If you’re a person who loves to travel, Colorado mountain towns should definitely be on your bucket list. Colorado is one of the amazing states situated in the southwest part of the United States of America. It contains some of the best scenery, a lot of outdoor activities to participate in, towns and people. There are so many amazing Colorado mountain towns that you should definitely see. It’s hard to argue what is the best town because each one of them has its own unique features that are hard to resist. Here, I’ll be talking about the ten amazing Colorado mountain towns to visit.
Table of Contents
01. Telluride
Telluride is an amazing mountain town situated in the southwest part of Colorado. It’s about 8750 feet above sea level and has a population of approximately 4500 people.
The mountain town has a vibrant atmosphere and you can witness live music, dancing, and picnics during the summertime. And the town is filled with restaurants and bars where you can taste a lot of unique Colorado foods.
In telluride, you can experience gondola rides that take you to the top of the mountains. And on the way, you can witness an amazing view that is worth a lifetime. It’s one of the most visited ski and hiking destinations and a biking area.
Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride is another place you can visit, which is filled with natural scenic beauty. Some of the best-rated hotels in Telluride are The Hotel telluride, Victorian inn, and New Sheridan hotel. It would be an amazing experience to spend some time in this beautiful destination.
02. Breckenridge
The most beautiful Colorado mountain town, Breckenridge City is one of the well-known rocky mountain ski towns in the state. It sits 9600 feet above mean sea level with a population of about 5000 people. The best times to visit this city is during summer and fall where you can find tons of interesting this to do.
You can visit historic small towns that consist of lots of different shops with amazing food. You get the opportunity to enjoy year-round rides up and down the mountainside in Breckenridge Gondola for free. And also Cucumber Gulch preserves in Breckenridge is an amazing place to visit if you are interested in wildlife. It contains 52 acres of grassland and wetland which is home to a vast number of animals.
One of the unique features of Breckenridge is the 15ft tall Breckenridge troll, Isak Heartstone. The Breckenridge troll is a sculpture completely made out of recycled wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. And it’s a major place visited by every person who visits Breckenridge.
If you like to walk, go for a hike, or biking the Blue Riverwalk path will be an ideal place for you. It’s specifically built for walking, hiking, and biking. Including the above-mentioned things, there’s a lot of activities you can do while in Breckenridge.
03. Ouray
Ouray is the city with the best mountains views in Colorado. It’s also known as the “Switzerland of America” due to the mountains covering three and a half sides of the town. Ouray sits at 8000 feet above the mean sea level with a population of about 1200 people. The City of Ouray is the self-proclaimed outdoor capital of Colorado.
The Victorian streets of Ouray give it a unique touch. A lot of tourists visit Ouray each year because of its scenic beauty and the recreational activities the city has to offer. One of the major features is the Hot springs in Ouray.
And the town itself is surrounded by multiple waterfalls. A few of them are Cascade falls and Box Canyon Falls which are true representations of natural beauty.
And you can pay a visit to few museums around the city for a historical gesture. A few of them are Ouray Alchemist Museum and Ouray County Museum.
You can truly experience a great adventure in this historic mining town.
Also read: Ginger beer vs Ginger Ale – A difference found?
04. Estes Park
Estes Park is one of the most visited summer vacation destinations in Colorado. Been 7522 feet above sea level, Estes Park has a population of about 6000 people.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best places to visit in Estes Park. It’s definitely a true dream of beauty. It contains 350 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and lakes with true scenic beauty and with two of the main scenic roads in the USA.
If you are into recreational activities Lake Estes is another place you surely want to visit. It’s a very popular place for Fishing, Padal Boarding, Kayaking, and Boating. And don’t forget to visit the most famous hotel in Estes Park, The Stanley Hotel. The hotel is popular for filming few Hollywood movies in the location. The main street of Estes Park fills with shops and amazing food items. And just having a walk in the main street can be an interesting experience.
05. Aspen
One of the top ski resorts and outdoor leisure destinations, the City of Aspen is another amazing city in Colorado. And it sits at 7908 feet above sea level with a population of about 7000 people. The best time to visit this city is between December to February.
Aspen’s natural beauty, combined with the scenic mountainous landscape makes it a perfect vacation destination of all time.
There are so many amazing places to visit in this eye-catching place.
One of them is the Wheeler Opera House. From the day they opened doors in 1889, the opera house hosts regular events ranging from concerts to film screenings to plays and according to recent travelers it’s a place you should never miss.
And also if you are a fan of beer, a visit to the Aspen Brewing Company will be pleasing. They create an amazing variety of beer which is amazing in taste and distinctly Aspen in character.
If you’re a ski lover a visit to the Buttermilk Mountain is something you should never miss. Experienced instructors will help you to make the most of your visit to the mountain.
And also last but not least Maroon Bells is another amazing place in Aspen that you should pay a visit to. It’s the perfect place for people who loves hiking. The whole journey through Maroon Bells offers you amazing scenery.
06. Silverton
Silverton is a natural historic landmark located between Durango and Ouray cities. Nestled at 9318 feet above the mean sea level, Silverton has a population of about 700 people.
One of the popular attractions in this small city is the Durango-Silverton steam train. The scenery during this train ride has become a major tourist attraction.
Some other interesting places to visit are the Ghost towns that you can find in Silverton. The city was a mining town earlier, So you can find many towns which are abandoned at the present. And it would surely be an interesting thing to check them out.
And in the main streets, you can still see the Victorian architecture buildings which give the city a historic touch.
A hike to the Ice Lake is an incredibly popular journey here. And also you can dive into a swim if interested in the clear blue water.
The best time to visit this amazing destination is the Summer vacation.
07. Creede
The town of Creede situated in the southern part of Colorado is another amazing destination. It’s located 8799 feet above the mean sea level with a population of about 400 people. And is another one of Colorado Mountain towns you shouldn’t miss.
Even though it’s a small town with a little population you can find a lot of interesting outdoor activities to experience while you are in Creede. Some of them are you can explore various shops in the downtown area and also taste a lot of amusing food items. You can have a historic tour in the Bachelor’s Loop area which is a historic mining district. And also pay a visit to the miner museums to have a piece of knowledge on mining industry during past days.
Another amazing place to visit in Creede is the North Clear Creek Falls. It’s an amazing waterfall with eye-catching scenic beauty.
Also read: Failure is the key to success
08. Leadville
Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America. It’s one of the highest elevated towns in Colorado being 10,152 feet above the mean sea level. And has a population of about 2750 people.
Most of the city is covered with mountains that are over 14000 feet. The month of May is the best time to visit this scenic City.
The city of Leadville provides historic education with eight museums throughout the city. And also with tons of outdoor recreational activities including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and camping.
The challenging mountain trails, the breathtaking scenery, and rich historical sites have transformed the old silver camp city into a wondrous vacation destination.
09. Durango
Durango is a small city situated in Southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border. It is nestles at an elevation of 6512 feet above sea level. And has a population of about 19000 people.
This place has a lot of attractions and destinations for being a small city. It offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities. You can experience everything from ghost towns to scenic roads within arm’s reach. The downtown is full of historic hotels and hosts a lot of festivals throughout the year.
One of the interesting places to visit in Durango is the Fish Hatchery and Wild Life museum. You can watch how over one million fish are raised and released to the Colorado waterways. It would definitely be a fun experience to watch.
If you are a fan of road trips the Durango Million dollar highway offers you the best deal. It’s a 233-mile highway that takes you through a few of the Colorado mountain cities. But the scenic beauty you experience will be out of this world.
And in the city center, you can see the Railroad museum displaying restored locomotives, aircraft and a baggage car which shows a lot of history of the city.
A visit to this small city will be an unforgettable experience.
10. Canon city
Commonly known as the climate capital of Colorado, Canon city is another amazing vacation destination in the United States. It’s located 5300 feet above the mean sea level with a population of about 16700 people.
You can see statues all over the city which gives this historic downtown a unique touch.
The main street is a special place for a lot of exciting stuff. Varying from parades to car shows, art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, and many more shops.
The weather here is excellent with mild winters and summers that aren’t terribly hot and low humidity.
And the town offers a lot of recreational activities to do. Such as Camping, hunting, fishing, river rafting, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, or even rock climbing.
A visit to the Royal George Bridge is also an unforgettable experience in Canon City.
Thought at the end.
Through this article I wanted to share information on one of the best tourist destinations, Colorado mountain towns. It’s one of the best vacation destinations to have an unforgettable time. Hope this helps you to have a nice experience with your loved ones.