Colorado

NATIONAL PARKS

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – The park protects a quarter of the Gunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from dark Precambrian-era rock. The canyon features some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rock in North America, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. The deep, narrow canyon is composed of gneiss and schist, which appears black when in shadow.
• Great Sand Dunes National Park – The tallest sand dunes in North America, up to 750 feet (230 m) tall, were formed by deposits of the ancient Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. Abutting a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands, the park also features alpine lakes, six 13,000-foot mountains, and old-growth forests.
• Mesa Verde National Park – This area constitutes over 4,000 archaeological sites of the Ancestral Puebloan people, who lived here and elsewhere in the Four Corners region for at least 700 years. Cliff dwellings built in the 12th and 13th centuries include Cliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and the Balcony House, with its many passages and tunnels.
• ☆ Rocky Mountain National Park – Bisected north to south by the Continental Divide, this portion of the Rockies has ecosystems varying from over 150 riparian lakes to montane and subalpine forests to treeless alpine tundra. Wildlife including elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, and cougars inhabit its igneous mountains and glacial valleys. Longs Peak, a classic Colorado fourteener, and the scenic Bear Lake are popular destinations, as well as the historic Trail Ridge Road, which reaches an elevation of more than 12,000 feet.
• National Monuments:
  • Dinosaur National Monument – This sandstone and conglomerate bed at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers was formed in the Jurassic Period and contains fossils of dinosaurs including Allosaurus and various long-neck and long-tail sauropods.
  • Browns Canyon National Monument – Steep granite cliffs and colorful rock outcroppings overlook the Arkansas River, where visitors can go whitewater rafting. Prehistoric campsites and shelters date back 11,000 years, while sites from gold mining remain from the late 1800s. About half is in San Isabel National Forest.
  • Chimney Rock National Monument -The jewel of San Juan National Forest, the site was once home to the ancestors of the modern Pueblos. Roughly 1,000 years ago, the Ancestral Pueblo People built more than 200 homes and ceremonial buildings high above the valley floor.
  • Yucca House National Monument – Designated as a research national monument, it is a large un-excavated Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site. The site is one of many Ancestral Puebloan village sites in the Montezuma Valley occupied between 900 and 1300 CE
  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument – Huge petrified redwoods and incredibly detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants reveal a very different landscape in Colorado of almost 35 million years ago in the Eocene age.
  • Colorado National Monument – Monument Canyon runs the width of the park and includes rock formations formed by erosion. The monument covers semi-desert land high on the Colorado Plateau and has a wide range of wildlife including pinyon pines, juniper trees, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes as well as a range of recreational activities
  • Camp Hale National Monument — Continental Divide – Soldiers in the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division used Camp Hale to learn skiing, climbing, and snowshoeing to fight in the Italian Alps during World War II.
  • Hovenweep National Monument – Hovenweep contains six clusters of Native American ruins. Holly Canyon, Hackberry Canyon, Cutthroat Castle and Goodman Point are in Colorado and Square Tower and Cajon are in Utah. Ancestral Puebloans lived in the Hovenweep area from 1150 to 1350.
  • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument – Surrounding Hovenweep National Monument, it preserves and protects more than 6,000 archeological sites, the largest concentration in the U.S. These include Lowry Pueblo, dating to 1103 CE, and Painted Hand Pueblo built by the Ancestral Puebloans.

BIKE TRAILS

• Colorado Riverfront Trail is approximately 24 miles long and located in Grand Junction. This paved trail follows the Colorado River, providing scenic views of red rock cliffs and access to the Audubon Nature Preserve, home to around 200 bird species.
• Poudre River Trail is approximately 12.2 miles long and located in Fort Collins. This trail follows the Cache La Poudre River, providing a scenic route through the city.
• Animas River Trail is approximately 10.22 miles long and located in Durango. This trail follows the Animas River through the city, offering scenic views and access to local parks.
• Glenwood Springs
  • Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail is approximately 15.5 miles long and runs through Glenwood Springs. It offers a scenic ride through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River.
  • Rio Grande Trail is approximately 42 miles long and runs between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. It connects the two cities, offering a scenic route through the Roaring Fork Valley.
• Mineral Belt Trail is approximately 11.6 miles long and located in Leadville. This loop trail around the town offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains.

• Boulder Creek Path is approximately 5.5 miles long and runs through Boulder. It follows Boulder Creek through the city, providing a scenic route for cyclists.
• Denver
  • South Platte River Trail is approximately 44.7 miles long and runs through Denver. This trail follows the South Platte River, offering a mix of urban and natural scenery.
  • Bear Creek Trail is approximately 12.7 miles long and runs through Denver. It follows Bear Creek, providing a scenic route for cyclists.
  • Cherry Creek Trail is about 40 miles long and runs through Denver. Starting at Confluence Park, this trail follows Cherry Creek southeast through Cherry Creek State Park, offering urban and natural scenery.

TRAINS

• Glass-Domed Train Through the Mountains From Colorado to Utah: https://www.rockymountaineer.com/train-routes/rockies-red-rocks

SCENIC BYWAYS

• Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, Lake City – Crosses the remote, rugged heart of the San Juan Mountains.
• Cache La Poudre/North Park Scenic And Historic Byway, Fort Collins – Follow the Cache la Poudre river as you drive this scenic byway that connects Fort Collins to North Park.
• Collegiate Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway, Salida – This paved 57-mile route parallels the Continental Divide at the foot of the Sawatch Range.
• Colorado River Headwaters Scenic and Historic Byway, Granby – Follows the Colorado River from Grand Lake to State Bridge.
• Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway, Rangely – 512 miles of amazing historic and pre historic towns, outdoor recreation and national treasures, through Colorado and Utah. Stunning scenery, fossil quarries, and museums are clustered along this National Scenic Byway.
• Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway, Yampa – Winding its way through lush river valleys, the Flat Tops Trail byway skirts the bountiful Flat Tops Wilderness, climbs over two of the state’s least-traveled passes and is bookended by the authentic ranching towns of Yampa and Meeker.
• Frontier Pathways – Scenic and Historic Byway, Pueblo – State and National Byway that runs through Pueblo and Custer Counties.
• Gold Belt Tour – Scenic and Historic Byway, Cañon City – Tours the communities of Cripple Creek, Victor, Canon City, Florence and Florissant. Enjoy the rustic roads, visit museums, see historic gold camps, fossils and much more.
• Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway, Cedaredge – The byway climbs through Plateau Creek to cool evergreen forests.
• Guanella Pass Scenic & Historic Byway, County Road 62, Grant – Follows an old wagon trail used by miners traveling between Georgetown and Grant. Gold lured miners and others to the area, but it was silver that brought prosperity to the valley. Today, visitors may explore this 22-mile route by car, and/or hike the many area trails.
• Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway, Trinidad –
• Independence Pass, Leadville – See the sun rise and set over 12,095-foot Independence Pass. A trip over the pass is a visual feast with vistas of wildflowers, thick forests and ample wildlife. This portion of highway is also incorporated into the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway.
• The Lariat Loop, Golden – a 40-mile route where you can experience the thrill of the state’s beautiful foothills. Colorado’s first gateways to the mountains still have sharp curves, spectacular views, and waysides to refresh and delight the traveler.
• Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway, Fort Garland – traverses the cradle of the San Luis Valley. This route takes you through historic Colorado and along the scenic route that goes by the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Some stops include San Luis which is Colorado’s oldest town and Ft. Garland Museum. This scenic drive offers many great stops to capture fall colors. To start the route head south on Hwy 285 from Alamosa and join the route from the town of Manassa which is home to the famous boxer Jack Dempsey. Maps of this route are available in the Colorado Welcome Center in Alamosa.
• Million Dollar Highway, Ouray – Offering breathtaking mountain, valley and gorge views, the Million Dollar Highway cost a reported million dollars a mile to build. The road winds and clings to the mountain providing dramatic view at every turn. Part of the San Juan Skyway Colorado Scenic Byway.
• Mount Blue Sky Scenic and Historic Byway, Idaho Springs – One of the best places to catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep.
• Mount Evans Scenic Byway – a breathtaking route located in Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. This scenic byway is both a National Forest Scenic Byway and a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway. It spans approximately 49 miles and offers an unforgettable journey through the Rocky Mountains
• Pawnee Pioneer Trails – Scenic and Historic Byway, Greeley – This byway traverses the rugged Colorado Piedmont.
• ☆ Peak To Peak Scenic and Historic Byway, Boulder – Views of the Continental Divide and its timbered approaches.
• San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway and the Million Dollar Highway – The San Juan Skyway is a 236-mile loop through the majestic San Juan Mountains in Colorado. Includes Durango, Silverton, US Route 550 (Million Dollar Highway), Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, Cortez, and Mesa Verde National Park.
• San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway, Durango – one of the most scenic drives in America, spanning elevations from 6,200 feet near Cortez to 11,008 feet at Red Mountain Pass.
• Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway, Creede – Weaves past valleys and peaks in the San Juan Mountains connecting the towns of South Fork, Creede and Lake City and ending at Blue Mesa reservoir. Encounter astounding geological formations, abundant wildlife, and much of Colorado’s early history along the way.
• The South Platte River Trail, Julesburg – is the shortest of all the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways, but the longest on history. Start and end your auto tour at the Colorado Welcome Center at Julesburg!
• Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway, Red Cliff
• Tracks Across Borders Scenic & Historic Byway, Durango – Colorado’s newest scenic byway, offers access to dramatic mountain scenery and layers of history, from the storied pasts of our earliest American Indian inhabitants to the golden age of railroad travel and rise of Wild West towns bustling with gold-seekers.
• Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway, Cortez – travels between two remote national monuments and Mesa Verde National Park. This National Scenic Byway near Cortez and Dolores takes you through the heart of the landscape and unique history of the American Southwest. The route highlights the archaeological and cultural history of the Native American peoples.
• ☆ Trail Ridge Road, Estes Park – Slices through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park.
• West Elk Loop – Scenic and Historic Byway, Carbondale – Mount Sopris and Black Canyon of the Gunnison anchor the ends.
• Unaweep/Tabeguache – Scenic and Historic Byway, Montrose – The vast scenery will keep you inspired along the route.

NORTHERN COLORADO

Estes Park

• International Cryonics Museum – Museum dedicated to cryogenics and preservation science

Fort Collins

• Downtown – Lively historic district with shops, restaurants, and entertainment
• Trolley – Restored streetcar offering seasonal rides
• Horsetooth Mountain Open Space – Hiking and scenic vistas near Fort Collins
• CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden – Display garden showcasing seasonal blooms
• Gardens on Spring Creek – Community botanic garden with themed areas
• Giant Ice Cream Churn – Roadside attraction shaped like a churn
• Totally 80’s Pizza & Museum – Themed pizzeria filled with retro memorabilia
• Walrus Ice Cream – Local favorite serving handmade ice cream

Greeley

• Greeley Garage and Auto Repair Muffler Man – Classic roadside fiberglass statue

Longmont

• Muffler Man with pitchfork – Tall fiberglass figure holding a pitchfork

Northglenn

• Veterans Memorial – Community tribute honoring military service

CENTRAL COLORADO / DENVER METRO

Denver

• Buckhorn Exchange – Historic restaurant with game meat and Old West decor
• Denver Botanic Gardens – Expansive gardens with global and native plants
• Museum of Nature and Science – Interactive exhibits on natural history and space
• Downtown Aquarium – Marine exhibits, dining, and a shark tunnel
• Forney Transportation Museum – Vintage cars, trains, and transportation history
• Hammond’s Candies Tour – Candy-making factory with free tours
• International Church of Cannabis – Psychedelic art and Elevationist services
• Meow Wolf – Immersive art experience with surreal storytelling
• Denver Zoo – Popular urban zoo with global animal exhibits
• Denver Art Museum – Major museum with Western and contemporary art
• 16th Street Mall – Pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining corridor
• Union Station – Historic train station turned shopping and dining hub
• Washington Park – Large urban park with gardens and paddle boats
• Molly Brown House – Home of Titanic survivor turned museum
• Elitch Gardens – Downtown amusement and water park
• U.S. Mint – Federal mint offering guided tours
• Wings Over the Rockies – Aviation museum with historic aircraft
• Public Art – Big Sweep, Concrete Cowboy, Dog Tags Dog, Sombrero Giant – Iconic urban sculptures and installations

Golden

• Buffalo Bill Museum – Honors Wild West showman with memorabilia and gravesite
• Coors Brewery – Brewery tours and tasting at iconic beer maker
• Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre – Natural amphitheater and hiking trails

Lakewood

• Casa Bonita – Reopened Mexican restaurant with cliff divers and kitsch
• Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park – Open-air museum with historic buildings

Morrison

• Mini Colorado Landmarks – Miniature versions of state icons in one spot
• Red Rocks John Denver Statue – Tribute to the musician at Red Rocks

Idaho Springs

• Argo Gold Mine – Historic gold mine tours and panning

Mount Evans

• Highest paved road – Scenic drive to one of the tallest peaks in Colorado

Nathrop

• St. Elmo Ghost Town – Preserved 1880s mining town with buildings and chipmunks

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Colorado Springs / Pikes Peak Region

• Garden of the Gods – Striking red rock formations with trails and views
• Pioneers Museum – Regional history museum in a historic courthouse
• Dragon Man’s Military Museum – Private military collection with vehicles and weapons
• Glen Eyrie Castle – English-style castle built by Colorado Springs’ founder
• Muffler Man Cowboy – Classic roadside statue of a cowboy
• WWII Aviation Museum – Aircraft and memorabilia from the Second World War
• Mining & Industry Museum – Industrial heritage museum with mining equipment
• Airplane Restaurant – Eat in a real airplane turned restaurant
• May Natural History Museum – Insect museum with massive bug collection
• Herkimer Statue – Giant beetle sculpture near bug museum
• U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum – Modern museum celebrating athletes and sports
• Air Force Academy – Visitors center and iconic chapel
• Seven Falls – Series of waterfalls in a scenic canyon
• Santa’s Workshop (Cascade) – Christmas-themed amusement park
• Cave of the Winds – Tours and adventures in underground caverns
• Manitou Springs Historic District – Artsy town with mineral springs and shops
• Cliff Dwellings – Relocated Ancestral Puebloan structures and museum
• Mueller State Park – Forest park with trails and wildlife
• North Cheyenne Cañon Park – Scenic city park with hiking trails
• Old Colorado City – Historic district with boutiques and eateries
• Pikes Peak Railway/Tours – Cog railway to summit of Pikes Peak
• Red Rock Canyon Open Space – Park with red rock formations and trails

Pueblo

• Weisbrod Aircraft Museum – Aviation museum with vintage planes and exhibits

Cripple Creek / Victor

• Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour – Descend into a historic gold mine
• Rita the Rock Planter Troll – Giant wooden troll sculpture in forest

Trinidad

• Coal Miners Memorial – Tribute to coal miners in the region

Rye

• Bishop Castle – Hand-built stone and iron castle with towers and bridges

South Fork

• Giant Lumberjack – Oversized Paul Bunyan-style statue

Canon City / Royal Gorge

• Prison Museum – Museum inside a former women’s prison
• Suspension Bridge – High bridge over Royal Gorge
• Aerial Gondola – Ride over the canyon with panoramic views
• Train – Scenic railway ride through Royal Gorge

Salida

• Salida Museum – Local history museum with regional artifacts

Fairplay

• Prunes & Shorty Monument – Donkey and miner statue honoring town mascots

Woodland Park

• Dinosaur Resource Center – Fossils and prehistoric exhibits for all ages

Lamar

• Petrified Wood Gas Station – Gas station built from petrified wood

WESTERN COLORADO

Aspen

• Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness – Iconic mountain scenery and alpine hiking

Durango

• Narrow Gauge Railway – Historic steam train through mountain landscapes

Silverton & Ouray

• Million Dollar Highway – Scenic, narrow highway with dramatic views

Montrose

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison – Deep, steep canyon with overlooks and trails
• Museum of the Mountain West – Collection of historic buildings and artifacts

Grand Junction

• Museum of the West – Regional history museum with pioneer and cowboy exhibits

Fruita

• Mike the Headless Chicken – Memorial to a famous headless chicken
• Grrretta the Dinosaur – Playful dinosaur sculpture for photos

Cortez

• Muffler Yard Art – Creative scrap metal sculptures and displays

Creede

• World’s Longest Fork – Giant fork sculpture displayed downtown

Lake City

• Alferd Packer History – Exhibits on the controversial cannibal prospector

Hooper / Mosca / North Mosca

• UFO Watchtower – Quirky roadside lookout for extraterrestrials
• Colorado Gators – Reptile park with rescued gators and more
• Great Sand Dunes – Massive sand dunes with hiking and sand sledding

Mancos

• Hogan Trading Post – Native art and souvenirs in a hogan-style shop
• Dave Sipe Sculptures – Whimsical outdoor folk art displays

Cano

• Cano’s Castle – Towering folk-art structure made from scrap materials

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

• Alberta Falls – Scenic waterfall hike starting from Glacier Gorge
• Alpine Visitor Center – Highest national park visitor center in the country
• Bear Lake – Popular trailhead with alpine lake and short accessible loop
• Bear Lake Road Corridor – Main scenic route providing access to multiple lakes and trailheads
• Chasm Lake – Challenging hike ending at a dramatic alpine lake beneath Longs Peak
• Cub Lake Trail – Moderate hike through meadows, forest, and lily pad-covered lake
• Hidden Valley – Family-friendly hiking and winter snowplay area
• Holzwarth Historic Site – Preserved early-1900s homestead in the Kawuneeche Valley
• Longs Peak – Tallest summit in the park, popular with experienced climbers
• Moraine Park – Valley known for wildlife viewing and expansive meadow views
• Sheep Lakes – Wildlife viewing area, especially for bighorn sheep
• Sprague Lake – Easy loop trail around a picturesque lake with mountain views
• The Pool via Fern Lake Trail – Riverside hike to a scenic cascade and plunge pool
• Trail Ridge Road – One of the highest paved roads in the U.S., crossing the Continental Divide
• Tundra Communities Trail – High alpine trail with interpretive signs on fragile tundra ecosystems
• Wild Basin Area – Less-crowded southern section with waterfalls and forest hikes