Denver & the Front Range
Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
Where the plains meet the mountains. Big city food and music, college towns, and foothills trails within minutes of downtown.
Local to home
Colorado
Four national parks, mountain towns, high deserts, hot springs and prairie. This is our home, and here is how we would show it to you.
Regions
Rocky Mountain National Park & the North
Estes Park, Grand Lake, Steamboat Springs
Alpine tundra, elk in the meadows and the headwaters of the Colorado River, with ranch country and ski towns beyond.
The I-70 Mountain Corridor
Georgetown, Breckenridge, Vail, Glenwood Springs
The classic mountain getaway. Ski resorts in winter, wildflowers and mountain biking in summer, and historic mining towns along the way.
Central Mountains
Buena Vista, Salida, Leadville, Crested Butte
The Arkansas River valley and the Collegiate Peaks, with whitewater rafting, hot springs and wide open trail country.
Southwest Colorado
Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride
The San Juan Mountains at their most dramatic, ancient cliff dwellings and one of the most famous drives in the country.
San Luis Valley
Alamosa, Mosca, Crestone
A huge high-desert valley ringed by mountains, home to towering sand dunes and some of the darkest skies in the state.
Western Slope
Grand Junction, Palisade, Montrose
Red rock canyons, orchards and vineyards, and some of the steepest canyon walls in North America.
Eastern Plains
Greeley, Sterling, La Junta
Big skies, quiet back roads and a side of Colorado most visitors never see.
When to go
Winter
Ski and snowboard season in the high country, cozy mountain towns and steaming hot springs. Mountain passes and I-70 can be slow or closed during storms, so watch the forecast.
Spring
Mud season in the mountains, when some lodges and restaurants close between ski season and summer. It is a great time for the Front Range, the Western Slope and the dunes.
Summer
Wildflowers, high alpine trails and long days. Start early, because afternoon thunderstorms build over the mountains most days.
Fall
Golden aspens from mid September into early October, cooler hikes, harvest season in Palisade and fewer crowds once school is back.
Altitude, sun and storms
Denver sits a mile high and many mountain towns are far higher. Visitors often feel short of breath or get headaches the first day or two.
- Drink more water than usual and go easy on alcohol at first.
- Take your first day easy before tackling a big hike.
- Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun is stronger at elevation.
- In summer, start hikes early and be below treeline before afternoon storms.
- Carry layers. Mountain weather changes quickly in every season.
Colorado guides
Colorado · Estes Park & Grand Lake
Rocky Mountain National Park, Done Right
How to see the high country, the elk and the alpine lakes while dodging the worst of the crowds.
6 min readColorado · San Luis Valley
Great Sand Dunes: A Beach in the Mountains
The tallest dunes in North America, a seasonal creek kids love, and some of the darkest night skies in the state.
5 min readColorado · Durango, Silverton & Ouray
The Southwest Colorado Loop
Cliff dwellings, a historic steam train and the Million Dollar Highway, linked into one unforgettable drive.
7 min readColorado · Denver
A Weekend in Denver
Murals, music under the rocks, food halls and the step that sits exactly one mile high.
5 min readColorado · Glenwood, Ouray, Pagosa & more
Colorado Hot Springs Road Trip
From huge resort pools to small riverside soaks, a guide to warming up the Colorado way.
5 min readColorado · Statewide
Chasing Fall Colors in Colorado
When the aspens turn gold, these are the drives that are worth getting up early for.
5 min readColorado · Colorado Springs, Boulder & Georgetown
Front Range Day Trips
Big views close to home, from red rock spires to a summit you can reach by train.
4 min read