20 Best Places to Visit in Colorado, According to a Local

• Best tourist destination: Rocky Mountain National Park
• Underrated hidden gem: Rattlesnake Canyon Arches
• Best for families: Dinosaur National Monument
• Best for couples: Crested Butte
• Best for solo travelers: Pagosa Springs

Colorado is perhaps best known for the Rocky Mountains that stretch across the state, providing endless opportunities for hiking and biking in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. But what most people don’t know is that the state also has ancient cliff dwellings and beautiful red rock formations set in the dry desert, plus alternative towns that dance to the beat of their own drums.

As someone who grew up in Colorado (and lives here now), I’ve spent several decades exploring the vista-rich state. The one thing that we residents and visitors share is the love we all have for nature and the outdoors—be it river rafting, climbing 14,000-foot peaks, or wildflower viewing. Find a memorable Airbnb or mountaintop stay and soak up all this gorgeous state has to offer, from parks and monuments to small towns and important sites. Read on for 20 of the best places to visit in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is Colorado’s most visited national park. It’s about an hour and a half’s drive from downtown Denver and is unique in that it spans the Continental Divide. Experienced hikers might want to take on the famous Longs Peak, the tallest mountain in the park, in the summer. But in the fall, it’s all about driving the Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road to see the autumnal colors.

Rattlesnake Canyon Arches

Utah’s Arches National Park has the world’s highest concentration of natural stone arches, but right across the border in Colorado is the world’s second-highest concentration. And in Colorado, you don’t have to pay a national park entry fee (or battle the crowds) to see them. Rattlesnake Canyon has 35 natural arches tucked in a canyon on a 123,400-acre preserve. 

Dinosaur National Monument

Like dinos? Colorado has you covered. At this national monument in Moffat County and part of Utah, there’s endless proof that dinosaurs once roamed the Colorado landscape. The monument includes dinosaur remains that are embedded in the rocks, petroglyphs from early humans, and plenty of outdoorsy things to do including river rafting, hiking, and camping.

Crested Butte

One of the best small towns in Colorado, Crested Butte has wonderful hiking and biking trails as well as great skiing, but what sets it apart is the abundance of summer wildflowers, which have earned it the nickname “Wildflower Capital of Colorado.” There’s even an annual 10-day festival celebrating the blooms.

Pagosa Springs

There are plenty of natural hot springs throughout the state (just check out the hot springs driving loop), but one of the best is found in Pagosa Springs, a small town that sits over the world’s deepest hot spring. I’d argue the best spot to soak is The Springs Resort & Spa, which has terraced tubs set along the river, but if you want to save a buck, you can also soak in the totally free Nathan’s Hippy Dip Hot Spring across the river.

Larimer Square

Colorado may be one of the most naturally beautiful states, but the draw of downtown Denver is impossible to overlook. Larimer Square was the city’s first designated local historic district, and now the city block is perfectly picturesque with shops and eateries that round out the Colorado experience. The square is just a 10-minute walk from the heart of the city: Union Station.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

It doesn’t get more Colorado than watching a golden eagle soar above a steep gorge. That’s a common sight at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado. The national park is marked by a deep, river-carved gorge with steep vertical walls. For the coolest view, check out the Painted Wall cliff that looks as if it was decorated with giant stripes.

Colorado National Monument

When you think of the American West, chances are you imagine something like the Colorado National Monument, which sits high on the Colorado Plateau and includes natural wonders like sheer canyon walls, towering monoliths, herds of bighorn sheep, and soaring eagles. In this grand landscape, there is plenty to keep you busy, including the beautiful Rim Rock Drive, year-round camping, and hiking and biking.

Aspen

Aspen is one of the best mountain towns in the U.S. It owes its popularity largely to its four ski areas (that you can access with one lift ticket) and the surprising amount of culture it contains for a town of only around 7,000 people. And it wouldn’t be a trip to Aspen without a stop by the Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in North America.

Mesa Verde National Park

This national park in southwestern Colorado is considered to be one of the state’s most sacred places. It was once inhabited by the Ancestral Pueblo people who built their homes in the sandstone cliffs. That heritage (and architectural wonder) is protected within this park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and an International Dark Sky Park.

Amache National Historic Site

One of the most significant moments in Colorado’s history is not known by many. The Amache National Historic Site, also called the Granada Relocation Center, is where thousands of Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. Today, the eastern Colorado site shares the stories of the more than 10,000 people who passed through the camp—the majority of whom were U.S. citizens.

Crestone

When I said that Colorado was home to “alternative towns that dance to the beat of their own drums,” I was talking about Crestone. This tiny town of just under 150 people is committed to sustainable living and spirituality. Throughout the town, you’ll find a variety of off-grid homes and spiritual centers and sites like the Crestone Mountain Zen Center and the Tashi Gomang Stupa.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

Just west of Denver, you’ll spot giant red rocks that seem to shoot out from the earth. This rock structure was long ago harnessed to create a natural amphitheater that has become world renowned for its unique sound quality. In fact, playing at Red Rocks has become a goal performance for many big-name artists.

Glenwood Springs

When it comes to mountain towns with all-around appeal, it’s hard to top Glenwood Springs. The “larger” mountain town (just over 10,000 people), is set on the interstate, making it easy to access from Denver, which is 2.5 hours away. The town has three developed hot springs, a mountaintop adventure park that can only be accessed by gondola, and a river that provides opportunities for paddlers and anglers.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has scenes you might not expect to find in Colorado. The park protects a natural phenomenon: giant mounds of sand that were collected at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America and the mysterious “surge flow” waves of Medano Creek. 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

In the dry, red rock canyons of southwestern Colorado is this archaeological wonder. The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument encompasses a whopping 176,000 acres that contain clues to the daily lives of ancient Indigenous people. There are more than 8,300 recorded villages, cliff dwellings, shrines, kivas, petroglyphs, and other historic sites here. 

Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs is another place to ski and soak in geothermal water, but unlike the others on this list, it has a unique American West feel. Here, cowboy hats are just as common as Chacos, and the landscape lends itself to people who like to get outside. There are two ski areas, Steamboat and Howelsen Hill, and a hot spring located right in the middle of town.

Denver Union Station

Many cities have a train station, but in Denver, the transportation hub is the heart of the city. The 1914 Beaux-Arts train station consists of 11 chef-owned restaurants and bars, a boutique hotel, and a handful of unique shops. Once you’ve shopped and eaten your fair share, you can hop on the bus, light rail, or Amtrak to your next destination. 

Durango

Durango is set where the mountains meet the desert, so you get a little bit of each landscape. There are hot springs, ski areas, mountain biking trails, and plenty of fun to be had on the Animas River that runs through town. In the summer, a top to-do is riding the 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad over a mountain pass from Durango to Silverton.  

Boulder

Boulder is a college town with easy access to Denver and the mountains. The downtown neighborhood of Pearl Street Mall has everything from art galleries to inventive eats and unique boutiques, and when you need a dose of nature, rock formations and trails are just west of the city in the Flatirons.