Things to Do in Colorado

The historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad takes passengers on a spectacular 45-mile (72-kilometer) journey through the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, connecting the two towns for which the railroad is named. The steam-powered locomotive is a vintage—though comfortable—train that makes you feel like you’re traveling back in time. It also provides access to extraordinary wilderness scenery and mountainous areas of Colorado that you can’t get to by car.

The Narrow Gauge Railroad was originally constructed in 1882 to haul gold and silver ore between the mining town of Silverton and the railroad-built town of Durango. Today, out of the train windows, you will see some of America’s best canyon views as well as former stagecoach lines and mining camps. Local wildlife including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and even the occasional black bear, often make an appearance. Train tracks line the beautiful Animas River, which can be an added visit for a scenic railroad and rafting trip. You can do a 9-hour round-trip train tour, which stops in Silverton for lunch, though many visitors opt for the Skyway Tour to ride the train one way and catch a bus tour the other way for a different perspective of the mountains. Standard, deluxe, first- class, and presidential- class train tickets are available. All are best booked in advance.

Durango and SiIverton are in southwest Colorado, about a 6-hour drive from Denver. Durango is near the Four Corners, where the borders of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. There is a small airport in Durango as well.

The train runs year-round but has some route changes based on the season. There are also themed rides throughout the year, such as the Polar Express or Full Moon Ghost Crawl. Sunshine covers the area around 300 days a year, but check local weather before planning your journey.

Another way to experience the mountainous landscape around the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is by 4x4 tour. With waterfalls, rugged peaks, and quiet trails to discover, you’ll see even more of the San Juan National Forest this way. If you’re sticking to the train, the 5-hour journey to Cascade Canyon is another great way to get off the beaten path (trains run November to May).

Reminiscent of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Colorado State Capitol Building sitting high atop Denver is not just a 24 karat gold-domed meeting place for the Colorado General Assembly, but also an homage to the American governmental process, as well as a truly beautiful archaeological wonder. 

Built a mile high above sea level, as denoted by the markings inscribed upon its steps, the Colorado State Capital Building has incredible views of downtown Denver, and a history that tells of the days of the Gold Rush and the incredible use of the beautiful Colorado Rose Onyx used to build the interior of the capitol and the designs of dignitaries engraved therein. It is said that the entire known supply of this rare marble was exhausted in making of the Colorado State Capitol.

Tours will tell of early Colorado history, the Capitol construction, the origin of several stained glass windows, the Woman’s Gold Tapestry, and a stop outside the State and House Representative chambers.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is Denver’s very own agrarian escape from the city, while still being within the city’s confines. Featuring North America’s largest collection of plants from cold temperate climates around the world, a Japanese Garden, and Denver’s first publicly accessible green roof, the Denver Botanic Gardens routinely presents visitors with a cutting edge way of approaching horticulture and what growing a garden means.

Actually comprised of three diverse and distinct gardens each with their own attributes and noteworthiness, the Denver Botanic Gardens has its main location on York Street in the Cheesman Park neighborhood.  Also home to a natural amphitheater, the main gardens are often a site for summer concerts. The two other locations include The Gardens at Chatfield, which feature meadowland and natural riparian areas, and Goliath, an alpine wildflower garden. 

It’s just a short drive from downtown Denver, but Lookout Mountain feels like another world. Once used as a lookout for the Native American  Ute tribe that called the area home, the 7,300-foot (2,225-meter) mountain has miles of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout, from easy walking paths to strenuous switchbacks. From the summit, you can see the Denver skyline 12 miles (19 kilometers) away. 

Most visitors to Lookout Mountain Park drive to the top of the mountain to explore the various trails that lead to and from the summit, but adventurous travelers can start from the bottom and climb up. The Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mountain Trail is one of the park’s most popular, offering the feel of backcountry hiking just a few minutes from downtown Golden. Once on the trails, look for elk, deer, birds, and other wildlife. At the top of the mountain, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where famous performer Buffalo Bill was laid to rest on the mountain’s summit.

Travelers can visit Lookout Mountain on a half- or full-day tour of Denver–area parks and foothills; most include roundtrip transportation to and from Denver.

Lookout Mountain is about 20 minutes west of Denver by road, just outside the town of Golden. Major highways lead into Golden from every direction, and visitors can also travel from Denver and Denver International Airport (DIA) to Golden via the RTD light rail using the West Rail or W lines.  

Lookout Mountain Park is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Nature trails attract hikers and mountain bikers in summer, and snowshoers and cross-country skiers in winter. The Buffalo Bill Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm in summer and from 9am to 4pm in winter.

Lookout Mountain is only a few minutes from charming downtown Golden with its wonderful restaurants, scenic views, festivals, and locally owned shops and galleries. Clear Creek runs right through town, and in summer, you may see the US Olympic kayaking team training on the whitewater. You can also take a free tour of the Coors Brewery. 

Get your helmets and life vests ready—this family-friendly rafting river serves up class I, II and III rapids as it winds through Colorado shrub land and downtown Durango. Calmer than its wild upper reaches in the San Juan mountains surrounding Silverton 48 miles north, Durango’s stretch boasts calm bends as well as several named rapids including “Smelter,” “Pinball,” and “Santa Rita Hole,” as it passes the fairgrounds and the buildings of downtown. Though it still can be a wild ride, most guided tours will take kids as young as five years old. Rafting adventures run from May to September.

In the height of summer when the river is warmest and lowest, tubing is also a popular past time. The city runs shuttles from the parking and take-out at 9th Street at Schneider Park to the put-in near the Recreation Center where there’s free air fills for tubes. South of town a four-mile stretch of river has achieved notoriety as an excellent fly-fishing spot for rainbow and brown trout.

If you’re in Durango in the off-season, you can still enjoy the river and its downtown views via the Durango River Trail. The walking path has pedestrian bridges and sculpture installations and follows the course of the river through the city.

Just outside of Colorado Springs, the towering Pikes Peak stands as an American icon. Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song “America the Beautiful” after surveying the great western lands from atop this very mountain, and today, visitors can enjoy the same view that inspired Bates, looking down across the rolling plains and jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Half a million people visit the summit of Pikes Peak each year, making it the most visited mountain peak in North America. Most visitors come on a day trip from nearby Colorado Springs or Denver and combine their visit to the famous fourteener with a stops at the artsy town of Manitou Springs and the stunning sandstone formations of the Garden of the Gods. 

While 1850s gold miners once trekked to this area via covered wagon and made the climb by mule, modern visitors can enjoy the views while driving the scenic Pikes Peak Highway, which offers incredible views along the way to the 14,115-foot (4,302-meter) summit. Another popular way to reach the summit is aboard the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world. Active travelers might opt to make the climb on foot along the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Barr Trail.

Pikes Peak is open throughout the year, but the road can close in poor weather. To avoid crowds at this popular Colorado destination, plan to visit during the shoulder seasons (March through May and October through mid-December).

With a summit of over 14,000 feet, Pikes Peak can trigger symptoms of altitude sickness in some visitors. To minimize or even prevent these symptoms altogether, try to spend your first day in the area touring attractions below 7,000 feet and avoid strenuous exercise. Drink more water than usual, and reduce your intake of alcohol and salty foods. 

The 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado, is a tree-lined pedestrian corridor filled with outdoor cafés, restaurants, and shops. Along the popular downtown promenade, visitors can enjoy performances from local street performers or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage while searching for the perfect craft beer or dining spot.

On Denver’s 16th Street, you’ll find more than 40 outdoor cafés and restaurants perfect for a leisurely snack, meal, or drink while enjoying the bustling atmosphere of one of the city’s hot spots. At the south end of the mall is Denver Pavilions, with a movie theater and more than 20 shops and restaurants. The north end features a pedestrian path over three bridges that connect downtown to Commons Park and the trendy LoHi neighborhood.

Maximize your time in Denver by organizing a tour ahead of time that includes a stop on the 16th Street Mall in addition to other sights, including Larimer Square, the US Mint, and the Denver Art Museum. Your tour will equip you with a good lay of the land and sense of Denver’s history, so that when you return to 16th Street later, you’ll know exactly where to go.

The 16th Street Mall runs 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) along 16th Street in downtown Denver, from Wewatta Street at Union Station to Broadway at Civic Center Station. You can walk the length from Union Station to the central mall area in about 15 minutes, or hop on the complimentary MallRide Shuttle at one of the frequent stops along 16th Street. It’s about 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Denver International Airport via Interstate 70.

Shops along 16th Street have varying hours, but most are open from late morning to late evening, about 10am to 8pm. Denver Pavilions is open from 10am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. Denver receives the most visitors in the summer months, between June and August, but perhaps a better time to visit is during the spring and fall shoulder seasons, April through May and September through October.

Noted architect I.M. Pei designed the tree-lined 16th Street Mall, impressive for its multicolored granite sidewalks assembled into diamond patterns (some have likened it to a diamondback rattlesnake seen from above). The Denver district has drawn international attention for its artistic design. You’ll also see the iconic Daniels and Fisher Tower on Arapahoe and 16th, built in 1911 and designed to look like St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice.

Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a music venue unlike any other—a sandstone stadium forged by the elements and blessed with natural acoustics. Many musicians have taken to this stage, and when shows are in town, Red Rocks can host over 9,500 concertgoers, all in for a treat beyond the music: stellar views of the natural Colorado landscape.

Red Rocks Park is an easy day trip from Denver, and there’s plenty to do even when a concert isn’t scheduled. Visitors can tour the museum and visitor center, shop for souvenirs, and check out the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, while hikers can hit the 6-mile (9.6-kilometer) Red Rocks Loop Trail, which showcases sweeping views of the concert venue in all its glory. To see more of the surrounding Rocky Mountains foothills, visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre on a small-group or private tour from Denver and explore nearby highlights such as Lookout Mountain, Bear Creek Canyon, and the charming mountain town of Evergreen. Or, get a taste of both city and nature by combining your Red Rocks visit with a Denver city tour. Whether you choose to explore on your own or with a guide, you don’t want to miss the epic scenery of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain wilderness.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre lies in the foothills of the Rockies, roughly 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of downtown Denver. The Red Rocks visitor and help center, located on Alameda Parkway in Morrison, is open daily and provides additional information for getting around.

Summer is the warmest and most popular time to visit. Spring and fall visitors find slightly cooler temperatures and bargain rates, with autumn visitors getting the opportunity to see the mountains speckled with colorful foliage. Some hotels and attractions may close in winter when temperatures drop and the area gets snowy. To avoid crowds, visit Red Rocks Park in the early morning—hiking trails are open from one hour before sunrise until one hour before sunset. The Red Rocks Loop Trail is open year-round.

For more than 100 years, this sandstone outdoor venue has been world-renowned for its natural beauty and stunning acoustics. Some of the world’s largest musical acts have performed here, including legends such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Fleetwood Mac, plus opera singer Mary Garden, U2, and Rush. From the way the sunlight reflects off the sandstone just before sunset to the way the twin, 300-foot (91-meter) rocks behind the stage perfectly capture sound, there’s a level of magic here that borders on the surreal.

A lively district of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, Lower Downtown Denver (or LoDo) is a top destination for Denver culture. In addition to its vibrant scene, though, LoDo is also home to some of the city’s best-preserved historic architecture and more Victorian–era buildings than anywhere else in the United States.

Once infamous for its saloons and brothels, the 29-block LoDo neighborhood is now largely restored and renovated but retains historic charm. Wander past landmarks like the 130-year-old Union Station, the historic Daniels & Fisher (D&F) Tower, and the Oxford Hotel en route to hip bookstores, local hangouts, and breweries. Explore the area’s boutiques and galleries on a Denver walking tour to get a sense of the area’s history and revitalization from a tour guide, or opt for a culinary or craft beer tour for a specialty sightseeing experience.

LoDo is located in northwest Downtown Denver, surrounded by Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Travelers can drive, park, and walk around, or take advantage of the bike-friendly streets. When it comes to public transit, the Union Station transit center is at the heart of the neighborhood with buses and Light Rail stops. 

LoDo is open and vibrant year-round, though visitors might enjoy warm summer weather over snowy Colorado winters. Nightlife is especially popular here, making LoDo a good base for a night on the town.

Nearby landmarks include Coors Field, the Molly Brown House Museum, and Larimer Square. A historic Denver city tour might also introduce you to further Mile High City sights such as Capitol Hill and Wynkoop Street.

With classic American foods served alongside some of rock and roll’s best music memorabilia, the Hard Rock Cafe Denver is part of the two-story Denver Pavilions shopping area downtown. Marked by the 20 foot neon electric guitar out front, it always draws a lively crowd and hosts a variety of music events on its stage.

The Denver outpost of the Hard Rock Cafe creates the casual and fun experience you’d find in any of their restaurants. Their menu includes appetizers such as nachos, wings, and potato skins and tasty entrees that range from burgers and sandwiches to barbecue. Vegetarian options are also available.

The cafe also has a large outdoor patio, two event rooms, a dozen large screen televisions, a full bar with premium cocktails, a fun atmosphere, store, and of course, great music playing.

Memorabilia on display rotates but includes musical instruments and stage costumes played and worn by the greatest musicians in rock and roll.

Flowing through four states, the Arkansas River is the sixth longest river in the United States. Its source basin and Arkansas River Canyon can be found in Colorado, where it is a popular spot to go whitewater rafting. It runs past the Rocky Mountains and drops extensively as it flows through the valley, creating the conditions that are good for rafting and kayaking. Depending on the section of the river there is everything from Class IV and V rapids to gentler II and III sections that are ideal for beginners. Waters weave scenically in and through canyons and gorges surrounded by thick forest and snow-capped peaks.

Aside from boating and fishing, visitors to the Arkansas River often utilize the facilities and the beautiful backdrop for activities such as hiking, camping, mountain biking, birding, and rock climbing. There is also great fly fishing in this part of the river, particularly for trout.

A self-guided walking tour of the two-block district takes you down streets once pockmarked with Wild West saloons and through restored Victorian-era buildings like Lincoln Hall and the Granite Building, where the lobby boasts historic maps and photos. Larimer Square’s tradition as a gathering point for the people of Denver lives on today as a home for some of the city’s best dining, including decadent Parisian bistro, cozy cafes and hearty smokehouses and grills. And shoppers can find everything from antique jewelry to boutiques specializing in boots and leather Western wear. 

The 3,000-square-foot museum is a family-friendly roadside attraction with a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits documenting his life and legend. See rare historical artifacts, including one of Cody’s Stetson hats and a peace pipe from Sitting Bull. Other exhibits include a display of Wild West guns and a Kid’s Cowboy Corral, where children can design their own brand and learn to throw a lasso.

Dinosaurs once roamed the earth, and they once walked the ground in Colorado. We only know this from the dinosaur bones, tracks, and marks left behind at Dinosaur Ridge, just west of Denver. Known as one of the most famous sites where dinosaur bones have been discovered, they were first unearthed in 1877 by a local professor. Their display increased public interest in dinosaurs and prehistory, sparking excavations throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Later, in 1937, dinosaur tracks from the Early Cretaceous Period were found.

These steps can now be traced on the Triceratops Trail, a half-mile journey through fossils and imprints as much as 68 million years old. There’s also a Dinosaur Ridge Trail which, at 2 miles roundtrip, circles through the rocky landscapes of dinosaur tracks and bones.

The Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center is also worth a stop to learn a bit more about the area and the dinosaurs past. You can learn as the excavation process as well with an interactive simulated dinosaur dig.

An urban park and designated national landmark in Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods encompasses 1,367 acres of unique wilderness, Great Plains grassland, and juniper woodlands. The most iconic section of the park features a towering ridge of eroded red rock formations that reveal 300 million years of geological history, while the famous red rock formations include Balanced Rock, Gateway Rock and the Three Graces. Among the crags and overhangs, visitors can spot petroglyphs from the Native American Ute tribe that once roamed these lands.

With such close proximity to Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods is one of the most convenient and spectacular spots to enjoy Colorado’s red rock country (and admission is free). It’s also one of the most popular parks in the United States. Options for touring are plentiful—everything from Segway, Jeep, walking, and photo tours to a half-day of guided climbing on the red rocks. Travelers can also combine their visit with a stop at nearby Pikes Peak or a Jeep tour of the Red Canyon Loop.

The easiest way to visit the Garden of the Gods park is by car from Colorado Springs; the parking areas have more than 330 spaces, though they can fill up in summer. Note that many guided Garden of the Gods tours do not include roundtrip transportation from Colorado Springs, so you may have to arrange your own transportation (although tours from Denver and Cañon City generally do include transport). The charming small town of Manitou Springs is also nearby.

The Garden of the Gods is open and accessible year round, but the best time to visit is during the shoulder season—from September to April—when weather is cooler, parking is easier to find, and crowds are sparser. Arriving in the early morning or late afternoon means more shade on the trails and the chance to watch a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

The Garden of the Gods Visitor Center doubles as a natural and cultural history museum where visitors can learn about the geology, wildlife, people, and history of the park through a series of interactive exhibits. A highlight is the Geo-Trekker Theater, where a 15-minute video digs into the park’s history while offering amazing views from an aerial drone.

Built on 80 acres of land in the Northern corner of Denver’s historic City Park, the Denver Zoo is a full day of animal excitement. The first of its kind in America, the highly regarded Denver Zoo did away with cages and began using naturalistic zoo enclosures beginning with its famous Bear Mountain back in 1906, and continues the trend of conscientious zoo maintenance and upkeep.

Today, a visit to the Denver Zoo is a pleasant, meandering stroll through Pachyderm Alley, Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge, Bird World, and many other intriguing exhibits which highlight the zoo’s 700 different species of animal, including the incredibly rare okapi, red-bellied lemur, Amur leopard, black rhino, and Siberian tiger. Take the train around the park, grab a bite to eat in the café, get up close and personal with flamingos, or go say “Hi!” to Mshindi, the world’s only rhinoceros that paints with a brush. This 3-ton artist’s work is on display in the Pachyderm House.

With its snowcapped peaks, enormous vistas, and abundance of high altitude trails Colorado has one of the world’s most exceptionally breathtaking landscapes. The hiking here in Colorado is some of the best on the planet, and few trails in the entire state are better than the Colorado Trail. In reality, this 486-mile trail is comprised of numerous trails—all of which link together to form the epically scenic thru-hike. Beginning outside Denver in Waterton Canyon at 5,500 feet, the Colorado Trail climbs to over 13,271 feet on the highest point on the trail. Most of the trail averages over 10,000 feet, and aside from creating some strong legs and lungs, offers views of eight different mountain ranges and numerous national forests.

For visitors to Denver with only a single day to go hiking, the first section of the Colorado Trail is a popular choice for a day trip. The trail is open for hiking, biking, fishing, and horseback riding—although no dogs are allowed on the trail since it’s common to find Big Horn Sheep. While you can hike for as long or as little as you please, the full day hike to Strontia Springs Dam is 12.4 miles, measured roundtrip, and is considered one of the best day hikes in Denver. Or, for what’s sure to be the adventure of the lifetime, arrange a car to drop you at Waterton with a pack, a tent, and some food—and then set off on foot for Durango, Colorado nearly 500 miles away.

The Browns Canyon National Monument is an area around the Arkansas River that's long been a popular recreational area.

The nearly 22,000-acre area of the Arkansas River that is contained within the Browns Canyon National Monument is the United States' most popular place for whitewater rafting. It is also popular for its hiking and fishing opportunities.

Prior to becoming a National Monument in 2015, the area had also been popular with hunters. With the designation, animals such as bighorn sheep, elk, and golden eagles are more protected.

One of the largest museums between Chicago and California, Denver Art Museum showcases a wide range of art in its 70,000-piece collection. From Native American art to ultramodern contemporary pieces, interactive exhibits to works sparking profound cultural reflection, DAM (as locals call it) is a destination for art lovers of all ages.

 

The museum features a diverse array of art from the American West, particularly its enviable American Indian collection of ceramics, textiles, beaded garments, and contemporary glasswork. Other permanent collections include African, Asian, European, American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, and textiles from around the world. The museum also hosts a number of traveling exhibitions.

 

Great for families, the museum sparks kids’ creativity with gallery games and encourages them to make their own art at the on-site family center. The museum is often a stop on private and group city sightseeing tours. Admission is included in the Mile High Culture Pass, which also proffers access to several other museums.

 

 

DAM is on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets. Multiple parking garages are nearby, and metered street parking is also available, although scarce during certain hours. RTD buses and the light rail have stops nearby, or take the free 16th Street Mall ride, get off at Cleveland Place and then walk south through Civic Center Park to the museum.

 

The museum is open Monday–Thursday from 10am–5pm, and Fridays from 10am–8pm. Every first Friday of the month, hours are extended till 10pm. The museum also hosts “Untitled Final Fridays” much of the year, when local artists, writers, activists, musicians, and other creatives present a completely artist-designed program showcasing their individual talents. DAM is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

Denver Art Museum regularly hosts high-profile temporary exhibits. Over the years, the curatorial staff have secured exhibits, such as “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century,” and “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection.” Demand is high for these special events, and many are timed, so it’s best to secure tickets beforehand.