A round trip through Colorado is an unforgettable adventure through fascinating nature. In addition to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado offers three other national parks, some of which can be reached via spectacular roads such as the Million Dollar Highway. And the capital Denver also has so much to offer that you won't get bored. We have summarised the highlights and best sights of Colorado for you in this travel report, which you should not miss.
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Location
Travel info
US State
Colorado
Year of travel
2012
2021
Last update
04.2022
Table of contents
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01 - Denver
Colorado's capital - the "Mile High City": Denver
In stark contrast to the nature of the Rocky Mountains is Colorado's capital Denver. We immediately fell in love with the beautiful city centre with its great restaurants, the panoramic view from the Capitol and the train station. Union Station - the mighty Beaux-Arts station with the monumental waiting room - is a highlight of downtown Denver.
While the Rocky Mountains boast mountains of up to 4,000 metres, the former gold-mining metropolis of Denver at the Colorado State Captiol is only 1 mile above sea level. It has thus earned the name "Mile High City".
By the way: Not only was the western shirt with the practical snap fasteners invented in Denver Colorado, but also the cheeseburger! In addition, no fewer than 150 micro-breweries await your visit.
We have summarised the best sights and highlights of the city for you in a travel report on Denver.
02 - Garden of the Gods
A popular destination in Colorado: Garden of the Gods
Northwest of Colorado Springs , large red rock spires, arches and slabs of 65-million-year-old sandstone form a landscape like something from another world. The Garden of the Gods is one of the most popular destinations in Colorado. Short trails lead between the sometimes bizarre-looking rock formations with names like "Kissing Camels", "Weeping Indian" and "Balanced Rock". In the background of the Garden of the Gods towers the 4,300-metre high and imposing Pikes Peak. Admission to the Garden of the Gods is free. Around two hours are sufficient for a walk on the main trail to discover the best sights of the Garden of the Gods. In addition, the park offers a total of around 25 kilometres of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, as well as ample opportunities for climbing.
03 - Pikes Peak
The highest mountain in Colorado: Pikes Peak
To the west of Colorado's second largest city, Colorado Springs, lies Pikes Peak. It is the most visited mountain in North America and even the most visited mountain in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan! With a height of 4,300 metres, Pikes Peak is one of the highest mountains in the Rocky Mountains.
Among other things, the giant is famous for motor sports: the "Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Races" - also called "Race To The Clouds" - take place here every year. The record on the 20 km long and in parts very narrow and hilly track is only 9:51 minutes. In comparison, it took us around 45 minutes. The course is quite nerve-wracking and requires a bit of a head for heights! Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama over Colorado.
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04 - Salida
The largest historic district in Colorado: the small town of Salida.
Charming, friendly, artistic and historic: that's the small town of Salida in the heart of Colorado. Originally founded in the 19th century, Salida was a stagecoach stop and later became a stopover on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Salida's charming downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only is it the largest historic district in the state, but it also has some of the most significant and beautiful historic buildings in Colorado.
05 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
The steepest canyon in Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Another highlight lies in western Colorado: a dramatic, deep gorge carved into the rock by the Gunnison River over the last 2 million years. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison rightly deserves its name, because very little sunlight penetrates the 600-metre-deep canyon to the bottom. Yet the view into the depths is absolutely stunning! The town of Montrose is the perfect gateway to the Black Canyon, from here it is only a short walk into the park and to the Visitor Centre. Along the South Rim Road you will find twelve viewpoints where you can look deep into the almost vertical canyon.
We have compiled detailed information and sights in a separate travel report on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
06 - Aspen
Colorado's most prominent ski resort: Aspen
What the ski resorts of St. Moritz or Kitzbühel are for Europe, Aspen in Colorado is for the Americans: celebrity hotspot in the snow. With just 7,000 inhabitants, the town on the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains is very cosy. Yet Aspen offers no less than 100 restaurants and bars as well as numerous designer boutiques. As soon as the first snow falls in winter, numerous winter sports fans are drawn to the idyllic town. But even without snow, Aspen is worth a visit.
07 - Rocky Mountains NP
The highlight of Colorado: Rocky Mountains National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park covers an area of 107,000 hectares and impresses with dramatic mountain landscapes, wonderfully fresh air and a unique panoramic backdrop. A 500 km long road network winds between numerous four-thousand metre peaks. Rocky Mountain National Park is as popular with mountaineers, skiers and hikers as it is with day-trippers, and rightly ranks among the most popular national parks in the USA.
To explore Rocky Mountain National Park, the cosy Estes Park is an ideal starting point. In Estes Park, the clocks tick slower and you can lose yourself in the many small shops and cafés. From here, the Rocky Mountain National Park is about 15 minutes away. In addition, there are countless opportunities for excursions into nature around Estes Park. One thing is almost guaranteed: to see huge deer. Because they really are everywhere!
08 - Great Sand Dunes NP
Desert at the foot of the Rocky Mountains: Great Sand Dunes National Park
In southern Colorado, you won't believe your eyes when you suddenly swap the mountain world of the Rocky Mountains for mountains of sand. The sand dunes of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, up to 250 metres high, are the largest sand dunes in North America - and offer a stark contrast to the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the background.
If you're not afraid of exertion, climb one of the large sand mountains. After enjoying the great view, you can sled (or roll, as you prefer) down the dune!
Dramatic mountain scenery, crystal clear mountain lakes, and endless expanses - that's Colorado's character.
Colorado, eighth largest state in the USA - 269,837 km²
09 - Million Dollar Highway
The most beautiful and spectacular road in Colorado: Million Dollar Highway
If you want to drive from Montrose or the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to southwestern Colorado because your destination is, for example, Mesa Verde National Park or Arizona, the Million Dollar Highway is the best way to get there. And above all: the most spectacular! The Million Dollar Highway is a section of US 550 and connects the former mining towns of Ouray and Silverton. The picturesque town of Ouray is nicknamed "Little Switzerland" because of its location in the mountains. You will soon realise why as soon as you leave the town and climb steeply up into the mountains and through countless hairpin bends. The landscape is incredibly impressive, but at the same time the ride requires the utmost concentration! A few kilometres after Ouray, you pass a gorge that leads along steep cliffs and a narrow roadway close to the abyss - there are no crash barriers! During the drive over several passes, there are always magnificent views of the surrounding Colorado mountains. Here and there, abandoned mine shafts flash up and remind us of a long-forgotten gold mining era.
There are various theories about the origin of the name "Million Dollar Highway". One says that it cost millions of dollars to carve the route into the steep rock faces. Another claims that a million dollars was carved into the road in the form of gold coins. The third thesis, and our guess, is the simplest: the Million Dollar Highway passes several mines from which gold was once extracted.
View of Ouray at the starting point of the Million Dollar Highway
Mola Lake on the Million Dollar Highway
10 - Mesa Verde NP
The most important archaeological site in the USA: Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwestern Colorado, west of the Rocky Mountains. Mesa Verde is Spanish and means "green table". The name fits, because the national park is located on a densely forested, green plateau.
The most important national park in the USA in terms of cultural history gives a deep insight into the life and culture of the Anasazi Indians. In the protection of the cliffs they built their houses, the Cliff Dwellings so characteristic of Mesa Verde. Today, visitors can marvel at around 4,000 archaeological sites, of which the cliff dwellings are the most impressive. The area is huge, covering more than 200 square kilometres, so you should plan plenty of time for your visit.
We have summarised the best highlights and sights in Mesa Verde National Park in an extra report.
11 - Four Corners Monument
The only four-country corner in the USA: Four Corners Monument
Are you passing through Colorado on your way to Arizona? Then don't miss a visit to the Four Corners Monument, the only four-country corner in the USA. At this point in the United States, the four states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado border each other. You can find all the important information about the Four Corners Monument in our short report.
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