Ever wonder how high the man climbed to reach the sun in John Denver’s song, Rocky Mountain High? The highest peak is Mount Elbert, 14,440 feet. At those heights, who knows — maybe you could reach the sun.

But for Colorado vacationers? Hiking trails, scenic views, craft beer, kayaking, and snowshoeing with the gorgeous Rocky Mountains in the background are more than sufficient.

Thinking about visiting Colorado but have no idea where to start? The Centennial State has endless beautiful places, outdoor activities, sites, and local festivities to keep you busy year-round.

1. Visit the Denver Zoo

Are you traveling to Denver, CO with youngsters? A day trip to the Denver Zoo should be at the top of your list of Colorado attractions. What a fantastic way to keep your kids occupied, engaged, and in awe — but you’ll also feel a childlike playfulness observing adorable Asian small-clawed otters or wizard-like Sumatran orangutans!

The 80-acre grounds house over 3,000 animals and man-made yet shockingly authentic-looking habitats. For example, the new Pinnacol African Penguin Point treats visitors to almost 40 feet of underwater observation, watching the endangered African penguins swim, frolic, and chirp. The zoo habitat mimics the penguin’s origin of Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, South Africa. Penguins waddle through heated rocks and dance through the near-forty-foot depth of the pool.

But after you see enough monkeys and lizards, have a bite at Brown Bear BBQ — heck, have a cold one too! Denver is known for its many breweries and craft beer, and the Denver Zoo is no exception!

Check out these fun things to do at the Denver Zoo:

• Stingray Cove to gaze closely and even touch cownose stingrays
• 4-D Experience for a movie with built-in seat motion and special effects
• Toyota Elephant Passage to watch long-tusked, majestic elephants

2. Explore Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park

The entire state of Colorado sits at an elevation of over 3,000 feet — Denver sits even higher at 5,000! That elevation has remained for thousands of years, forcing ancient people to be creative and resourceful with their homes and villages. Cliff dwellings were the sky-high homes of Ancestral Puebloan civilizations, formed in caves in high cliffs.

Mesa Verde National Park has over 600 cliff dwellings for you to explore, some with ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings with symbols and pictures). But the 82-sq-mile park is also home to almost 5,000 archaeological sites, where excavators and researchers have found ceremonial artifacts, pottery, stone hatchets, sandals, and more from as early as 1,100 AD.

More fun things to do in Mesa Verde National Park:

• Cliff Palace to see the largest ancient cliff dwelling in the state
• 700 Years Tour to learn more about the park’s history and how the Pueblans lived
• Campfire Programs to connect with other travelers and learn about the land

3. Hit the Slopes

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, Colorado state acts as a one-stop shop for hitting the slopes. You can pick from various ski town getaways, like a chalet weekend in Telluride. The small mining town is nested within a backdrop of the green, forested San Juan Mountains. Why don’t you visit the infamous Telluride ski resort? You’ll find beginner-friendly hills and 13,000-ft slopes in the same vicinity.

Or if you’re after a more luxury yet party-filled ski vacation, Aspen has it all. The city of 7,000 or so people has four ski mountains to choose from:

• Ajax (Aspen Mountain): Not for the faint of heart.
• Buttermilk Mountain: Family-friendly slopes for beginners.
• Snowmass Mountain: A week-long experience with 91 trails and 21 chairlifts.
• Aspen Highlands: The least man-made slopes, offering picturesque views of the Maroon Bells.

In Aspen, you’ll enjoy a prominent après ski culture, aka silly drinking after your ski session. But alas, if you’re not one for hills, consider snowshoeing through the state’s many national parks instead!

Other places to ski or snowboard in Colorado:

• Vail, for the biggest ski resort in Colorado
• Breckenridge, a mountain with a world-class resort
• Keystone, an unincorporated town with mountains for skiing, sledding, and more

4. Indulge in Craft Beer Breweries

Did you know Colorado has over 400 craft breweries? You’re never far from one, no matter which city you’re vacationing in. The state is home to countless talented brewers and brewmasters that have perfected the craft beer that comforts, delights, and awakes pride in Coloradans.

Not one for beer drinking? The sheer variety will surely offer you something of interest. Craft beer ranges in so many flavors, from bitter IPAs and pungent sours to laid-back lagers and fruity-fun mixes. So sip on a beer while touring the Ska Brewing Co’s wind-powered brewery in Durango, or shock your tastebuds with a Blackberry & Vanilla Rum Barrel Aged Quad at Uhl’s Brewing Co. in Boulder.

But you don’t need to stop at drinking beer. Add Colorado culture to your trip by taking a brewing class! For example, Altitude Brewing & Supply in Denver offers introductory beer-making classes, including ones for women only.

More places to drink craft beer in Colorado:

• Kannah Creek Brewing Company in Grand Junction
• Telluride Blues and Brews Festival for live music and endless craft beer
• Cerberus Brewing Company for flavorful IPAs in Colorado Springs

5. Get Fit on Endless Hiking Trails

Colorado residents are some of the fittest in the USA for a few reasons. Perhaps the 42 state parks and over 17,000 hiking trails are a couple of them.

Colorado is a dream destination for nature aficionados and active adventurers. And it’s not just the vastness of trails that attract hikers; it’s also the aesthetically striking, scenic views. Your morning walk can treat you to breathtaking sites of lush forests, curious wildlife, shimmering waters, grand mountains, and more.

For example, Denver’s Highland Canal Trail features gorgeous trees that peacock deep auburn and orange colors in the fall. Aurora has hiking trails like Jewell Wetlands Park, an easy trail where you can see flowing creeks and lovely scenery. Walk, run, stroll, or even go mountain biking— the options are endless for fitness on Colorado’s hiking trails.

More hiking trails in Colorado:

• Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail for the best view of the bells near Snowmass Village
• The Red Gate for a flat, grassy hike in Pueblo
• Isabelle Glacier Trail for an icy view of snowy mountains and fresh lakes

6. Go Sand Sledding at Great Sand Dunes National Park

You read that right — Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an unparalleled wonder through its many dunes (the tallest in North America), mountains, beaches, tundra, and grasslands. Imagine so many types of landscapes in one magical place. Your journey down the sand dunes might look like:

• Sand sledding
• Sandboarding (think snowboarding but with sand)
• Sand skiing

But travelers, beware: the trip down is quick, but the hike back up is a vigorous calf workout!

The dune field itself spans about 30 square miles, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The experience might even be spiritual for some. The National Park Service words it nicely:

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve provides tremendous scenic settings that, for many, provoke strong emotional responses. These settings (including massive dunes surrounded by alpine peaks, a desert valley, creeks flowing on the surface of the sand, pristine mountains, and rural range land offer spacious relief from urban America, exceptional solitude and quiet, and a remarkably unspoiled day and night sky.

More fun things to do at Great Sand Dunes National Park:

• Visit at night to catch unworldly views of the Milky Way and stars
• Go to the beach and build a sandcastle with your kids or even with friends
• Take a sunset hike with a ranger for a guided tour and historical insights about the park

7. Listen to Bluegrass Music

Bluegrass may have been born in Kentucky, but many Americans still find comfort in the rich acoustics, fast tempo, and harmonized voice. Colorado has many annual bluegrass festivals across the entire state, from Palisade in the East toward Utah, down to Telluride and Durango, and West to Westcliffe — there’s a fiddling modern cowboy in every region.

Break out the stomping clogs next summer and make your way to Lyons, Colorado, for the famous RockyGrass camping festival. It’s only a half-hour ride from Boulder, and an hour from both Denver and Fort Collins. The latest lineup includes national names like the Punch Brothers, Hawktail, and the Yonder Mountain String Band.

But if you’re not one for festivals, you can listen to some live bluegrass music at a ton of different Colorado venues. The Black Rose Acoustic Society in Colorado Springs and the Bluebird Theater in Denver feature bluegrass shows, among others.

More places to listen to Bluegrass in Colorado:

• Telluride Bluegrass Festival for summer dancing against the San Juan Mountains
• Rocky Mountain Folks Festival for bluegrass, folk, blues, and more
• Diamond Belle Saloon in Durango

8. Walk Through Historic Districts

Colorado’s countless historical districts are a must-see if you relish Victorian architecture and stories about hundred-year-old buildings. Although they’re filled with new shops and businesses these days, strolling past each block will give you a window into the old Wild West.

Fort Collins has a beautiful old town district, with restored buildings and pathways adorned with trimmed florals and string street lights. Venture down south to Ouray, where the town’s historical district features Italian architecture with candle-snuffer roofs. A nice bonus is the town’s hot springs, which are only a short road trip away!

Other cities in Colorado with historical districts:

• Georgetown-Silver Plume for preserved buildings and railroads from the late 1800s
• Downtown Salida for historical landmarks like the Chaffee County Courthouse and Manhattan Hotel
• Breckenridge for colorful buildings and ghost town tours

9. Make Memories at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center

Are you a budding photographer? It’s hard not to snap gorgeous pics at the Garden of the Gods park. A quick drive from Colorado Springs, this 1,330-acre park features striking rock formations of sandstone that you can take in as you drive through its 5.6-mile scenic route. But first, take a quick stop at the Visitor Center. They’ll give you maps and tips on where to go.

Feast your sense of adventure with epic views of Pikes Peak, the Rocky Mountains’ highest front-range summit. You’ll need a half-tank of gas to drive up, but the road is filled with grand lookouts for incredible photos.

If you’re lucky, you might see some majestic-looking bighorn sheep, with fulsome, perfectly rounded horns crafted by a higher power. Or some cute yellow-bellied marmots, skittish deer, and humble elk.

Other things to do at Garden of the Gods Park:

• Hanging Lake Trailhead for a peaceful hike
• Rock climbing, for climbers with a permit
• Horseback riding across endless trails and gorgeous views

10. Add to Your Rock Collection

Flat grasslands, rocky mountains, plateaued tundra, crisp beaches — Colorado landscapes are abundant and, thus, perfect for the amateur rock or gem collector. Shiny garnets, dreamy quartz, sparkling zircon, and earthy agate are a few examples of the many gemstones you can find across the state.

But rocks don’t always have to be shiny. If you’re staying in Estes Park, you’re only a short drive from Rocky Mountain National Park! A fabulous spot for rustic rocks — the mountains are a mix of shale, limestone, and sandstone. Driving along Trail Ridge Road, you might see some crumbled brown or red rocks for your pickings.

More places to collect rocks in Colorado:

• Mount Antero for mineral-filled rocks like aquamarines and quartz in the Arkansas River Valley
• Florissant Fossil Quarry for 34-million-year-old plant and animal fossils
• Golden Gate Canyon for black tourmaline hunting near Denver

11. Catch Some Waves with Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting is boating through a shallow, quick stream — a mini roller coaster on the water, where you can feel a thrill and get splashed.

Flow through streaming rivers and pass through small waterfalls with your beau or family. Luckily, Colorado’s 159 rivers, 2,000 lakes and reservoirs, and 5,000+ natural streams make it a perfect destination for whitewater rafting.

Start with the Arkansas River — a short drive from Salida, you can visit the Arkansas River Tours for a Royal Gorge rafting trip. The current’s turbulence and rapid speed feel thrilling, with small drops that lift your stomach. All this while being surrounded by epic views of the mountains.

If you have an appetite for more, try a zipline through the scenic landscape, or ride on an aerial gondola!

More places to go whitewater rafting in Colorado:

• Shoshone Rapids on the Colorado River
• Browns Canyon National Monument in Salida
• Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins

12. Soak in Nature’s Hot Tubs at Glenwood Springs

Maybe you’ve visited spas for some much-needed R&R. But imagine the spiritual, rustic feel that comes with unwinding in hot springs. Glenwood Springs is a small resort town that’s world-famous for its year-round hot springs.

Geothermal baths reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit, soaking into your tight muscles and helping you relax. As you bathe, you’ll feel at peace with the Rocky Mountains present as ever. You’re one soak away from softer skin, lower stress levels, and higher calcium levels.

Other hot springs in Colorado:

• Hot Sulphur Springs, almost 100 miles from Denver
• Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs
• Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado

13. See Your Favorite Artists at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre

You’re singing along to your favorite rock band, under glistening stars surrounded by impressive red rocks. Where are you? The Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a must-see for geology and music lovers alike. The open-air venue was created directly into a large rock structure that’s hundreds of millions years old. The acoustics are simply divine. Stevie Nicks, the Dave Matthews Band, and Pink Floyd have all performed at the ancient amphitheatre.

You can also take solace in the venue’s strong sustainability values — every year the amphitheatre aligns company goals with the City of Denver’s sustainability goals related to waste diversion, water conservation, and air pollution.

More fun things to do near Red Rocks Amphitheatre:

• Coors Brewery for a tour of the malting and brewing procedures
• Dinosaur Ridge (not to be confused with Dinosaur National Monument) to explore prehistoric dinosaur fossils
• The Fort Restaurant for buffalo steaks in an 1830s fur trade post replica building

14. Take a Ride on the Durango-Silverton Train

We know much of Colorado has a strong railroad history, but how often can you see it in motion? The Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was constructed in 1882 — and the restored train still takes travelers like you aboard, passing through the San Juan Mountains for a superbly scenic trip.

But perhaps you brought your car and prefer to drive yourself. Silverton is also famous for its Million Dollar Highway Scenic Byway, 236 miles of paved road that lets you relish the San Juan Mountains at your own pace, even at 11,000-foot heights! Drive on it long enough, and you’ll end up in Ouray!

Other things to do in Silverton and Durango:

• Ice Lakes Trail for a hike with waterfalls and steep elevations
• San Juan County Historical Society, a fascinating mining museum
• Mayflower Gold Mill where miners once extracted precious metals from ore

15. Visit the Colorado National Monument

Don’t worry — we’re not talking about a simple statue, as you might imagine when hearing the word “monument.” The Colorado National Monument is a natural wonder — a panoramic view of plateaued monoliths. Peppered with small bursts of shrubs and forests across its vast landscape, the red-rock canyon continues for 20,000 or so acres.

Gaze up and watch regal eagles gliding through the sky. You might also see gray-tailed foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and deer on your drive! But if you’re walking, be alert. The venomous midget-faded rattlesnake takes refuge here, though they won’t actively seek you out.

Things to do at the Colorado National Monument:

• Rim Rock Drive to see the fantastic monument by car
• Saddlehorn Visitor Center to view historical exhibits and seek directions
• Various sandstone cracks in the monument for rock climbing

Visit Colorado with RentByOwner Vacation Rentals

There’s no shortage of beautiful places to see in Colorado. The wondrous lands offer something life changing for every type of traveler, and we’d love to help you experience it. Whether you book travel guides to help you climb Mount Evans, or take peaceful strolls down botanic Gardens, you’ll need a comfortable place to rest your head every night.

RentbyOwner offers affordable, reliable vacation rentals to keep you comfortable and stable throughout your trip. It’s time to see the Rocky Mountains – find a place to stay today!

Featured Image Credit: f11photo