Away from the Crowds in Colorado

For nature lovers it’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The place has amazing natural landscapes such as towering rock spires. The park is found between Grand Junction and Gunnison.

Visitors can enjoy kayaking deep in the canyon surrounded by monolithic rock walls. Hiking here offers the most scenic opportunities.

The Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Colorado. This river valley refuge was originally intended for vulnerable waterfowl and now protects a diverse range of wildlife. Visitors enjoy seeing river otters in the summer and rough-legged hawks, who migrate through here in the winter. You can camp, fish, and hunt.

Comanche National Grassland is close to New Mexico and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Here you’ll find juniper-laden canyons, ancient rock art, dinosaur footprints, and abandoned Old West homesteads.

Crestone is located on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range. It is known for the amazing peaks that mark the skyline just east of town. The town is internationally known as a thriving spiritual destination and hosts New Age events, numerous Buddhist temples, and a Zen center.

Outside of town, you’ll find the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness offering outdoor recreations. It is home to the Crestone Needle, a challenging peak to climb.

Georgetown preserves the silver mining history of Colorado with impressive Victorian architecture.

The Georgetown Loop Railway takes visitors on a journey with high bridges and mountain views.

During the winter, Georgetown Lake freezes, making it into an ice fishing village. The Hamill House and Hotel De Paris museums show how mining barons lived.

Lake City is to the east over the rugged Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains. You can enjoy everything to do with nature here.

Lake San Cristobal has become an official National Natural Landmark.

You can hike to the Smugullion Earthflow, a massive volcanic rock slide.

Manitou Springs lies west of Colorado Springs and offers a mix of history, natural wonders, and artistry. The town has eight public mineral fountains scattered through downtown for a refreshing sip of water straight from the earth. There are art galleries and crystal shops.

Marble is a small community deep in the Crystal Mountain of western Colorado. Yule marble from the areas was used to build the Lincoln Memorial, civic buildings in San Francisco, and the Cheesman Park Pavilion. Even though it is a remote destination, it hosts the Marble Sculpting Symposium each year.

The charming town offers accommodations, and you can explore the surrounding mountain wilderness.

Paonia is a fertile valley town with organic farms, vineyards, and orchards all sitting in the shadow of Mount Lamborn. (pictured above) Paonia’s microclimate allows for growing conditions unique in Colorado, producing exceptional wines, peaches, and cherries that draw culinary enthusiasts. Winemakers welcome visitors to intimate tasting rooms. There are mountain biking trails to access spectacular terrain.

Towaoc is located west of Mesa Verde on the Ute Mountain Reservation. It is a community serving as the capital of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

The community is located near the Yucca House National Monument and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

You can visit the Ute Mountain Casino, and the Ute Mountain Tribal Park offers guided tours, cabin rentals, and camping.

Do not pass by the Four Corners Monument thirty miles to the southwest. Here you can stand in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico all at once.

Trinidad is a town just north of the New Mexico border. The historic downtown has one of the largest collections of Victorian commercial architecture. Its fascinating history includes being known as the “Sex Change Capital of America” when Dr. Stanley Biber pioneered gender confirmation surgery here decades before it entered mainstream awareness. Today, the town embraces this progressive legacy alongside its Hispanic heritage and mining history.