Explore Colorado Mountain Towns

Colorado has 272 active incorporated municipalities, including 197 mountain towns and 73 cities. The opportunity for year-round mountain town lifestyle and activities is endless in Colorado. Each area has characteristics unique to mountain living. However, several stand out as top Colorado mountain towns as they are picturesque and offer tremendous mountain experiences just around the corner. You might consider stopping at some of the lesser-known Colorado Towns as you travel through Colorado.

Top Mountain Towns

Breckenridge

Breckenridge is a classic Colorado mountain town in the Tenmile Range and a popular year-round destination. It’s located in the heart of ski country and has a world-class ski resort of its own. A charming Victorian downtown area with a colorful historic district full of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Breckenridge is home to several great breweries, including the popular Breckenridge Distillery. Throughout the year, they host a ton of great local festivals and events, like the Viking-inspired Ullr Fest and the International Snow Sculpture Championships.

Carbondale – Mountain Towns

Carbondale is between Aspen and Glenwood Springs and sits on the Roaring Fork River. Together, these mountain towns encompass the best of what Colorado has to offer. Carbondale is nestled in the Colorado mountains, with the gorgeous Mount Sopris as a standout backdrop. It is easily accessed by the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway. Parks, trails, nearby ski resorts, sports, and a downtown area filled with shopping, restaurants, galleries, and a full calendar of fun events make Carbondale a place to explore.

Crested Butte and CB Mountain Resort

During the summer season, Crested Butte has a well-known reputation as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Home to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, this beautiful combination of mountain towns has ski slopes in the winter, mountain bike trails during the summer, plus a host of year-round festivals. Downtown Elk Avenue is lined with quaint local shops, restaurants, and other businesses that will keep you busy during your stay.

Durango

In Durango, near the New Mexico border, the history of the railroad comes alive with the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, as well as the Railroad Museum. Durango is also only a short drive from Mesa Verde National Park. Purgatory Resort offers some amazing winter sports opportunities. Nearby, Trimble Hot Springs is a great place to relax, soak, or thaw out after a day on the slopes. In town, Durango is home to several local breweries and a wide array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment that varies from movies to dog sledding.

Estes Park  – gateway to Mountain Towns

Estes Park is the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and it’s a popular town with tourists. Besides the park itself, downtown Estes Park has a charming strip of local souvenir shops, confectionaries, bars, breweries, restaurants, and more. Watch out for elk that occasionally wander by—massive herds of these beautiful animals regularly make themselves at home on the local golf course or sometimes on the streets. If you leave Estes Park to the west and travel over Trail Ridge Road, you will have a choice of mountain towns to visit.

Georgetown

Located just off I-70, Georgetown is a historic little silver mining town in Clear Creek County.  It even looks like it was taken right from a postcard, with landmark buildings and a colorful history. Located at the end of the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is a clue that it’s gorgeous. Dramatic peaks rise above the town and are often frequented by Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The town is also home to the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a narrow gauge scenic train that runs through the mountains and connects Georgetown and Silverplume mountain towns.

Grand Lake – gateway to Mountain Towns

While most tourists coming from the Front Range go through Rocky Mountain National Park on their way to Grand Lake. The western gateway to RMNP is Grand Lake, a destination of its own. The town is situated around the lake, which it’s named after, Grand Lake. This lake is Colorado’s largest natural body of water, making for tons of wonderful water activities, like boating, fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, and more. In the winter, the land around Grand Lake turns into amazing terrain for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Idaho Springs

Idaho Springs is less than an hour’s drive along I-70 from Denver. It’s a popular Colorado mountain town destination for a day trip. It has hot springs and spas, old mines available for tour, and a historic downtown area (home to Tommyknocker Brewery and Beau Jo’s Pizza). Idaho Springs is the perfect place for those on the Front Range to get their mountain fix without dealing with the sketchy roads or bumper-to-bumper traffic that comes further along I-70. Nearby St. Mary’s Glacier makes for a pretty hike, and Mt. Evans is a great 14er to summit either on foot or from your car.

Leadville

At 10,152 feet above sea level, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America. This charming mining town is proud of its history in the mining industry. Many museums are dedicated to the topic as Leadville was central and a financial power to the surrounding mountain towns during this era. Leadville is also home to two of the tallest mountains in the Rockies—Mount Elbert (14,439’) and Mount Massive (14,429’)—which tower over Leadville like imposing but scenic protectors. One of the best ways to experience Leadville’s mining history and see the fantastic mountainscapes is by taking a scenic train ride on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad.

Nederland

Just a short drive from Boulder, Nederland is a quaint little mountain town perhaps best known as the home of Frozen Dead Guy Days, a unique annual winter festival celebrating an illustrious member of their village who was cryogenically frozen in a TuffShed after his death. But Nederland is also a great place to visit for its proximity to Eldora Mountain Resort for slopes that locals love, or Indian Peaks Wilderness, which has plenty of beautiful trails for snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, or hiking.

Ouray and Surrounding Mountain Towns

Some out there like to call Ouray the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Colorado for all the amazing outdoor opportunities in the area. Others call it the Switzerland of Colorado, and it only takes one look at the historic Victorian buildings and the stunning mountain peaks that rise behind them to understand why. Ouray is home to the world-renowned Ouray Ice Park, the annual Ouray Ice Festival that takes place there, and several other seasonal festivals. Ouray is a popular hiking destination with various trail difficulties and stunning scenery. Other interesting mountain towns surround Ouray to explore on route.

Silverton

In Silverton, you can visit the Mining Heritage Center, explore the nearby ghost town of Animas Forks, or tour the Old Hundred Gold Mine. Silverton is also close to some unique nature, where you can hike to the breathtaking Ice Lakes, rent an ATV along the Alpine Loop, or hit the slopes at Silverton Mountain Ski Area. Scenic drives in the Silverton area include the Alpine Loop, the Million Dollar Highway, and the San Juan Skyway, and the town itself is full of history and adventure.

Telluride

Telluride is located in a box canyon, meaning it is surrounded by forested peaks, jagged cliffs, and high 13ers and 14ers—all of which is to say, it’s simply breathtaking year-round, but especially in the winter, when the snow-frosted peaks set a winter wonderland backdrop to the entire town. This Colorado mountain town might be small, but it’s an authentic Wild West mountain town with classic Victorian buildings and a rich mining history. Today’s outdoor enthusiasts maintain the Wild West vibe and flock to this unique town, seeking its fantastic natural playground and contributing to its eclectic community.

by Emily Krempholtz