Colorado

Colorado is synonymous with its primary attraction: the Rocky Mountains, a jaw-dropping geographic wonder of the world whose peaks, crags, and canyons will dominate your view—and your itinerary. Visitors come to Colorado for its world-class ski resorts and assorted outdoor adventures. They come for national parks, dude ranches, road trips, hot springs, and rodeos. They come to Denver for its museums, sports stadiums, pubs, parks, and bookshops. They come to pop a tent, unplug, and walk into the backcountry. And while many of Colorado’s attractions aren’t exactly undiscovered, there’s plenty of room for everybody–and no visitor will leave underwhelmed.

original-shutterstock-727315777-copy.jpg

Photo by LanaG/Shutterstock

Overview

When’s the best time to go to Colorado?

Colorado is a year-round destination, so “when to go” depends entirely on what you want to do. Ski season generally begins in late November, with prices and hotel capacity peaking in late December, mid-February, and spring break in March. Come April and May, aka shoulder or “mud” season, most ski resorts close but canyon country enjoys ideal temps (and an explosion of cactus wildflowers). You may be able to find some good deals during this time, but afterward, the gorgeous mountain summer and fall months take over and people flock to the state for sunny days, cool nights, epic camping trips, and dude ranch getaways.

How to get around Colorado

Most visitors to Colorado fly into Denver International Airport, referred to locally as DIA and by its airport code, DEN. The airport, a modern, circus tent–like affair on the plains northeast of Denver, is famous with conspiracy theorists for its alleged secret tunnels, curses, cryptic artwork, and haunted devil horse statue.

From the airport, check the Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus schedule for the most economical way to get to Denver, Boulder, and the many ski mountains. If you’re going to Boulder, you can also use the Green Ride shuttle service; for all other destinations, look for the individual shuttle counters in the main arrival terminal. In general, although there are Greyhound and other bus connections running across Interstate 70 (I-70), you’ll most likely want to rent a car to get around the state.

Can’t miss things to do in Colorado

— Go on a high-alpine backcountry camping trip in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, a 120-square-mile chunk of mountains straddling the Continental Divide that includes seven peaks over 13,000 feet.

— Visit any time between late July and early September and head for the hills. Anywhere you go, you’ll be in wildflower heaven.

Food and drink to try in Colorado

— Colorado’s food scene, once defined by steak and more steak, has come a long way in recent years. Locals still love their red meat (this is cowboy country after all) but nowadays they eat their carne asada with quinoa, craft beer, or kombucha.

— Top chefs from around the world are drawn to Colorado for its scenery, bringing their talent and creativity with them. The farm-to-table and locavore movements are as popular here as anywhere in the nation. And in Denver, cannabis-infused cuisine is on the rise: Following the legalization of recreational marijuana, visitors can expect everything from pot-infused beef jerky to mile-high haute cuisine.

— Colorado is nirvana for beer lovers. Visitors can taste their way along the state’s craft beer trail, which runs through Denver and the mountains, or head straight to Denver for the annual Great American Beer Festival each September. Even the governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, brews his own beer (taste some at Wynkoop Brewing Company).

— More than 100 wineries make up Colorado’s thriving wine industry, concentrated in the western half of the state. There are also a number of craft spirit distilleries to explore.

Culture in Colorado

Colorado’s diversity is evident in its annual events. The National Western Stock Show is a huge rodeo and stock extravaganza for wranglers held every January; Native American powwows, including a big gathering in late March, take place yearly in Denver; and several mountain towns, each with its own microculture, host regular celebrations, including the International Snow Sculpture Championships and Ullr Fest in Breckenridge and the Telluride Mushroom Festival in August.

Colorado is also the king of scenic outdoor venues and enthusiastic fans, so it attracts phenomenal musical acts from around the world, especially in the summer. Just a couple miles west of Denver, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre—one of the world’s few naturally occurring acoustic arenas—is among the best places to see a show anywhere, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, held high in the San Juan Mountains, is legendary. Scores more smaller music and food festivals take place around the state throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Local travel tips for Colorado

— To thrive in Colorado’s high-elevation, desert-like climate, drink plenty of water and bring a sweater on every outing: Temperatures typically plummet after sundown or when clouds move in.

— Beat the crowds during peak ski season by going to smaller, lesser-known mountains. Loveland Ski Area (the closest to Denver) is an undiscovered gem, and Monarch Mountain requires no driving on I-70, where stop-and-go traffic is common on winter weekends.

Guide Editor

Read Before You Go
Hotels
The Mile High City’s new Populus Hotel isn’t just inspired by nature—it also aims to help protect it.
Hotel stays with your dog can be tricky—here’s how to prepare with these 5 tips.
Not into camping? These hotels near national parks offer upscale luxury and comfort in remote, scenic locations.
For the past 105 years, the C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, Colorado, has been teaching travelers—and their families—how to live their best western life.
These splendid properties will transport you to a time when U.S. train travel was glamorous.
With their firepits and comfort-minded interiors, these are the best hideaways where you can embrace the chill this season.
These are the 10 best ranches and lodges for families in the American West.
Whether you want to dine out in Denver or hike a famed fourteener, these hotels encourage you to explore the state in some unconventional ways.
From Leadville to Silverton, hoteliers are drawing on the Rocky Mountains’ rich mining history for their new projects.
Breckenridge’s Gravity Haus features a modern look—and ethos. Is this the new face of mountain lodging?
It’s a dream come true for the dog- and wine-loving set. Plus, it’s for a good cause.
Don’t miss these new and newly renovated hotels when you hit the slopes this year.
There’s more to The Stanley Hotel than Stephen King’s classic novel The Shining—and it’s downright spooky.
AFAR Hotels Editor Jen Murphy lays out five new luxury hotels to hit if you want a final outdoor adventure before summer ends.
Resources to help plan your trip
A dungeon, a tavern, and gunshot art: My gonzo pilgrimage to Hunter S. Thompson’s Colorado.
On the heels of a gutting life change, a Colorado-based writer discovers a pathway through her grief, one 14,000-foot mountain at a time.
Aboard the new luxury train that travels through some of the most scenic landscapes in Utah and Colorado.
Bright sun, low humidity, and miles of outdoor trails await.
With crowds overrunning the U.S.’s most popular national parks, head to these alternative parks, forests, and natural wonders instead.
There’s something potent that draws people to Telluride, Colorado. From an energy vortex to stunning mountain scenery, here’s what makes this place so magnetic and how to enjoy it.
By electrifying its most scenic byways, the state is inviting sustainable travelers to explore further.
Colorado hosts an embarrassment of powdery riches, and each ski resort has its own charm.
Winter wonderland? You’ve found it. It’ll be tough to fit in all the great things that Aspen offers during the winter months into one day. Hopefully you are up for the challenge of skiing, spa treatments, shopping, eating, and drinking. At altitude.
Summer in the Rockies is fleeting, and so if you only have one day in Aspen, make the most of it: ice cream, hiking along the Roaring Fork River on the Santa Fe Trail, stellar mountain views, a walk around historic downtown, a few perfect meals, and boom, you’re done.
Summer in Aspen is all about moonlight views of Maroon Bells, getting outdoors in the fresh mountain air, eating great food, and John Denver.
In this high-mountain Colorado hamlet, skiing is just the beginning. Home to a fascinating museum, quirky shops, and a movie theater in a 19th-century former bank building, Telluride offers much to do when you’re not on the slopes. Come summer, visitors can also explore hiking trails, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and more.
Sign up for our newsletter
Join more than a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.