Baca Ricardo - Fodors Colorado

Denver. Colorados capital and largest city, Denver is unmatched in its combination of urban pleasures and easy access to outdoor recreation.

The Rockies near Denver. Scenic highway I70 ascends into the foothills through historic towns like Golden, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown.

Summit County. The ski resorts of Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin cluster near I70 as it rises in the Rockies. Lake Dillon and its port towns attract summer visitors.

Vail Valley. Vail, the worlds largest single-mountain ski resort, sits in a narrow corridor bounded by steep peaks. Also in the valley: upscale ski area Beaver Creek and sleepy Minturn.

Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. Glitzy Aspen is a serious skiing draw. Farther west, Victorian charmer Glenwood Springs centers on a massive hot springs pool.

Boulder and North Central Colorado. College town Boulder balances high-tech with bohemia. Estes Park abuts Rocky Mountain National Parks eastern entrance, while Grand Lake is its quieter western gateway.

Rocky Mountain National Park. The wilderness and alpine tundra here welcome wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts year-round.

Northwest Colorado and Steamboat Springs. Where the Rockies transition into an arid desert, Grand Junction is the regions hub. Nearby are the Colorado and Dinosaur National Monuments, and Steamboat Springs.

Southwest Colorado. Evergreen-clad peaks and red desert beckon outdoor enthusiasts to mountain-biking birthplace Crested Butte, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, idyllic Telluride, and historic Durango.

Mesa Verde National Park. Designated a park in 1906, this protected series of canyons provides a peek into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloan people who made their homes among the cliffs.

South Central Colorado. Next to Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs mineral waters still flow. Caon City is a rafting hub; Buena Vista and Salida are two artists colonies. To the south, explore Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

A playground for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts, Colorado has majestic landscapes, raging rivers, and winding trails perfect for activities from biking to rafting. The heart of the Rocky Mountains has scores of snowcapped summits towering higher than 14,000 feet and trails from easy to challenging for exploring themas well as roads offering spectacular drives. Skiers flock to the slopes here for the champagne powder and thrilling downhill runs. Need a break from the outdoors? Urban adventures await in cool cities like Denver, Boulder, and Aspen.

When to Go

The Colorado you experience will depend on the season you visit. Summer is a busy time. Hotels in tourist destinations book up early, especially in July and August, and hikers crowd the backcountry. Ski resorts buzz from December to early April, especially around Christmas and Presidents Day. Many big resorts are popular summer destinations.