Skyline to Summit: Map the Ultimate Colorado Adventure

Your perfect adventure awaits in Colorado, where you can’t help but fall in love with the state’s distinctive spirit. Beyond how it makes you feel, the numbers tell a story: 26 scenic byways connect historical sites and majestic scenery — more than half allow EV drivers to charge up along the route. With four national parks and nine national monuments, the diversity of the landscape and preserved natural areas beg you to stay a few extra nights to tour them all. You’ll also find dozens of mountain towns, each with its own character vying to make it your favorite. Locals’ passion for the state manifests in the Care for Colorado Principles, easy tips that help ensure it’s as grand tomorrow as it is today. 

Denver Gives You a Mile-High Head Start

Denver is the perfect bookend to any Colorado road trip, with ways to relax and acclimate to the altitude before heading up to the mountains. Its walkable downtown balances urban energy and amenities with easy access to nature. Stroll the iconic 16th Street Mall to the Skyline Beer Garden for a local pour, or explore larger-than-life public-art displays and cultural institutions like the Denver Art Museum. The dining scene shines with global flavors, chefs committed to regional ingredients and sun-drenched patios. Whether you’re catching a concert at the acclaimed Red Rocks Amphitheatre or cheering at sports bars on game days, Denver is the ultimate mountain prelude.

A Playground for Every Season in Fort Collins

The whimsical charm of Fort Collins calls to visitors, where the storybook storefronts of downtown served as the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. Beyond boutiques, bike shops and cafe-lined streets, whitewater adventure and scenery await in the rugged Cache la Poudre Canyon, home to Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. For year-round recreation, Horsetooth Reservoir is a premier playground for hiking, biking and paddleboarding. Stopping at the city’s renowned breweries is mandatory, especially New Belgium Brewing Co., which boasts one of the best tours in the country. It’s also a vibrant hub for concerts and bike parades that capture the city’s playful soul.

Estes Park: A Front-Row Seat to the Rockies

As the gateway to legendary Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park offers a mountain escape. Nature takes center stage here, whether you’re exploring the park’s soaring peaks or embarking on a wildlife-watching adventure. Keep your eyes peeled for wandering elk, moose or deer, either on a guided excursion or a solo drive. For a bit of a thrill, zoom down the Mustang Mountain Coaster, then dial back the pace at the iconic and historical Stanley Hotel. Whether you’re hunting for haunts at the hotel that inspired Steven King’s “The Shining” or chasing alpine views, Estes Park perfectly blends high-altitude activities with classic Colorado scenery.

Soak, Soar & Explore in Glenwood Springs

In Glenwood Springs, relaxation and rugged adventure live side by side. Soak your worries (or the day’s outdoor exertions) away in the world’s largest mineral pool at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, find serenity at the riverside Iron Mountain Hot Springs or experience the unique subterranean Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers, this hub offers first-rate recreation, from biking jaw-dropping Glenwood Canyon to an otherworldly Hanging Lake hike. Dive into Western history on the Doc Holliday Grave & Hiking Trail to Linwood Cemetery, then shift gears at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park for mountaintop rollercoasters, cave tours and a canyon swing.  

Ouray’s Million Dollar Views & Hot-Spring Soaks

Ouray is an alpine gem tucked into a rugged box canyon. Your journey likely includes the epic Million Dollar Highway, a thrilling stretch of the San Juan Skyway with panoramas that live up to the name. After navigating the cliffs and hairpin turns, unwind in the town’s famous sulfur-free hot springs. For those who prefer boots on the ground, Ouray offers an intricate network of year-round hiking trails past mining relics, breathtaking mountain ridges and lush forests. Don’t miss the local liquid icons: the thundering Box Cañon Falls, the misty heights of Cascade Falls and the deep plunge of Bear Creek Falls.

Alamosa: Shifting Sands & Celestial Wonders

Adventure reaches mystic heights in Alamosa, home to the shifting natural towers of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. While sand-sledding is a favorite activity, there’s so much more to explore — stay after sunset for an internationally recognized Night Sky Experience or trek to the plunging, misty waters of Zapata Falls. Immerse yourself in the deep history of the San Luis Valley along the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway. For a change of pace, the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge offers a sanctuary for migratory birds like sandhill cranes and blue herons. From ancient culture to celestial wonders, Alamosa is a true high-desert gem.

High-Altitude Icons Meet Hidden Wonders in Colorado Springs

Ascend Pikes Peak via the world’s highest cog railway for summit outlooks that inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” Back on lower ground, discover the geologic mysteries of Garden of the Gods Park, where towering red-sandstone formations frame the horizon in fanciful formations. From Colorado Springs, head to the nearby mining town of Victor to find historical Gold Rush scenery and “Rita the Rock Planter,” a giant Thomas Dambo troll sculpture tending the earth. Finally, get one last high-up perspective at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, where you can ride the gondola or traverse the USA’s highest suspension bridge above the rushing Arkansas River. The stunning canyon vistas will take your breath away.