Colorado · best-of list
The 9 Best Outdoor Spots in Colorado
All 9 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Colorado, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with Aspen contributing the most (4).
Our curated picks
9 outdoor spots in Colorado, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Aspen 4 picks
Grottos Trail
Aspen · On our Colorado Rockies route
Short loop to smooth river-carved rock caves and cascades on the Roaring Fork.
Tip: Rocks are slick; skip the ice cave scramble if wet.
Photo: Jahjahfue (Jahjahfue) · Google
Independence Pass
Aspen · On our Colorado Rockies route
12,095-foot Continental Divide crossing with short tundra walks at the top.
Tip: Hwy 82 over the pass closes for winter (early Nov to late May).
Photo: Mark Donoher from ???. Cropped and color-corrected by Daniel Case prior to uploa · CC BY 2.0
John Denver Sanctuary
Aspen · On our Colorado Rockies route
Quiet riverside park with lyrics carved into stones along the Roaring Fork.
Photo: Randolfo Santos · · Google
Maroon Bells
Aspen · On our Colorado Rockies route
Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake; the Scenic Loop is easy.
Tip: Road access requires a shuttle or parking reservation in summer; book early.
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rocky Mountain NP 3 picks
Bear Lake
Rocky Mountain NP · On our Colorado Rockies route + 1 more
Flat half-mile loop around a subalpine lake under Hallett Peak, and the trailhead for the park's classic hikes.
Tip: Timed-entry permits are needed for this corridor in summer; arrive before 9am or use the shuttle.
Photo: Jacob West · Google
Moraine Park
Rocky Mountain NP · On our Colorado Rockies route
Wide meadow where elk gather, especially during the fall rut.
Tip: Stay in the car or 75 feet away from elk in Sep–Oct.
Photo: Arnold Thallheimer, HABS photographer · Public domain
Sprague Lake
Rocky Mountain NP · On our Colorado Rockies route
Easy, flat loop with mirror reflections of the Continental Divide.
Photo: Charles M. Sauer · CC BY-SA 3.0
City Park 1 pick
City Park and Ferril Lake
City Park · On our Denver New Year's Eve route
Denver's largest park, with a loop around Ferril Lake and a classic view of the skyline against the Front Range.
Tip: The best view is from the museum's west steps, looking across the lake to downtown and the peaks.
Photo: Sarbjit Bahga · CC BY-SA 4.0
Denver 1 pick
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver · On our Colorado Rockies route
24 acres of themed gardens including a Japanese garden and a high-plains alpine collection.
Photo: Daderot · Public domain
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Colorado?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Colorado has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Aspen has the most (4 of 9), followed by Rocky Mountain NP (3) and City Park (1).
Are any of these free?
7 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Bear Lake, Grottos Trail, Moraine Park, City Park and Ferril Lake, Independence Pass, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Colorado
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Aspen 4 on this list
- Rocky Mountain NP 3 on this list
- City Park 1 on this list
- Denver 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.