colorado adventure travel companies

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Colorado Tour Companies

List of colorado travel companies & tour operators with 14774 reviews.

Southwest Adventure Tours

• Excellent - 107 reviews for Colorado tours

Highly disorganized, guide was not informed about itinerary timing to get into parks, where food would be available for purchase and on and on. We missed seeing things because of SWAT’s inability to set up this tour properly or properly train our guide, they also did not take into account the shorter days in September. Missed seeing things because it was dark. It’s an amazing tour to see all these places, just VERY poorly organized and set up, we have been on many tours with many tour companies, this by far was the worst!

Great trip, great seeing 4 national parks and 2 national monuments, good guide (Dave Showalter), nice hotels, good meals (except hotel free breakfasts).

• Excellent - 1,925 reviews for Colorado tours

Great tour encompassing almost 1200 miles over 10 days seeing incredible sites.

Very poor communication!!

• Excellent - 912 reviews for Colorado tours

Great itinerary, professional and knowledgeable guide. It was truly the Best of Colorado. More like 7 days, not 9 days.

Bucket List Group Travel LL…

• Good - 16 reviews for Colorado tours
• This operator has no Colorado reviews

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,757 reviews for Colorado tours

I had the greatest hiking trip of my life. Floyd was the best guide anyone could possibly ask for. He showed and led us through hiking routes and views that ordinary visitors wouldn't have known and went out of his way to provide a flexible but also enjoyable schedule for the group. The restaurants and lodges he arranged were also fantastic. I'm truly glad to have applied and experienced this tour.

Wildland Trekking

• Excellent - 45 reviews for Colorado tours

Emily was a great guide. Very organized, professional, safety conscious, and weighed all the factors each day (weather, group's energy, etc) in choosing the right hike for the day. She prepared great lunches on the trail which kept us in good spirits. And she was very personable, upbeat and was a member of the group. One of the best guides I've ever hiked with.

FlashpackerConnect

• Excellent - 6 reviews for Colorado tours

Timberline BH Adventures

DIAMIR Erlebnisreisen

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Plan Your Escape

Colorado’s rugged terrain and gorgeous natural scenery set the tone of limitless adventure—and it’s available at your fingertips. Get out, get wild or just relax amongst the beauty, we’ll curate an unforgettable escape that’s made for you.

Let’s Plan An Epic Vacation

Plan the epic Colorado vacation you’ve always dreamt of and forget all that stressful planning!

Choose Your Adventures

View our adventures and select what suits you. Choose an activity or multiple—or add on lodging and hang out with us for a few days!

Bask in the fun

Destinations.

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Castle Rock, CO

Conveniently located less than three miles off the CanAm Highway via Plum Creek Parkway.

Denver: 37 mins

Colorado Springs: 41 mins

Cañon City, CO

Southwest of Denver and Colorado Springs off of Hwy 115 via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.

What Guests Have to Say

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Trips by Region

Polar Bear Tours

Meet the King of the Arctic roaming its wild tundra home on the edge of Hudson Bay in Churchill, Canada

Intimate wildlife adventures featuring uncrowded private reserves and remote luxury bush camps

Galapagos Tours

Meet unique and amiable wildlife up close on expertly guided small-group explorations in the Enchanted Isles

Get close to brown bears, explore Denali and see abundant marine life by private boat in Kenai Fjords & Prince William Sound

Look for wolves in Yellowstone, gape at the Grand Canyon, hike Glacier's alpine heights, watch the sunrise in Acadia...and more!

Watch whales, heli-hike in the Canadian Rockies, see icebergs calve in Greenland, witness the northern lights

Explore the wild side of Europe as we leave big cities behind to explore less-discovered natural wonders

Mexico & Central America Tours

Ecotourism adventures with gray whales, monarch butterflies, sea turtles, scarlet macaws & more!

From the Amazon to the Andes, from the Pantanal to Patagonia, explore this continent's amazing biodiversity 

View endangered pandas, tigers, orangutans, pygmy elephants, rhinos, koalas & other wildlife

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Commune with penguins, puffins and polar bears in the most remote wilderness areas on the planet

Small-ship expedition voyages to the ends of the earth: explore polar regions, Amazon, Alaska & beyond

Photography Expeditions

For avid photographers of all ability levels, with coaching from an expert naturalist–photographer guide

Women's Adventures

Led by Nat Hab's top women Expedition Leaders, these departures have a special focus on the contributions of women in our destinations

Discover, explore and have fun in nature as you build lifelong memories across generations!

Check out our newest trip offerings and first-run adventures all around the world!

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Have a question or comment? Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us. Hours Mountain Time

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• 719-578-0935
• Contact Adventure Concierge

the best in Rocky Mountain Adventure For half a century

Iconic tours, custom equipment and rated “excellent” guides.

You can rely on Adventures Out West for a flawless adventure and memories to last a lifetime. Hundreds of thousands of travelers have trusted AOW’s 50 years of experience creating iconic tours in epic locations, custom one-of-a-kind vehicles and equipment, and providing 5-star-rated guides. Just read the reviews and you will be happy you chose Adventures Out West!​ 719-578-0935

Run, jump or crawl over the edge of the cliffs, then let your spirit soar!

The ziplines were incredible and the guides were super! My 9 year old had a blast!

Take a ride in our sweet fleet of Custom 4X4 Jeeps.

Our Jeep tour was so much fun!  My family loved our adventure!

Amazing scenic views and wind in your hair fun that defies gravity!

Segwaying through Garden of the Gods was an experience we will never forget!

An unforgettable adventure with breathtaking scenery!

Our flight was so amazing!  The sense of peace and exhilaration 1000 feet off the ground made our spirits soar!

Starting from Olympic City, USA, take a journey in the mountains.

Hiking in Cheyenne Canyon is one of the best experiences in Colorado!

ADVENTURE is…A Bike ride at 14,115 Feet…Out West!

The E-Bike made the Dam hill a joy to climb, this tour was way better!

Tours can be booked online or by calling (719-578-0935).  Not all tours are private, and we ask that each person is considerate of the other groups.  Tours depart on time and no refunds will be issued for late arrivals.  AOW commits to provide the tour booked and we ask the same commitment from our guests.  Individuals needing a concierge type service are encouraged to call our team and schedule a Charter Experience just for you and on your schedule. Group inquiries should call our group sales team directly at 719-578-0935. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to showing you the Best in the West!

Visiting Colorado? These 5 Adventure Companies Will Show You the Time of Your Life

The adventures to be had in Colorado are truly endless. From the Rocky Mountains to the Arkansas River, there is just so much to see and to do.

If you’re looking to experience the splendor of nature, the thrill of outdoor sports, and the great variety that Colorado has to offer, check out these adventure companies that are making this colorful state even more fun for everyone.

These Companies are Leading Adventure Travel in Colorado

Get outside and make some memories with one of these leading adventure travel companies…

1. Arkansas River Tours

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2. Play Dirty ATV Tours

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3. Apex Mountain School

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4. Singletrack Explorers

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5. Sombrero Ranches

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Now that you know what to DO in the Rockies, it’s time to figure out where you’ll sleep. You can search for campgrounds around each of these adventures on The Dyrt .

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Deanna Weiss

A proud West Coast native, Deanna first developed her passion for the great outdoors on the beaches and mountains of Southern California. In 2014, she set off to South Korea where she spent her time working as an English teacher and exploring the megacity of Seoul. Just this past year, she had the opportunity to experience some breathtaking hiking spots in her favorite country that she has visited thus far--Taiwan. Deanna currently lives the lifestyle of a digital nomad, camping and AirBnBing as she moves across North America.

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All summer-only tours are open on the calendar. Book your summer adventure now!

Organized Adventures Made of Colorado ™

HERE COMES THE SUN

What do you want to do?

Looking for a new location to explore?

How much time do you have?

Jed was very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and history of each town we visited and the trails we hiked. Jed was also very accommodatiive to everyone's needs.

wkout wrote a review 9/22/2020

Hiking Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver

This was an excellent way to see Garden of the Gods and pike's peak. Our guide Mike was very knowledgeable about the area and was wonderful to talk to. I would highly recommend this outing!! See you on my next trip.

wrote a review

Oct 1, 2022

Pikes Peak Cog Railway & Garden of the Gods Tour - Lunch Included

Excellent …service here we back next time for sure, I recommend thiscome here……we love this place.

Nov 16, 2022

The hike was great we didn’t have a lot of time so taking this hike with a guide was perfect. Ty was so nice and knowledgeable, we learnt so much and he made it fun for the kids too. Highly recommend!

My experience was incredibly remarkable. I have never seen a view like this before! Definitely worth going to and recommending.

Jul 1, 2022

This tour was well worth it. Our guide, Paul, was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the sites on this tour. I would recommend this tour to anyone. My family and I really enjoyed our day.

Private Pikes Peak & Garden of Gods Tour

The tour was amazing. It was everything that I thought it would be and more. Our guide Jed was knowledgeable and fun! The sites were breathtaking. The stops were long enough to see the sites but not so long as to get boring. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only way to get to the top of a "fourteener".

Jul 1, 2020

When in Denver, the problems withCovid 19 were enormous. With Two -rescheduled tours cancelled, we found Aspire for a private tour. Absolutely wonderful and well worth the premium for a private tour.Our tour director, Jed, was one of the most knowledgeable people (not guides, but people) I had ever met.

Jul 9, 2020

Our group of 6 had a great time on a beautiful day. Jed was an excellent tour guide and knowledgeable about more than just the sites. He knew geology, history, local plants, and weather patterns.

Feb 20, 2022

This was a very entertaining/informative tour. Our guide for the day, Paul, was very informative about so much along the way. He also had great a way of starting and keeping conversations going. The time flew by. Personally, I think he had a way of working some magic too.

Jul 4, 2022

Phil from Philly was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and fun! Beers options were excellent for IPAs and sours. Had a great group of people to tour with. Would recommend this to beer lovers.

May 11, 2022

Brews 'n Views

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Adventures of a Life time

For over 25 years, it has been our passion to guide people in exploring Colorado’s natural wonders.

We know Colorado and all her wild extremes — join us in discovering extraordinary adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime!

White Water Rafting

From exhilarating to heart pounding, there is no greater way to experience Colorado than through our guided rafting trips on some of Colorado’s most pristine rivers.

• 25 years in service
• Your safety is our job
• We set the bar high
• We have the trip for you

AVA offers exciting Denver, CO ziplining trips at two locations: Idaho Springs, just 30 minutes from Denver, and Buena Vista, located in the Arkansas River Valley. Ziplining in either Colorado location is a one-of-a-kind adventure!

Via Ferrata and Rock Climbing

Join us for vertical adventure that both challenges and takes your breath away. Explore the Colorado mountains from new heights tailored to your skill level and take in the panoramic views!

Explore all our Colorado adventures

Make Colorado the destination of your next adventure, and let AVA be your Colorado guide! We have over 20 years of service in Colorado whitewater rafting and activities for everyone from first-timers to outdoor thrill-seekers.

• Fly Fishing

Our fly fishing trips are perfect for beginners hoping to learn basic technique through more advanced anglers looking to discover Colorado’s best fishing spots! Join us on one of our overnight and multiple day fly fishing trips for a complete outdoor adventure experience.

Trending Trips for Everyone

Colorado Via Ferrata – Granite

Adventure awaits as you conquer the cliffside on this unique mountaintop climbing experience. Feel a rush of adrenaline as you traverse across and above [...]

Colorado Scenic Float-Half Day

This wonderful Colorado River float trip is a gently flowing section that is inviting to all ages. You’ll encounter a few small rapids as [...]

Gold Rush Clear Creek Rafting Adventure

  Splash down the Clear Creek mining valley on our 1/3 day Gold Rush trip. Just a short half-hour trip from Denver, this family-friendly rafting [...]

The Numbers 1/2 Day + Via Ferrata

This adventure will get your heart rate up and keep it up as you embark on our Numbers + Via Ferrata full-day excursion. This [...]

Browns Canyon Express

Experience the best of the Arkansas River on this 3/4 day trip through class III rapids and the majestic Browns Canyon National Monument. You’ll [...]

Don't just take our word for it

We had an incredible experience with AVA Rafting & Zipline last weekend for our birthdays! My husband, two friends, and I went white water rafting in Buena Vista, and it was an adventure we'll never forget. Our guide, Todd, was absolutely amazing. His expertise and enthusiasm made the trip both thrilling and safe. We tackled class 4 rapids, and Todd’s guidance ensured we had an exhilarating and enjoyable time. The scenery was breathtaking, and the entire tour was perfectly organized from start to finish. If you're looking for a top-notch rafting experience with skilled and friendly guides, look no further than AVA Rafting & Zipline. We can't wait to return for another adventure!

There is not a company out there in Colorado that cares this much about the experience of their customer. We did the Via Ferrate with the amazing Jessi and Cody. These two made our experience incredible. Their professionalism and humor turned this into one of my favorite adventures. I had my 12-year-old son with me and felt 100% safe and taken care of the entire time.

Everyone has to listen to this!!! If you are going to do river rafting, you have to do the overnight with AVA! This is an experience of a lifetime. The entire team, from the Boss Boss (Duke) to Todd to Heather to our amazing guides Brighton and Will, made this a father and son trip that will never be forgotten. The day before the trip, they overcame several obstacles to ensure that we could take this trip. I run a company, Strong Fitness, in Dallas, and their care for the customers matches my own, which is hard to do!

I would trust this company with all my trips on the mountain or river in Buena Vista, CO. We are going back with more friends and family if they will have us.

We did the Via Ferrata with Julian and Ernie and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life. They taught me how to do a flip on a zipline an hang upside down an how to jump of the side of a cliff. 10/10!

The staff from AVA Rafting & Zipline is amazing, especially Kim! During my CDT thruhike, I created a snow free route that passed by their location along the Scenic Byway. I had two electrolyte drinks and the staff also shared some subs and fruits with me. Super welcoming and kind folks. I wish I had the time to do the tours since their clients seemed well taken care of. From experienced guides to great snacks along the route. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll definitely go rafting with them! ;)

I can go on and on about how GREAT this experience was.. I was supposed to go on a different rafting and zip lining experience somewhere else in Colorado but was unable to make it.. I was near by for vacation and I knew I had to go back to do it. I searched for “Denver Rafting” and found AVA with very good reviews and had to look into it! I originally wanted to do the “Gauntlet” as my first rafting experience but instead changed my mind and got the “mountain zip lining and 1/2 day numbers” experience. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left I had smiles, content in my heart and pictures to last a LIFETIME! Jess and Robert were such amazing guides for the zip lining trip and helped everyone especially me since it was my first time to get us in the mindset that no matter what we were safe! Even had the opportunity to race Robert on the fastest line and well experience always wins…throughout the whole experience they were very informative and just very fun to be around!! By far the Rafting was the best part.. Chris was just so helped for everyone on the raft the whole time, no matter if we had people fall out of the raft or even had to rescue a “swimmer” he was ALWAYS Calm, Cool and Collected! After having this experience, I will definitely tell everyone I know that they NEED to have this as well. With all the help throughout the whole process there will be no way that don’t have a GREAT time.

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Let Us Guide Your Path To Adventure

AVA offers you the best Colorado whitewater rafting trips, zipline tours and more in some of the Rocky Mountain’s most beautiful locations. Find a trip near you with rafting on 9 rivers, zipline tours in 2 locations, fly fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more.

Select a Location

When do you plan to travel, what’s the youngest in your party, which activities do you want to do, what level of intensity are you looking for.

Personalized Adventures Made Easy.

Discover your Dream Vacation today, and experience how adventuring Colorado should be done.

Dream vacation In Colorado

Price Varies | 2-12 Days Receive Your Very Own personalized itinerary with Local guides based on your interests, Guided or Self-Guided ACTvities, Tailored lodging, photography, and much more. All costs are included except dining. Experience the best things to do in Colorado.

DREAM VACATION IN COLORADO ROCKIES

ACT's Team & Colorado Natives will create and send you a personalized which includes expert tour guides, luxury transportation and lodging. Experience the best things in Colorado with the help of our Colorado tour guides and insider access accumulated generationally over the last 100 years.

Book Your Entire Colorado Trip in 5 Minutes. Make Memories That Last a Lifetime.

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©2023 by Adventure Colorado Tours

The active travel specialists for the young and young at heart

Adventure Travel West

Wilderness and active tour specialists of the USA's Western National Parks and Hawaii since 1994

From its base in Denver, Colorado, Adventure Travel West Inc operates multi-day, small group active holidays in the Western US National Parks and in Hawaii, including hiking, active sightseeing, adventure, wildlife, and off-road adventures.

Hiking, exploring, photography, wildlife encounters and remote wilderness are among their specialties. Their tours are expertly crafted and are designed to showcase the vast National Parks and little-known wild spaces that make the West such an appealing destination for nature lovers.

The company primarily focuses on B2B opportunities. For European customers, they offer tours in many languages. For private customers, they will customize your vacation to feature the best of the West. 

Adventure Travel West is committed to sustainable travel and incorporates Leave No Trace principles across all its itineraries.

Learn more about Adventure Travel West

One Way Adventures Around The World

Specializing in extended multi-stop international adventure itineraries that circumnavigate the globe or any portion thereof.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB

Adventure travel, current adventures, coming soon, trip leaders.

Yellowstone 

Winter  2024

Take the Trips You Dream Of with the

Colorado mountain club.

The Colorado Mountain Club takes active travelers to the world’s incredible destinations -- America’s and Canada’s Wilderness; the peaks of the Andes, Alps, and the Himalayas; Africa’s national game parks; and the exotic trails of Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland.

CMC Adventure Travel trips are educational, cultural, and eco-sensitive, led by experienced leaders who know their destinations. Adventures range from easy walking, hiking, cycling, and skiing to challenging climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and backcountry skiing requiring good physical conditioning, skills, and training.

Prices range from budget-conscious to custom upgraded adventures, and small groups provide the highest quality experience.

If you dream of skiing the Canadian Rockies, bicycling through Holland’s tulips, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, or a safari to Africa, a Colorado Mountain Club Adventure Travel Trip is for you.

EXPERIENCE CMC ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Why travel with the cmc.

Value   Our volunteer leaders work hard with local guides to provide competitive trip pricing.

Small Groups   Smaller group sizes mean a more personal, close-knit and meaningful nature experience.

New People   Meet adventurers with similar passions and make lasting friendships!

Active Adventures   Stay in shape with pre-trip activities and feel rejuvenated with active vacations.

Variety   We offer a wide range of experiences, trip lengths and accommodations.

Experienced Leaders   Our leaders plan all of the details and work with local guides to deliver the best possible experience.

Contribution   Your adventure supports the nonprofit work of the Colorado Mountain Club - conserving wild places   and educating all ages in the outdoors.

Current Adventures

Iso in-state outing.

his year the ISO will be held near the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The YMCA of the Rockies is only a few miles from the park entrance. Lots of great hikes both within and surrounding the park will be offered.

We will be housed in a beautiful newer 17-bedroom cabin with great views of the park.   

In-State Outing

Estes Park Center YMCA of the Rockies

Aug. 19 - 23

Upcoming Trips Keep Checking Back For More Information!

Multi-Sport Adventure

Switzerland, France

Aug. 31 - Sept. 10 2024

Although CMC membership is recommended for participation in these trips, guests are welcome.

Colorado Mountain Club members receive discounts on Adventure Travel trips. We also teach all the skills, training, and wilderness education classes you need to enjoy the world's great destinations.

Join the CMC today!

CONTACT CMC

710 10th street, suite 200 golden, colorado 80401 ​ [email protected] ​ 303-279-3080.

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A "World's Best" award winner.

This is boundless., dig deeper., be adventurous., savor each moment..

Travel + Leisure World's Best Award

Top 5 World's Best Tour Operators Multi-year Recipient

National Geographic Traveler

50 Tours Of A Lifetime Multi-year Recipient

National Geographic Adventure Magazine

Best Adventure Travel Company Winner

ATTA member since 2006

We promise outstanding adventure travel experiences for people with an adventurous spirit..

Every active travel experience Boundless Journeys creates is complemented by signature accommodation, regional cuisine, and remarkable local guides who can show you the greatest hits and hidden gems of each destination. No matter where you want to go—or what you want to do—Boundless Journeys delivers unique, flexible, and exclusive travel at its best.

So, What are you in the mood for?

Hiking & walking.

We offer what every seasoned traveler looks for: the opportunity to truly experience a destination by slowing down, stepping out of your everyday life, and immersing yourself in places often only accessible on foot.

Nature Tours & Safaris

Boundless Journeys’ active nature tours and African safaris immerse you in a world where “all good things are wild and free.”

Cultural Encounters

Our small group cultural tours carefully uncover, gently explore, and quietly meander through some of the most exceptional and unspoiled places in the world.

Experience the rewards of hiking through hidden valleys, over mountain passes, and into seldom-traveled areas where foreigners rarely visit.

Special Departures

Our special departure tours feature unique and exclusive vacations that are truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Custom Tours

Whether you are planning a family reunion for 16 in Costa Rica, or want to meet with old friends in Europe, Boundless Journeys’ Custom Tours allow you to make your most amazing travel dreams a reality.

A few of our favorite tours

France, italy, and switzerland: tour du mont blanc hiking.

$4,995 / person 9 days

Peru: The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

$6,095 / person 8 days

South Africa: Ultimate Cape Town & Kruger Safari

$6,995 / person 8 days

Bhutan: Hiking in the Peaceful Kingdom

$6,795 / person 12 days

More Than Just A Travel Company

Boundless Journeys delivers the world’s great adventures and exceeds expectations on every trip.

If diversity of adventure is what you are seeking, Boundless Journeys has trips to satisfy your most imaginative spirit. Our worldwide adventure tours offer everything from wilderness treks to cultural expeditions, and we always find the hidden gems of each destination.

Small group or private itineraries, memorable accommodations, and expert local guides define the signature Boundless Journeys active travel experience.

What Our Guests Say About Us

Each trip has been unique and wonderful with its own charms. I have been repeatedly impressed with is the guides. Every guide has been exceptional! Very different personalities, but all knowledgeable, friendly, adaptive, good leaders, patient, and all amazing representatives of their countries.

Travel Your Way

From flexible itineraries for small groups to handcrafted tours for you and your traveling companions: There is a Boundless Journeys adventure just right for you.

Amazing Local Guides

Local to the region you’re exploring, our trusted friends have unique perspectives that take you beyond the usual to reveal the most authentic places, people, and food.

Award-Winning Itineraries

We take great pride in the experiences we deliver, as evidenced by the prestigious awards that Boundless Journeys receives year after year.

Our Philosophy

A great travel experience doesn’t begin and end on the trail. It’s the little things that make the difference—and at Boundless Journeys, we take that philosophy to heart.

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The 25 top things to do in colorado, according to a local.

Expect plenty of epic adventures and spectacular scenery in Colorado.

Top Things to Do in Colorado

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Adventurous travelers will find a home in Colorado. Snowcapped mountains, rushing rivers and dramatic canyons create a rugged yet stunning landscape well worth exploring. Meanwhile, cities like Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs provide a taste of culture – and plenty of relaxing activities for those not up for hiking or skiing. Read on for the top things to do in the Centennial State.

Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park draws millions of people every year to explore its 147 lakes and 355 miles of trails, which appeal to hikers and backpackers of all experience levels. Visitors recommend the park's flat lake trails – such as Lily Lake Loop, Bear Lake trail and the Lake Irene trail – for beginners. Intermediate climbers may enjoy the 4.1-mile Emerald Lake trail, which requires 744 feet of elevation gain. Many experienced hikers set out to complete Longs Peak: This mountain is a 14er (a peak that exceeds 14,000 feet) with a nearly 5,000-foot elevation gain, reserved for ambitious and very skilled hikers willing to start the hike early (think: 3 a.m.) and pack all the appropriate gear.

Don't miss the chance to drive the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. With a high point at more than 12,000 feet, Trail Ridge spans nearly 50 miles and runs from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west, and it's known as the highest continuous paved road in the country. It has several designated pull-over areas and is well maintained, according to visitors, but that doesn't mean it's not frightening: The twisting turns and dramatic drops may make your stomach churn. The road is only open from May to October because of its dangerous winter weather conditions.

Rocky Mountain National Park operates on a timed entry reservation system during the summer (May to October), and entry to the park during every season requires a vehicle entrance pass. Keep in mind that backpacking requires a wilderness permit. If you're planning to visit multiple national parks in a year, consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass .

Insider tip: The 9.4-mile trek to Sky Pond is worth doing for gorgeous views of surrounding peaks.

The Mile High City is full of educational museums, trendy restaurants, historical sites and top-notch views. For a taste of culture, stop at the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and the Denver Botanic Gardens. Or, catch a Broadway show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. If you're visiting with children, the Denver Zoo is a great place to spend the day, as is the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The many unique tour offerings , including brewery outings and graffiti tours, can help you experience as much of Denver as possible. For a low-budget activity, plan a picnic in City Park, which offers views of the surrounding mountains and lots of space for the kids to run around.

When night comes, stroll through Larimer Square to find breweries and bars. Some top-rated breweries include Great Divide Brewing Company and Ratio Beerworks. The Five Points area is also an excellent place to explore in the evening thanks to its vibrant nightlife scene, live musical performances and noteworthy street art. Colorado's capital city offers plenty of lodging options as well, from upscale hotels like the Four Seasons Hotel Denver to boutique hotels like Hotel Teatro to more budget-friendly alternatives .

In November, attend Denver Arts Week, where artists, filmmakers, performers and more flock to Denver to showcase their creative projects. Entire neighborhoods, such as the RiNo Art District, are transformed into alfresco art museums during this week as artists paint colorful murals on storefronts and walls. One of Denver Arts Week's most noteworthy events is the Denver Film Festival, which showcases critically acclaimed films and features a star-studded red carpet event.

Insider tip: In terms of food and drink, you can't go wrong with Barcelona Wine Bar, which boasts a plethora of delicious tapas and a variety of wines. (Just make sure you book a reservation for this popular restaurant.) If you're a fan of speakeasies, try Williams & Graham – where you enter the bar through a bookcase – or Retrograde, where you enter the space-themed bar through a freezer in the Frozen Matter ice cream shop.

Surf or sled at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

While you won't find any traditional surfing experiences in landlocked Colorado, that doesn't mean you can't try your hand at the sport. Armed with a sandboard or sand sled (made specifically for sand, as snowboards, snow sleds and skis won't work unless the sand is very wet) as well as a bit of courage, visitors can surf or sled down the massive dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Keep in mind that there are no equipment rental facilities within the park; instead, you'll have to rent a board or sled from a shop in the nearby San Luis Valley. Oasis Store, located 4 miles from the entrance, is the closest rental store option. The first dunes are located about half a mile from the main parking area, but surfing and sledding are allowed anywhere on the dunefield away from vegetated areas. There are plenty of other activities you can enjoy throughout Great Sand Dunes, including hiking and swimming in Medano Creek. The park is also a top Colorado camping location .

Insider tip: Make sure to bring appropriate footwear as the sand can get very hot.

Stay at the famed Stanley Hotel

An inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining," The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park – about 5 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park – embraces its position as one of the most haunted hotels in America . The historic hotel offers several visitor-recommended tours, including The Shining Tour, where you can peek at one of the axes used in the movie.

Despite these sinister ties, the Stanley Hotel is one of the best hotels in Estes Park for good reason: It touts renovated premium suites, spa treatments, guided outdoor excursions and a plethora of premier dining options. There's plenty to do in the greater town of Estes Park, too, like horseback riding , attending the fall Elk Fest and exploring the free Estes Park Museum.

Insider tip: Visit Estes Park in the fall to hear the beautiful yet eerie elk bugling.

Address: 333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517

Garden of the Gods

There are several ways to explore the towering red rock formations in Garden of the Gods , located 5 miles northwest of downtown Colorado Springs , one of which is hiking. Some highly recommended hiking routes include the easy Central Garden Trail and the moderate Palmer Trail.

Jeep tours are another way to explore Garden of the Gods. Visitors can take a 90-minute narrated Jeep tour to Balanced Rock and hear about the history of the park; embark on a 90-minute outing to Glen Eyrie's Queens Canyon and enjoy a scenic overlook; or ride to waterfalls, tunnels and other picturesque areas on a two-hour excursion. Or, step back in time with a trolley tour, offered hourly.

Insider tip: After a day of exploring Garden of the Gods, grab a bite to eat at Pizzeria Rustica in the Old Colorado City area of Colorado Springs. The quattro formaggi (four cheese) pizza is to die for, and the gelato is a delicious way to cool down after hiking.

Summit Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak, a 14er located approximately 30 miles west of Colorado Springs, has inspired many stories and songs, including "America the Beautiful." You can ascend the mountain in a number of ways. Driving is the easiest way to summit, and there are plenty of places to pull over and admire the views on the way up. Keep in mind that the drive requires reservations and can be difficult, especially for those afraid of heights (which is why guided shuttle tours are also available).

Another popular way to reach the top is via The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The railway offers breathtaking vistas as it sweeps passengers up the mountain. At the top, passengers can soak in the scenery before boarding the train down. The entire trip lasts about three hours. You can purchase tickets online before you go; keep in mind that tickets sell out about two weeks in advance in the summer.

The last way up the mountain is on foot. Only skilled hikers and bikers should attempt to scale Pikes Peak via the Barr Trail, which is about a 25-mile round trip. Summiting via the Crags Campground route is shorter, at 14.5 miles, but still difficult. Either way, the grueling hike will be worth it once you make it to the top and witness incredible panoramas of Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Plus, you can reward yourself with a Pikes Peak doughnut or other treat at the Summit Visitor Center, which sits at 14,115 feet in elevation.

Insider tip: Afternoon storms in the summer are a common occurrence in Colorado, so if you're hiking, make sure you're descending around noon to avoid dangerous lightning.

Many visitors appreciate the charming, small-town vibe of Boulder, located 25 miles northwest of Denver. Pearl Street Mall is a top Boulder attraction , as the alfresco shopping area is lined with a plethora of boutiques and cafes. You'll probably see your fair share of street performers as well. Plus, with the University of Colorado Boulder in close proximity, there are many trendy restaurants and nightlife options.

Past visitors recommend The Buff for breakfast, The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse for lunch or afternoon tea, and The Sink for dinner – and don't forget to grab a drink at one of the city's many breweries in between meals. If you're visiting in the summer, check out the Boulder Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays for farm-fresh produce, live music and more. For convenient lodging options near downtown, book a stay at the St Julien Hotel & Spa or Hotel Boulderado .

If you do find yourself in the Boulder area, hiking the Flatirons is a must. These giant sandstone peaks are intertwined with miles of hiking trails, and there are routes for hikers and climbers of all skill levels. Most hikes begin at the popular Chautauqua Trailhead, which also offers an expansive park area perfect for relaxing and admiring the Flatirons if you're not in the mood to climb or hike.

Insider tip: A great hike away from the hustle and bustle of Boulder life is the 7.9-mile Walker Ranch Loop, an 8-mile drive from Chautauqua. For a less heart-pumping experience, touring the Celestial Seasonings tea factory is a blast and includes free tea sampling.

Mesa Verde National Park

It's not too often that scenic hiking areas are also steeped in history, but Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado certainly has both. This national park consists of an array of preserved cliff dwellings originally built centuries ago by Ancestral Puebloans, who lived and worked in the cliffside quarters for 700 years until finally abandoning them in late A.D. 1200. Now, the remnants of this ancient civilization draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Additionally, the park is associated with 26 Native American tribes.

During your visit, make time to see Cliff Palace – the largest cliff dwelling in North America. The site features 150 rooms and 23 kivas (ceremonial underground rooms) that you can view only by guided tour. There are also plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding area. A visitor-favorite path is the moderate Point Lookout Trail (2.1 miles out and back), which boasts sweeping views of the park. The Petroglyph Point Trail (a 2.4-mile loop) is also popular, as you can admire the petroglyphs drawn on the canyon walls.

Ski in Aspen

Millions of visitors travel to this town, located about 200 miles west of Denver, each year for its ideal ski conditions and massive slopes. Aspen Snowmass is one of the country's largest ski resorts , one of Colorado's top ski destinations and one of Aspen's most popular attractions . The resort offers more than 5,000 acres of skiable terrain and nearly 50 chairlifts across four mountains – Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – making it a prime ski destination for intermediate and advanced skiers. There are also some trails for beginners, as well as many opportunities for lessons.

Even if you're not a fan of skiing, the après-ski scene makes Aspen worth a visit. You'll find skiers flocking to the town's lounges, taverns and upscale eateries after a day on the mountain. There are several award-winning hotels in the area – such as The Little Nell and Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection – where guests can stay close to the slopes, making for an extra easy ski day.

Catch a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A trip to this venue will take any concert experience to the next level. The bleacher-style seats at Red Rocks Amphitheatre are built into a cliff and surrounded by towering sandstone structures. Visitors rave about the venue's acoustics, saying it's one of the best and most unique places to witness a live performance. Concerts are usually scheduled between April and November; consult the event schedule to see when your favorite artists are performing.

Even if you can't make it for a show, Red Rocks is still a great place to visit during the day. There are several hiking trails around the concert area, including the easy Trading Post Trail (1.4 miles) and the intermediate Red Rocks and Morrison Slide trails (3 miles). Plus, from high up in the stands, you'll get panoramic views of the surrounding area. In the summer, the venue even presents drive-in movie events and morning yoga sessions.

Insider tip: You can also find plenty of beautiful hiking in nearby Mount Falcon Park, including the highly rated 3.2-mile Turkey Trot Trail loop.

Address: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465

Relax in the hot springs of Glenwood Springs

The small town of Glenwood Springs is situated along the Colorado River and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. The mineral waters responsible for the town's fame come from the nearby Yampah spring, which naturally heats to about 122 degrees. In town, there are three main areas for visitors to enjoy the hot springs. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is home to the world's largest hot springs pool, big enough for visitors to swim laps in the 90- to 93-degree water. The venue is kid-friendly and doesn't require reservations.

Another option is Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which offers a quieter atmosphere complete with 17 soaking pools – heated between 98 and 108 degrees and connected by heated walkways – and rain showers to ensure visitors can cool off when necessary. Reservations are required and weekend access often sells out, so make sure to book a time slot in advance. The Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves is another thermal attraction in Glenwood Springs, and it's one of the only vapor caves on the continent. This underground area naturally releases therapeutic steam, which visitors can enjoy by descending into the caves and lounging on the benches. Reservations for the caves are required.

Go whitewater rafting

The Arkansas River – which starts in central Colorado and runs all the way to Arkansas – features miles of fast-flowing water, perfect for adventurous rafters. Though it might seem intimidating, there are plenty of easy routes for first-time rafters or those looking for a relaxing excursion.

Lower Browns Canyon offers a few mild rapids with enough time in between to enjoy the mountain scenery. Similarly, a trip to Little Gore Canyon is sure to be leisurely and may appeal to families with younger children. The Royal Gorge trip, however, is reserved for adventurous travelers seeking steep drops, big splashes and constant rapids. The Pine Creek route, which originates near the Granite Gorge, is another strenuous option for advanced rafters. Check out U.S. News' roundup of the best whitewater rafting tours in Colorado to plan your trip.

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A mining village that flourished in the late 1800s, this southwestern Colorado town maintains its Wild West charm to this day. The main street is lined with quaint stores and restaurants, which are set against the dramatic backdrop of the San Juan Mountains. You won't see many fast food restaurants or chain stores here, but you will find plenty of outdoor activities in Telluride . The town offers noteworthy skiing options at Telluride Ski Resort. The free gondola is also a great activity, as it'll bring you on a scenic ride to the mountains.

While there are numerous winter adventures to be had, the spring, summer and fall months are what make this town stand out. Telluride has a thriving arts district and is a hot spot for festivals, including popular festivals for film, jazz and bluegrass. Visitors enjoy Telluride for its small-town atmosphere and history.

Drive the Million Dollar Highway

There are many theories as to how this scenic highway got its name, but no matter what you believe, it's certain that the road provides million-dollar views. Start your drive in Ouray, a small town northwest of Telluride that's known as the "Switzerland of America" thanks to its European-looking storefronts and the surrounding mountains.

The 25-mile highway stretches from Ouray to Silverton and features awe-inspiring vistas, but be warned that the drive is not for the faint of heart. The road clings to the side of a cliff and provides dizzying views of the canyon below – and the lack of guardrails only adds to the danger. The road does eventually level out so drivers can relax and enjoy the scenery, but keep in mind that if you're scared of heights, this drive might not be the one for you. Be sure to check for icy or snowy conditions before making the journey.

Grand Lake is one of the best spots in Colorado for swimming, fishing, boating and soaking up some sun. This top Colorado lake – the largest in the state – is located a few miles southeast of the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and about 100 miles northwest of Denver. On the sandy shores of the lake, you'll find plenty of kids playing, adults sunbathing, and maybe even a moose or two testing the waters.

Visitors say the area is well maintained, and they appreciate the designated picnic spots. Not to mention, the jaw-dropping view of the surrounding mountains reflecting off the lake is sure to take your beach day to the next level. The lake offers a marina where visitors can opt to rent motorboats or kayaks to explore the water. The small town around the water – also called Grand Lake – features several cafes, restaurants and shops to enjoy during your visit. If you venture to Grand Lake in winter, there will still be many activities to partake in, such as ice fishing and ice hockey.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

This national park packs plenty of scenery into a small area. Dark, jagged peaks slice into the earth, creating dramatic canyons and breathtaking views. Black Canyon of the Gunnison doesn't have as many easy hiking opportunities as other parks due to the steep nature of the canyon. For this reason, many visitors say driving is the best way to take in the views. The park is small enough that if you're driving, you can see it all in a day – though there's a good chance it'll take a long drive to get there, as it's located about 260 miles from Denver.

When arriving at the park, you can choose to explore either the North Rim or the South Rim. The North Rim offers three trails and five overlooks that you can visit by car but is overall less developed than its counterpart; many visitors prefer the South Rim for its four hiking trails and 12 overlooks. Each rim features a campground as well, but the South Rim Campground is much larger and includes more amenities.

Insider tip: Bring a canopy tent if you plan to stay in the South Rim Campground as the trees are short and don't offer much in the way of shade. Also, make sure to drive around the park at sunset for spectacular views.

Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Take a train back in time on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Construction on this historic railroad began in 1881; once it was completed in 1882, the railroad brought tons of gold and silver from the mountains to the towns. People also used this train to travel between towns, and they quickly realized the scenery along the way was nothing short of stunning. The railroad winds through the San Juan Mountains and chugs up Cascade Canyon – a visitor-favorite view.

The train from Durango to Silverton takes less than four hours; passengers can explore the historic mining town of Silverton for two hours before returning for the train ride back. You'll have to reserve tickets in advance online or by calling.

Breckenridge

If you're looking for an easy getaway from Denver, head to Breckenridge for some of the best ski conditions in the state. Breckenridge Ski Resort has a whopping 187 trails and 35 lifts as well as several terrain parks. The free gondola, which runs from the downtown area to the base of the ski mountain, is a great way to enjoy the mountain views even if you don't plan on hitting the slopes.

Downtown Breckenridge has plenty to offer in the way of food, beverages and treats as well as clothing stores, souvenir shops and a thriving arts district. The surrounding area offers a variety of hiking and biking trails – such as the highly rated McCullough Gulch Trail, the Hoosier Pass Loop and the Sawmill Reservoir trail.

Insider tip: A romantic dinner at Hearthstone Restaurant can't be beat. Give the lamb a try; it's spectacular!

Visit Colorado's wine country

Most people associate Colorado with craft beer and countless breweries . However, you may be surprised to learn that Colorado also produces its fair share of wine. The state's "wine country" is located on the western edge of Colorado near the city of Grand Junction, where the cool, dry mountain climate and high elevation work together to create an ideal wine-making environment.

You'll find wineries and tasting rooms galore in Grand Junction and nearby Palisade. According to recent visitors, some of the top options include Carlson Vineyards Winery & Tasting Room, Varaison Vineyards and Winery, and Peach Street Distillers. Some visitors recommend touring Colorado's wine country on an e-bike for an extra dose of fun. When it comes time to rest, turn down at one of the best hotels in Grand Junction , most of which are conveniently located near the bars and restaurants of Main Street.

Insider tip: A stay at Palisade's Wine Country Inn makes for the perfect romantic getaway in Colorado . Make sure to take advantage of the property's daily complimentary wine tasting in the afternoon. In addition to wine, Palisade is known for its peaches; consider taking a peach farm tour with Suncrest Orchard Alpacas – which includes walking with your very own fluffy alpaca.

While this Colorado town is famous for its excellent ski offerings, Vail is also a great place to kick back and spend your time getting pampered. During the day, shop (or window-shop) for everything from outdoor gear to art, before taking a relaxing stroll through the meticulously landscaped Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Afternoon wine tastings at 4 Eagle Ranch or Root & Flower will make your day extra indulgent. When evening comes, splurge on upscale Japanese cuisine at Matsuhisa or contemporary American favorites at Sweet Basil.

Luxurious accommodation options also abound in Vail. If you're looking for top-notch spa offerings, book a stay at the European-inspired Sonnenalp hotel. The on-site spa offers massages, body treatments, scrubs, facials, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, and even an oxygen bar if the altitude gets to you. If you'd rather relax in the comfort of your guest room, consider staying at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail , where certain accommodations feature spacious living room areas, cozy furniture and gas fireplaces alongside mountain views.

Cross the Royal Gorge Bridge

If you want to get your heart pumping, look no further than the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park , located about 60 miles southwest of Colorado Springs. The bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the U.S. at 956 feet above the Arkansas River. Crossing the bridge is not for the faint of heart, but don't worry – the engineering feat is supported by 4,100 sturdy cables and can hold more than 2 million pounds. If you're still (understandably) nervous about walking over the bridge, however, some visitors recommend riding the Aerial Gondola across it first.

There's an activity for everyone at the park, from the three-story Playland for kids to the Cloudscraper Zip Line – the highest zip line in America – and the Royal Rush Skycoaster for thrill-seekers. Travelers recommend going in the offseason for smaller crowds.

Address: 4218 County Road 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212

Enjoy family-friendly fun in Steamboat Springs

This northwestern Colorado city is known for its ski offerings and hot springs. The ski mountain offers 182 trails, 23 lifts and four terrain parks, each for a different skill level. After skiing, pay a visit to the Old Town Hot Springs in the heart of downtown, which features several designated pools as well as two waterslides open seasonally. If you're not into downhill skiing, you can still enjoy other Steamboat Springs activities , including cross-country skiing , horseback riding, snowmobiling , ice skating, tubing and scenic gondola rides. In the summer, enjoy hiking, mountain biking and fly-fishing; there are also many local lakes perfect for swimming or paddleboarding.

If you're planning to spend the night in Steamboat Springs , recent travelers recommend staying at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort for modern appliances and gorgeous views.

Go leaf peeping

The fall season in Colorado is particularly stunning as the trees, most notably aspens, start to change color. You can hike among the vivid yellow, orange and red leaves in a multitude of mountain destinations, such as Kenosha Pass located 65 miles from Denver (but be warned that this is one of the most popular leaf-peeping spots ). To avoid the crowds, head to Kebler Pass near Crested Butte, which boasts one of the largest and most photographed aspen groves in the country. The leaf-peeping season typically runs from September to mid-October, but the exact timing depends on a variety of factors, such as whether there's an early freeze.

Insider tip: If you're heading to Kebler Pass, spend some time in the charming town of Crested Butte. The Secret Stash offers a range of pizzas as well as the delicious and popular "Crack Fries."

Drive the highest road in North America

The Scenic Byway to Blue Sky, which begins 33 miles west of Denver, climbs to the peak of Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) and offers stunning mountain views along the way. You'll start in Idaho Springs, then gain about 7,000 feet in elevation as you twist and turn along the 28-mile road to the 14,130-foot summit. Keep your eyes peeled for wild animals such as mountain goats, bighorn sheep and marmots.

Due to potentially dangerous winter conditions, cars are only permitted to drive to the peak from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and reservations are required. If you're an avid hiker, you also have the option to complete the challenging hike to the peak, but note that it's one of the more popular 14ers to climb.

Experience small-town life in Salida

Visiting small towns like Salida is one of the best ways to experience the Centennial State. Salida sits about 140 miles south of Denver and offers plenty of quaint Colorado charm. As you walk down F Street, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time thanks to preserved buildings reminiscent of the Wild West and retro stores like the F Street Five & Dime and the Salida Pharmacy & Fountain. The downtown area is the state's largest historic district. At the end of the street, you'll find the Arkansas River and the adjacent Riverside Park, which is a perfect spot for lounging, picnicking or exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Skiing and snowboarding might be the first activities that come to mind when putting together your winter Colorado itinerary, but consider a variety of cold weather offerings across the state:

• Take the family dog-sledding
• Go snow tubing at Frisco Adventure Park
• Enjoy a sleigh ride dinner in Steamboat Springs
• Head to Breckenridge for the International Snow Sculpture Championships
• Ride the Polar Express Train from Durango to Silverton
• Eat pierogies at the Denver Christkindlmarket
• Explore more than 70 installations at Meow Wolf

It's no surprise that a summer in Colorado means partaking in myriad outdoor adventures:

• Rock climb in Eldorado State Park (and receive a stamp in your Colorado Parks Passport )
• Get your adrenaline pumping on a zip line
• Visit Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs
• Ride the Alpine Slide in Winter Park (the longest alpine slide in the state)
• See the stunning Maroon Bells
• Explore the colorful Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Colorado Springs
• Hike around Dinosaur National Monument

And plenty of other activities await if you're not in the mood to lace up your hiking boots:

• Watch a play at the Shakespeare Festival in Boulder
• Take a flight in a hot air balloon above the Rocky Mountains
• Catch a baseball game at Coors Field
• Attend the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, south of Colorado Springs
• Explore a ghost town like St. Elmo or Independence Ghost Town near Aspen

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Leilani Osmundson has lived in Colorado for most of her life, including four years in Boulder while she attended the University of Colorado Boulder . She spends her free time hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing and paddleboarding around the state, and has experienced much on this list.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Places to Visit in Colorado
• The Best Places to Hike in the U.S.
• The Best National Parks in the U.S.
• The Best Dude Ranch Vacations in the U.S.
• The Best Carry-on Backpacks

Tags: Travel , Colorado Vacations , US Vacations , U.S. West Vacations

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“I have dreamed of taking this trip for years. Truly this journey exceeded my expectations on all fronts. The wildlife, terrain, people, staff and fellow trip mates made it an adventure to always treasure. I feel blessed and fortunate. Thank you Wilderness Travel. You have my complete confidence.”

“Because of our Trek Leader’s vast experience in the area, we used several trails that aren’t known to many trekkers and we were invited into Sherpa homes, which was wonderful. I had been dreaming of this trip for 30 years and now those dreams are fulfilled.”

“Couldn’t have asked for a more interesting trip and two outstanding guides, accommodations, and meals. This was our fourth trip with Wilderness Travel and one of the best (although we say that about every trip we have been on!)”

“I love Wilderness Travel! You select the best guides, a variety of special places to stay, the food is always plentiful and cultural, and the adventure is top drawer! Thank you for offering trips that expand one’s knowledge of other cultures while making it enjoyable and fun.”

“We are still on a high a month after the trip, having had wonderful guides, camp crew, co-travelers, and the right mix of comfort and authentic experience.”

“WOW! This was an extraordinary trip. It was meticulously planned, but allowed for many spontaneous interactions and delightful surprises. Another WT success story.”

“This was my first trip to India and I cannot imagine a better introduction. Because of the care with which the trip had been planned and organized, I was able to relax, enjoy, and try to fully absorb the experience without spending even a moment concerned about the quotidian details of the trip. What a luxury.”

“Everyone was so thorough and helpful. It was like being whisked around on a magic carpet. Doors opened, every wish fulfilled, amazing service!”

“It was an indescribable, life-affirming experience that I will always cherish. In particular, I wanted to commend your selection of Trip Leaders. Their skill, thoughtfulness, and dedication made the entire trip seem effortless even though the challenge was great.”

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This Colorado County Is Home to Wild Horses and Canyons With Dinosaur Tracks — Here’s How to Explore It

In Moffat County, the past lives on, but all eyes are looking toward its potential future, too.

Where to Stay

• Where to Eat & Drink

David Williams

I was barely 75 miles west of Steamboat Springs, Colorado , and its mountain-chic restaurants, art galleries, and hot-springs-fed swimming pools when I reached Maybell, a blip on Highway 40. "Where the west is still wild," read a roadside marker. Just beyond the town’s Depression-era general store, I swung north onto County Road 318, where green pastures gave way to sandy mesas. "No services for 120 miles," another sign cautioned. If you want to get lost in America, Moffat County, the northwestern-most corner of Colorado, is a good place to go.

But there are attractions within those 120 miles, including my destination: Sand Wash Basin, about 158,000 acres of sagebrush-clad hills, dry creek beds, and clay buttes, all overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency in charge of much of the undeveloped land in these parts. It’s a refuge for wild horses — 344 grays, bays, and sorrels — which attract camera-toting pilgrims ardent for the open range.

“It’s magical out here,” said Cindy Wright, a rancher who runs the nonprofit Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin, which raises money to support improvements in the habitat. She served as my guide to viewing the horses, as well as other wonders on the reserve, including petrified wood, ancient turtle shells, and rock walls striped in fossilized algae like prehistoric bath rings. “There’s a lot to offer here, a lot of open space.”

Wilderness has long distinguished Moffat County, home today to two million acres of public land. It’s a place where the Indigenous Fremont people flourished and where Butch Cassidy and other legendary 19th-century outlaws hid in isolated canyons. But after early-20th-century homesteaders began working seams of surface coal, mining took off and coal-burning power plants grew to sustain the rural county. Now, in response to a statewide mandate to create a clean-energy grid by 2040, its three plants are slated to close in the next four years, inspiring some county planners to position Moffat’s natural assets — vast canyons, high deserts, and wild rivers — as the basis for a new economy built on adventure travel and outdoor recreation.

“Sometimes I feel like we’re the last place on earth to have what we have, and that we’re on the cusp of amazing things,” said Jennifer Holloway, a Moffat native whose father worked in the mines. She now runs the chamber of commerce in Craig, the 9,000-resident county seat 42 miles west of Steamboat, and the tourism authority of Moffat County. Both organizations are focused on the transition from coal.

Though the region’s primary industry isn’t particularly obvious to visitors, the shift away from it was the talk of the town when I rolled into downtown Craig one bright late-summer afternoon. I stopped at Yampa Valley Brewing Co., where a team of university researchers was meeting to gather community feedback on what an equitable transition would look like. Whitewater rafters and conservationist entrepreneurs mingled with at least one pro-coal rancher over Space Dog IPAs, filling suggestion boards with requests for more bathrooms at river launch sites and pleas such as “Everyone’s culture should be respected, not replaced.”

It had been a while since I had visited a place where travel had the potential to bring about positive change. Pre-pandemic, overtourism, which afflicted most popular places, was a burden, causing physical destruction of monuments like Machu Picchu and watering down local culture. But Moffat’s sustainable tourism bid trades on a wilderness few know. During my week there, I drove long distances around rangy Moffat, the second-largest county in the state, taking in outlaw history, wild-horse safaris, and river-cut chasms.

The heavy wooden doors of the Museum of Northwest Colorado, housed in Craig’s former armory, opened to reveal a luminous, wall-size image of a cowboy, head humbly inclined, riding a chestnut horse across the Yampa River. Painted by local artist Israel Holloway, the mural — said to be the world’s largest watercolor — welcomes visitors to a peerless treasury of natural history, cowboy culture, and gunfighting glory.

“History is still somewhat tangible here,” Paul Knowles, the museum’s assistant director, told me as we walked around the exhibits, which included a headdress from the Puebloan Tewa people, a 10,000-year-old bison skull, and a braided leather rope that belonged to a real-life cowboy — a recent donation from the cowboy’s octogenarian son.

Historically, Craig has lagged behind the rest of the West. The railroad didn’t arrive until 1913, which meant that locals were still taking the stagecoach 50 years after the transcontinental routes were built. Coal changed Moffat County’s fortunes, and also revealed another source of wealth: fossils. “Coal is the perfect conservator,” Knowles said, pointing to fossilized hadrosaur footprints, which are commonly found on the ceilings of mines. “You can still be killed by a dinosaur here if a footprint breaks and falls.”

On the second floor, an encyclopedic collection of gunfighter goods includes a fast-draw shoulder holster and a silver-trimmed saddle once owned by the famed scout, hunter, and showman William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Visitors to Steamboat often detour to see these artifacts, accounting for the museum’s relatively large annual attendance of 12,000. “We’re proof that tourism is sustainable,” Knowles added.

Other businesses in downtown Craig have benefited from the museum’s popularity. The entrepreneurial energy is evident at the 518 Wine Bar, which is filled with retro sofas and velvet drapes, and Prodigal Son’s Coffee House & Eatery, which sits across the street from the town’s Art Deco–era West Twin Cinema. 

Five years ago, Christian Dufresne, who co-owns Yampa Valley Brewing in nearby Hayden, opened a branch in Craig, right next door to the museum. “Craig had everything all these other places had, maybe minus a degree of investment,” he said, referring to more popular small towns in Colorado. Craig’s ready access to river rafting and mountain-biking trails has attracted new residents who have been priced out of Steamboat. “It bodes well for that transition to work-from-anywhere.”

Cindy Wright doesn’t keep the money she charges for her daylong driving tours of the Sand Wash Basin, which include picnic lunches and snacks. Proceeds go to Wild Horse Warriors, which advocates for the health of the Sand Wash herd. 

We took her high-clearance Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on rugged roads strewn with sharp chert, a black quartz that shreds lesser tires. It didn’t take long for us to find our first family of horses, which had names — Frisky, Shelby, Faith, Rustler — mostly given by Wright and other avid horse watchers. We had to be quick with our cameras: The horses glanced up momentarily on arrival, then resumed browsing sagebrush, their metronome manes swatting at insects.

Management of the horses is controversial. Without birth control, a herd can double in four years, Wright told me. In 2021, to allow the land to recover from overgrazing after four consecutive summers of drought, the Bureau of Land Management rounded up about 680 of the estimated 900 horses in the preserve for adoption or sale. 

On our safari drive, she stopped to show me stromatolites — rare, reeflike rocks that are evidence of 50 million-year-old lake beds — and palm trees petrified in ocher. We flushed killdeer birds from their nests and watched mountain bluebirds pause on top of greasewood bushes. On Lookout Mountain, the highest point in the reserve, we peered into neighboring Vermillion Basin, a 77,000-acre BLM-managed badlands of mineral-hued hills and canyons.

“A lot of emotional healing takes place here,” Wright said as we made our slow and steep descent back to Sand Wash. “Sage is cleansing in Native American culture, and we’ve been driving around breathing it all day.”

“Craig is the last spot before the wild begins. You can get lost for weeks out here and not see another footprint,” he said, before breaking into a smile. “This is the last great place to have fun.”

I was about 50 miles into those 120 miles of service-free County Road 318 when I reached the northern entrance to Dinosaur National Monument. Some 90% of visitors to the park, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border and is famed for its rich quarry of Jurassic-era dinosaur bones, enter from the Utah side. That leaves just 10%, or about 10,000 people a year, approaching it from the Colorado side, where the south-flowing Green River meets the westbound Yampa River, carving through 540 million-year-old layers of rock. The resulting Class II and III rapids send whitewater rafts pinballing off submerged boulders and plunging down spray-blasting swells.

Running the rivers in Dinosaur is a popular multiday adventure that many visitors book with commercial outfitters like OARS and Dinosaur River Expeditions. I joined a 10-raft flotilla — a private launch of land managers, tourism officials, and local entrepreneurs gathered to discuss the county’s transition to tourism over a three-day river run. Immersed in nature by day and sharing campsites and cooking duties by night, we became fast friends.

Setting off on the Green River, we immediately entered a 2,000-foot-high chasm girded by Uinta quartzite, some of the oldest strata revealed by the river, known as the Gates of Lodore. Within the canyon, some of the rapids are gentle Class I or II or roly-poly Class III, but the aptly named Disaster Rapids were whoop-worthy Class IV, and nearby, we found a group of boaters working to dislodge their raft from a wall overhang where the waves had wedged it. On his seminal 1869 trip down the river to the Grand Canyon, explorer John Wesley Powell lost a vessel on this stretch, but the crew, according to park rangers, worked furiously to salvage its contents, which included a compelling keg of whiskey.

Between riverside campsites shaded by juniper trees, we floated past mud-domed nests of cliff swallows pasted onto rock overhangs, diving osprey, and bighorn sheep tiptoeing on the ledges overhead. Opposite Steamboat Rock, a 1,000-foot monolith around which the river flexes, a field filled with starburst-shaped Rocky Mountain bee plants attracted scores of hummingbirds. A rare rain shower produced countless pop-up waterfalls spilling over the cliffs.

On the second day, I rode in a boat piloted by Josh Veenstra, who, with his wife, Maegan, co-owns Good Vibes River Gear, a Craig start-up that outfits rafts with boat bags and camping accessories, many of them custom-sewn. Later, over Sierra Nevada pale ales, Josh explained that he learned to sew when he worked as an insulator mechanic at a local power plant, before a three-week trip on the Yampa and Green rivers led him to bet on the town’s transition and launch the business.

The nearest high-end accommodation is Gravity Haus Steamboat , a design-forward resort in Steamboat Springs. The town of Craig has affordable chain hotels including Candlewood Suites and Best Western Plus, as well as Airbnb options.

Where to Eat and Drink

518 Wine Bar : Find wine, whiskey, and shareable snacks at this friendly local in the heart of Craig.

Prodigal Son’s Coffee House & Eatery : A Craig charmer. Try the bacon and egg on a biscuit. 

Yampa Valley Brewing Co. : Northwest Colorado’s craft-beer mecca has taprooms in Craig, Hayden, and Steamboat Springs. 

Dinosaur National Monument : Hunt for fossils and ancient petroglyphs across 210,000 acres of wilderness on the border of Colorado and Utah. Rafting companies OARS and Dinosaur River Expeditions can organize single- or multi-day expeditions.

Good Vibes River Gear : Get fully equipped for rafting at this shop in downtown Craig. 

Museum of Northwest Colorado : Artifacts of cowboy culture and railroad history, housed in a former armory in Craig.

West Twin Cinema : You can’t miss the retro marquee of this Craig two-screener, which made its debut in 1939.

Wild Horse Warriors : This nonprofit arranges tours of Sand Wash Basin, a refuge for wild horses just outside the town of Maybell. 

A version of this story first appeared in the July 2024 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "All Points West. "

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Why private and customized adventure trips are the way to go.

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A private trip in Tuscany.

The world of private and customized adventure trips is booming, whether it's heading off to cycle in Provence, walk in Japan, or hike in the Rockies. The occasion can be almost anything: a significant birthday, an important anniversary, a graduation, or a much-needed friends or family getaway.

Blue-chip companies like Gray&Co who offer bespoke private departures for high-net-worth individuals and their friends and families. But they’re not the only ones working in this area.

Companies like Backroads , Butterfield & Robinson , DuVine Cycling & Adventure Co. , MT Sobek , Wilderness Travel , GeoEx , and other high-end boutique tour operators who offer scheduled group trips have been doing so for years. These custom trips, which can mimic a group trip in terms of activities, hotels, and restaurants, offer the opportunity to go anywhere the company already operates trips, whether it’s the Alps or Argentina, hiking in Norway, or cycling in Sardinia, with only your family and friends. As more travelers have done the math and realized that a private trip could be cost-effective, tour companies see it as a solid profit stream, with separate divisions and dedicated trip planners.

On a private trip in Rome.

Why Go Private

First and foremost, private trips offer maximum choice and flexibility. You go with your friends or family, not someone else’s. For many, that is the best reason to choose a private trip.

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Scheduled tours offer a detailed itinerary and a chance to meet like-minded travelers. A private tour can offer the exact same itinerary, but it can also provide an opportunity for a bit more control over the planning and details.

With many companies, opting for a private trip means taking over a scheduled departure and booking it for your friends or family. You can also choose a well-planned itinerary and find the dates that work for you.

Many private tours offer some sway in customizing a trip, from the sights along the way to the restaurant choices and accommodations.

At its most flexible, you can work with an established tour company to create a customized itinerary on dates that work for you and your group. This makes it an entirely bespoke trip with hotels, menus, and routes tailored for you and your traveling companions. DuVine, for example, offers Couture trips, which are wholly customized based on what you want to do and where you want to go.

The cost of a private trip depends upon the size of your private group — it will be more per person for ten travelers than for 24 — but with enough travelers, the cost can approximate that of a scheduled trip. For some people, the cost difference is not that significant. What matters most to them is that it’s their trip, regardless of the cost.

A family in Costa Rica.

They Handle the Details

Working with an established luxury boutique tour company offers the one-stop-shopping that time-pressed travelers crave. These companies have trip designers, guides, and a guest services team, and they have support vehicles, whether your group consists of a dozen travelers or 24. Chances are that you and your group will have a choice of several expertly designed routes each day, with detailed directions and a route rating system. If it’s a family group spanning generations, they know how to accommodate travelers of different ages, abilities, and tastes. Every active group tour always has an element of balancing different skills and levels of fitness, and it’s generally easier to do this on a private tour. These companies have long-term relationships with hotels, which helps with the price and often gets you better service. In short, they handle all the logistics.

Booking anywhere from a year to 18 months out is advisable, given how quickly trips fill up. Available hotel space is a primary driving factor. The demand is so great that companies like Backroads are introducing Private Reserve trips in 2025, departures exclusively blocked for private groups. MT Sobek will book as few as two people on a private trip. As the demand continues to grow for these trips, the marketing ingenuity will likely also rise.

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CDOT makes substantial progress ahead of US 50 Blue Mesa Middle Bridge limited opening

Travel advisory.

Montrose, Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties — The Colorado Department of Transportation is pleased to announce the limited opening of the US 50 Blue Mesa Middle Bridge ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. With the first phase of repairs complete, emergency vehicles and those in smaller vehicles can start crossing over the US 50 Middle Bridge at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 3. County Road 26 will remain open and maintained as a detour, and Kebler Pass is now open as well, as a seasonal route.

“CDOT anticipates delivering on our goal of opening the Blue Mesa Middle Bridge to limited traffic ahead of July 4,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We continue to work towards completing needed repairs ahead of winter. Over the course of the holiday weekend, the bridge will be open for 12 hours a day, which we hope encourages tourism in this area as these communities are still very much open for business. Starting on July 8, we will settle into a twice-a-day opening schedule to allow crews to continue to work on repairs throughout the day.”

For the long holiday weekend, one lane will be open on the bridge, and pilot cars, at slow speeds, will lead single-direction traffic between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Sunday, July 7. After the long holiday weekend, beginning Monday, July 8, the bridge will be open, and pilot cars will lead single-direction traffic each day from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and again from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Eastbound US 50 Montrose to Gunnison

Eastbound US 50 traffic (going towards Gunnison) will be stopped at the County Road 26 turnoff that is the current detour location. This stopping point is 0.5 mile west of the Middle Bridge. At this stop, traffic will be separated by which vehicles are allowed over the Middle Bridge and which vehicles have to take the County Road 26 detour, see below for more details on allowable vehicles.

Westbound US 50 Gunnison to Montrose

Vehicles traveling westbound on US 50 (going towards Montrose) will see signage during the passage times at the CO 149 and US 50 intersection, which will allow traffic that meets the restriction criteria (see below for more details on allowable vehicles) to proceed on US 50 to the crossing point along with traffic that are wishing to camp/fish/recreate along the north shore of the reservoir. All other vehicles that do not meet the restriction criteria will need to continue on CO 149 to the County Road 26 detour. Signage will be updated at US 50 and CO 149 at the end of the access window (6:30 p.m.) directing all westbound traffic to use CO 149 to the County Road 26 detour.

Approved for crossing over the US 50 Middle Bridge:

• Passenger Vehicles
• Pickup Trucks
• Motorcycles
• Emergency vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks

Required to utilize County Road 26 detour:

• Trucks pulling trailers (boats, campers, side by sides)
• Semi-trucks

CDOT leadership will host an in-person and virtual public meeting on Tuesday, July 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Gunnison County Courthouse, 200 E. Virginia Ave., on the second floor to outline the limited opening schedule and discuss next steps for the continued bridge repairs. To join the meeting online, go to bit.ly/BlueMesaBridge .

Members of CDOT’s team will be out on Wednesday morning to provide refreshments and cookies to the motorists lined up at the closure points starting at 6:30 a.m. as a show of appreciation.

Crews have completed the first stage of critical repairs on the bottom flange, the horizontal part of a l-shaped beam, of the US 50 Middle Bridge. Working from a temporary scaffolding suspended from the side of the bridge, crews began the process of bolting four plates in four locations on Wednesday, June 12. This first phase of the repair process addressed areas that posed an imminent risk to structural integrity. Each plate location’s assembly is about 23 feet long, 2 ½ feet wide and 2 ½ inches thick, weighing approximately 9,000 pounds. More than 200 bolts were needed to secure each plate in place.

Currently, crews are modifying the expansion joints on the bridge to prepare for traffic on July 3. This weekend, crews will be preparing for quick deck access so that repairs can begin on the top flange on July 8, with bottom flange global repairs starting in August 2024.

Lake Fork Bridge Lane Closures

As CDOT works toward the limited opening of the US 50 Blue Mesa Middle Bridge, crews are now looking at potential repair work for the Lake Fork Bridge, located on the west side of Sapinero, and anticipate lane closures this weekend. Crews will be installing strain gauge sensors, which will monitor the effect of traffic loading on the structure and will be used to analyze effects of construction activities, such as initial milling operations as crews move into the inspection and repair phases of the Lake Fork Bridge. CDOT is currently planning single lane closures on the Lake Fork Bridge on Friday, June 28 through Monday, July 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to install the sensors.

Detour Routes:

County Road 26 continues to serve as a bypass around the bridge closure for travel between Gunnison and Montrose. This detour route is open for seven releases in each direction every day except Wednesdays when there are five releases in each direction. Each Wednesday there is a midday closure to allow crews to safely make repairs to the road, when staff and materials are available. The State of Colorado legal maximum vehicle dimensions and weights will be enforced. This allows trailers and heavier commercial vehicles to use the bypass.

Vehicles traveling through Colorado should utilize the alternate state highway detours to the north and south (Interstate 70 and US Highway 160) instead of County Road 26 if possible. To maintain the local access route as a viable, safe bypass, traffic is managed using pilot vehicles. It is a high mountain native surface and gravel road.

Along with County Road 26, Kebler Pass is now open for the season to help ease travel through the area. Kebler Pass restrictions include no vehicles over 30,000 pounds, no vehicles longer than 50 feet and no hazardous materials.

Starting June 26, Gunnison CR 26 will allow overweight and over-width traffic. These loads, in excess of 85,000 pounds and/or over 8 1⁄2 feet in width and/or 14 1⁄2 feet in height and/or truck tractor semitrailer combinations that exceed 70 feet, require special permitting on both state and County roads. Oversize-Overweight vehicles are required to comply with state regulations found at: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/size-and-weight-limitations

Extra-Legal permits (permit) must be obtained prior to entry into Colorado or prior to movement of the vehicle/load. In order to travel CR 26 both state and County permits must be obtained. At a minimum, obtaining the approved permit by noon the day before the movement of the vehicle/load should be followed to ensure that the trip can proceed. These vehicles will proceed during the regularly scheduled release times.

Travel will only be permitted during the following release times on only Wednesdays for Oversize-Overweight loads.

Eastbound release times are 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. and westbound release times are 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Each traffic release window is 30 minutes.

For state permits contact the Colorado Department of Transportation at 1-800-350-3765 or through https://coopr.codot.gov/

For County permits contact Gunnison County Public Works at 970-641-0044 or email [email protected] or online at https://gunnisoncounty.org/157/Public-Works .

A hotline and email address continue to be available to assist customers with questions about the local access route and US 50 bridge closure. Anyone with questions can reach out via 970-648-4423 or [email protected] . Calls are closely monitored and receive a prompt reply. Information is also available on the project website at bit.ly/us50bridge . Travelers should refer to COtrip.org or the smartphone COtrip Planner app to plan an alternate route.

Travel Impacts

• US 50 is closed between Montrose and Gunnison
• Recommended alternate routes are I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south
• Oversize/overweight vehicles will only be allowed on CR 26 with a permit on Wednesdays per Colorado Department of Transportation regulations. https://leg.colorado.gov/content/size-and-weight-limitations
• No Placarded Hazardous Materials loads per Colorado Department of Transportation regulations
• Prohibited vehicles will need to use detours on I-70 or US 160 to travel between Gunnison and Montrose.

Media kit available by emailing [email protected] .

Resources for Information and Updates

For additional information about this project:

• Call (970) 648-4423 for the US 50 Bridge Closure Hotline, staffed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday; leave a voicemail for a call back at other times
• Email questions to [email protected]
• Website resources: https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/1078/Hwy-50-Bridge-Closure , bit.ly/us50bridge, https://www.facebook.com/US50bridge
• To sign up for email updates on all Gunnison County roadwork messaging, please visit https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/list.aspx to select what updates you’d like to start receiving. For road updates, select Travel Advisories from the List.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
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Spark by Hilton Colorado Springs I 25 Central

Arrival time

Close to Air Force Academy and fun

Off I-25, find us walking distance from restaurants, and two miles from the US Air Force Academy entrance. Sky Zone Trampoline Park is under two miles and fun at TopGolf is eight miles away. The Garden of the Gods is a 20-minute drive from our hotel. During your stay, enjoy our complimentary bagel bar, fitness center, and indoor pool.

Our amenities

Free breakfast

Free parking

Non-smoking rooms

Digital Key

Indoor pool

Fitness center

Pet-friendly rooms

Business center

Rooms and suites

Hilton Honors member benefits

Hilton Honors Discount rate

Points toward free nights and more

Choose Your Room

Digital Check-In

Hilton Honors Experiences

Hotel policies

Not available

A fee will be assessed for smoking in a non-smoking room. Please ask the Front Desk for locations of designated outdoor smoking areas.

Gather your group

Host an event, location and transportation.

Airport shuttle

Disney Adventure cruise set to sail from Singapore in 2025 – here's what to expect

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The Disney Adventure will depart from Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre beginning in 2025, for three- and four-night voyages for at least five years.

An artist concept of the Disney Adventure, which will set sail from Singapore in 2025. (Photo: Disney Cruise Line)

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The happiest place on Earth will be so much easier to get to from next year. The Disney Adventure cruise will set sail from Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre beginning in 2025, for three- and four-night voyages, for at least five years, announced Disney Cruise Line on Wednesday (Jun 26).  

This is the first ship under the Disney Cruise Line to homeport in Asia, and is part of a collaboration between Disney Cruise Line and the Singapore Tourism Board.

There will be seven uniquely themed areas onboard for guests to explore, each with different beloved Disney characters.

1. DISNEY IMAGINATION GARDEN 

Only with a little Disney imagination can an open-air performance venue also be an enchanted valley and charming garden.

This gathering space, inspired by Disney adventures over the last 100 years from Moana to Mowgli, will be guests' gateway into the other realms onboard the cruise. 

2. DISNEY DISCOVERY REEF

In the nautical themed shopping and dining haven, expect to bump into characters from The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch, Finding Nemo, and Luca.

3. SAN FRANSOKYO STREET

What would it be like living in a city with Japanese and American architecture combined  – or, in other words, the central location of Disney's 2014 animated film Big Hero 6?

At least on the Disney Adventure cruise, San Fransokyo street will be a family entertainment area, comprising interactive games, shops, and cinemas. 

4. WAYFINDER BAY

Here, an open-air oasis under the sun combines relaxation and entertainment. A poolside retreat inspired by the Pacific Islands artistry of Disney Animation's Moana will offer cruise guests with breathtaking views of the sea and sky. 

5. TOWN SQUARE

This is the land  – or fantastical forest  – to be if you've always dreamt of becoming a Disney royal. Shops, lounges, cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues in this space will be fashioned after classics, including Tangled, Cinderella, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Princess and the Frog.

6. MARVEL LANDING

As an homage to Marvel's larger-than-life personalities, this area will offer "Avengers-level adventure" for fans of all ages, with attractions and experiences that capture "imaginative representations" of guests' favourite superheroes.

7. TOY STORY PLACE

Old school Pixar fans are in for a treat here. Guests can interact with themed food venues and water play areas, all dedicated to bringing Toy Story movies and shorts to life.

The Disney Adventure is expected to hold approximately 6,700 passengers, with around 2,500 crew members. 

More details about its maiden voyage and onboard experiences will be announced in time.

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