Tours of Colorado can be carefully planned out to the nanosecond if you like, or you can loosey-goosey it and see where your car/horse/bike/guide takes you. Of course, there are tour services of every bent:
Many of Colorado’s biggest attractions include tours. You will find many tour choices at Estes Park a popular destination for many activities such as camping, hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, educational classes, and more.
Colorado’s resort spa services are health and wellness centers accustomed to providing exceptional services to enhance recovery, relaxation, and attention to cosmetics. Complement your outdoor activity with a spa visit and maximize your vacation. Colorado exemplifies healthy lifestyles, which makes this state so special. The enthusiasm to stay fit, feel great, and make the most out of every day is the Colorado way.
Colorado’s Resort spas will enhance your vacation experience and give you a lift in your well-being that you can take home. Resort spas continue evolving spa services, health and wellness classes, and personal attention to help you feel your best.
Wherever You Decide to Stay
Whatever Colorado resort community you decide to vacation in, there will be World-class spa services not far away. Often, these services are offered at hotels, lodging complexes, and even bed and breakfast Inns.
Spa Services Health and Wellness
Including visits to the spa (health and wellness center) as part of your vacation is an overall enhancement on many levels. You might even return to Colorado for the spa experience first, with skiing or your favorite outdoor experience as a secondary attraction.
The Old Standard Resort Spas
Colorado’s most renowned resorts are leaders in health, wellness, and spa services. Some of the best providers are found in:
Of course, you will find spas throughout Colorado, such as the many natural hot spring resorts. Colorado’s natural hot springs are not slope-side and are usually located at more out-of-the-way places but offer relaxation and spa services as a main focus. Resorts such as Glenwood Springs Resort, aka Spa of the Rockies, a natural hot spring resort, spa, and Inn, all in one. Although this resort is on the way to Aspen, its appeal is the hot springs and spa services. Look through our hot springs guide to find similar resorts to meet your needs.
Get eye-to-eye with nature during the winter in Colorado in a pair of go-anywhere showshoes. Walk (or run for a full-body cardio workout) through quiet forests and experience the solitude of this solo or group activity. Guided snowshoe tours are available at many resorts. Half-day and full-day trips are offered and snowshoe rentals often come with poles and trail maps. Some resorts offer full-moon or starlight snowshoe tours throughout the season. View more tips in our Snowshoeing in Colorado guide.
Get ready to Snowshoe
If you are new to snow, snowshoeing is one of the easiest ways to acquaint yourself with snow. It is a very natural parallel body movement, just like walking. However, don’t be fooled. Snowshoeing is physically demanding and does require proper gear for the outing you are planning. Getting the right gear will make your excursion fun. Along with selecting the snowshoes that will work best for you, using poles is popular as they will help with balance. Dress for the occasion as well. Snowshoeing is an aerobic sport so dress in layers and consider bringing a backpack so you can stash extra clothes once you heat up. Bring water and snacks is a good idea too.
Small Snowshoes
Snowshoes that have a small surface area are the easiest to get used to. They are lightweight and don’t extend that far in front of or behind your boot. This smaller diameter enables a more natural stride versus a larger snowshoe requires a more animated stride. You have to learn to pick up your feet to allow the snowshoe to clear the snow, not trip or catch the snowshoe. These small surface area snowshoes are best used on packed trails. As they will sink in deep snow, proving to be useless. They are popular when used for snowshoe running. however, snowshoe running is best on packed trails.
Larger Snowshoes
Snowshoeing can go wherever there is snow; no trail is needed, however, if you’re heading out into deep untracked snow. Untracked means no person has previously stomped in a trail. Then, it would be best if you were prepared with larger surface area snowshoes. The larger the snowshoe, the more they will “float” or stay on top of the snow. Although staying on top of the snow sounds like a wonderful idea. Snowshoeing through deep powder without a trail beaten in requires a great deal of effort and coordination. Trudging through fresh snow offers a lot of resistance, plus you have to be good with placing your snowshoe and balancing on the snowshoe with each step. If you plan on going a distance, it’s best to have at least one or two people along so you can take turns breaking the new trail.
Old Snowshoes
Perhaps you want to try out snowshoeing and a friend offers you a pair of old rawhide snowshoes with leather buckle straps. Honestly, these old snowshoes are best used as wall hangers. Renting snowshoes is really inexpensive. Don’t waste your time trying to make old snowshoes work. It’s best just to go rent the most modern snowshoes you can find.
Looking for another way to hit the trails this winter? Nordic or cross-country skiing is also another popular winter alternative to alpine skiing.
Six ski resorts currently offer guided and unguided snowcat ski tours, transporting intermediate and expert riders in a closed-cabin vehicle to mountain areas with healthy stashes of untracked snow. Are you seeking steep and deep high-adrenaline terrain but not looking to hike? Snowcat ski touring might be right for you.
Resorts with Snow Cat Ski Tours
Learn more about the resorts that provide snow-cat skiing. Each area is described in detail so you will know what to expect and determine which area is most suited for your skill level.
Snow Cat Skiing Means Being Prepared
Before you sign up or jump on a snowcat, make sure you understand the potential dangers ahead. Most likely you will need to have some avalanche awareness, and even training might be required. Plus, avalanche safety gear is a standard requirement. Figure out if your skis or snowboard are up to the task. You might need to rent or buy something more suitable. These are just ideas you must consider if snowcat skiing is on your bucket list. Check in with the snowcat company or who is in charge of this service and get specific details about skill level, required gear, and more before heading out.
Winter fun in Colorado includes those family-fun outings for sledding and tubing. There’s generally no big advance prep involved – just dress in layers, bring your sunscreen and water and get ready to have a great time!
Perhaps you’ve noticed we have no shortage of mountains and hills, which means we have hundreds if not thousands of places to tube and sled. Most major ski resorts have dedicated hills just for this fun, and here are some good places to consider: Copper Mountain, the Meadows at Elk Camp in Snowmass; Snow Mountain Ranch Sledding and Tubing Hill at Winter Park; Firecracker Tubing Hill at Telluride; Frisco Tubing Hill at the Frisco Adventure Park (which puts you in close proximity to Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge ski areas); High Country Tubing Park in Pagosa Springs; Ellefson Park in Vail; Yee-Haw Hill at Saddleback Ranch and Howelsen Hill at Steamboat Springs; Keystone’s Adventure Point; Crested Butte Nordic Center and Crested Butte Mountain Resort Adventure Park; Cottonwood Creek Recreation Center in Colorado Springs; Scott Carpenter Park and Tantra Lake in Boulder; and Kroh Park in Loveland.
Look here for your sports equipment rentals. These conveniently located shops will offer you service with a smile while outfitting you for your Colorado adventure. Most shops offer a lot more than gear rentals!
There are several scenic train rides in Colorado to choose from. A scenic train ride is a wonderful way to experience Colorado’s spectacular scenery and learn about its history. Colorado’s scenic train rides result from gold and silver mining boom era in the late 1800s. The trains moved ore out of various hard-to-get-to mountainous regions and consequentially moved people in.
Narrow Gauge Railways and Scenic Routes
The routes used to facilitate the mines were narrow gauge railways. The narrow train tracks (rails) and smaller train cars could navigate the curvy mountain routes and high-trestled bridges easier than traditional wider tracks and larger rail cars.
There were no established roadways during this time, and the automobile was in its infancy. The best way into and through the mountains was by horse or stagecoach. The narrow-gauge trains opened up the Rocky Mountains to habitation and commerce.
Today, scenic train rides in Colorado are renovated versions of the original narrow gauge railways. These historic trains allow all to enjoy the fantastic mountainous terrain and the scenery they travel through and to learn about a time gone by.
Featured Scenic Train Rides in Colorado
Leadville Railroad – scenic train rides
Ride the Leadville Railroad via the historic mining town of Leadville. This scenic train travels along the old Denver, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado & Southern lines to the Continental Divide, heading north along the Arkansas Valley River Valley and rising 1,000 feet from the valley floor. You’ll see Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert, two of the state’s tallest peaks. Some genuinely spectacular scenery!
Daily trips include a 2.5-hour round trip to and from the Leadville station. Special trips are offered throughout the year, like the summer Wildflower Special Train, which consists of a guided hike through some of Colorado’s most beautiful and colorful parts. There’s also the Devil’s Tail BBQ ride, a train ride that passes through spectacular scenery and includes excellent food and drinks. The Leadville Train offers adventure packages combining the train ride with activities like zip lining or white water rafting.
Alpenglow Adventure Scenic Train Tours
Alpenglow Adventure Tours, based out of Frisco, features eight fascinating railroad excursion packages perfect for individuals and families. Tours vary by length of time 4,6,8, 12-hour adventures, and by type of train tour.
Check out the Explore a Mine tour, a hands-on historical mine tour via the scenic train.
Alpenglow Adventure Tours simplifies scheduling your scenic train ride. They facilitate guests from the Summit County area by providing door-to-door service to your choice of scenic train adventure.
Royal Gorge Route – scenic train rides
Considered the most luxurious train in Colorado, the Royal Gorge Route is a leisurely two-hour ride through the spectacular Royal Gorge. Several classes of service are available, including special lunch and dinner trains. Along the way, riders often see big horn sheep, bald eagles, and the occasional gold miner working the Arkansas waters. Fishermen, rafters, kayakers, and other water enthusiasts exploit the river’s flow.
Georgetown Loop Railroad
Another good scenic train choice is theGeorgetown Loop Railroad. This train is only 45 minutes west of Denver, right off I-70. “The Loop” connects the once-rollicking mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume; although only two miles apart, the train route climbs over 600′ in elevation, goes through a narrow, steep canyon, and crosses four spectacular high-tresseled bridges. The stunning train ride in Colorado is 1.25 hours long and provides an authentic step back into living in the mining era. This train goes all out during the holidays with a wondrous lighted forest and Santaland experience.
The Georgetown Railroad operates from May through mid-October and most days through early January. Throughout its season, it offers a variety of festive trains and event celebrations.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum
Treat yourself to some real history aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum (DSNGRR) scenic train. Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1879, and two years later, the railroad arrived in town. That same year, construction began on the line to Silverton, and in 1882, the tracks were laid, and passenger and freight movement began. Railroad employees of the day recall eerie tales of this famous railroad, Ghost Tracks!
The DSNGRR travels between Durango and Silverton along 45 miles of track. The route passes through the San Juan National Forest and traverses steep mountain slopes while following the stunning Cascade Canyon. The DSNGRR offers many great special tours and events.
Brew Trains that feature a different local brewery every week
Wine and Rails, which includes a great lunch and plenty of wine samples
Cowboy Poetry Train, which is held every October.
The Great Pumpkin Patch Express during the fall allows kids to trick-or-treat and ride the train to the pumpkin patch to pick out the best jack-o-lanterns.
The Polar Express Train Ride takes families on an exciting trip to the North Pole.
Skyway Tour along the San Juan Skyway
Cascade Canyon Express
Silverton Silverlight Express.
The Durango train offers 4 classes of service and a variety of nostalgic private cars and group seating options.
Year-Round Train Rides in Colorado
Many scenic train rides in Colorado go year-round. Learn more about winter train rides in Colorado. You don’t want to miss the special holiday trains during the holiday season. These trains are decked out with garland and holiday lights and often include special events such as a visit to Santa Land, stories, and much more.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) is a heritage narrow-gauge railroad that operates a stretch of track between Antonito, CO., and Chama, New Mexico. Two notable geographical features along the route are Cumbres Pass (10,015′) and the Toltec Gorge. Initially, this scenic train was part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad‘s narrow gauge network and is today one of only two remaining parts of the former Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad (CC&VNGRR) is a heritage narrow gauge railroad that operates as a seasonal scenic train between Cripple Creek and the city’s outskirts to the south.
Scenic Train Rides in Colorado
Scenic train rides in Colorado are primarily located around the big gold and silver boom towns of the late 1800s. In addition to scenic train rides, these towns have lots of other types of attractions and things to do, such as the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, rafting adventures, off-road tours, horseback riding, and natural hot springs, to name a few. Your group’s interests will help determine the best scenic train ride to sign up for. Check out the areas where the train rides are to find your best destination.
Mountains, hills, boulders and canyons make up a technical climber’s nirvana. And wouldn’t you know Colorado has all of them, in huge amounts.
Some great climbs in the state are found at the rock faces of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado; El Dorado Canyon State Park west of Boulder; Rocky Mountain National Park outside of Estes Park; Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs; Black Canyon of the Gunnison near Montrose on the Western Slope; and Castlewood State Park south of Denver.
You can choose to go with professional guides from climbing services, and you can attend climbing schools. Quality gear is available at sporting goods and outfitters throughout the state.
While we boast 300 days of sunshine a year, and while we’re one of the fittest states in the Union, there’s still a need for recreation centers and indoor facilities. Can’t really do free weights in the middle of a Gold Medal stream, now can you?
Some of the best municipal rec centers in Colorado are found in Lakewood in the Denver area, Breckenridge in the central mountains, Fruita on the Western Slope, Pagosa Springs in the southwest part of the state, Trinidad in the southern part of the state on I-25 and in Greeley north of Denver.
Facilities and amenities vary, but most have lap pools and open swim, some with water slides and saunas. Weight rooms, treadmills, climbing walls, stationary and recumbent bikes and indoor tracks are found at many – and most have classes for aerobics and water aerobics. Silver Sneakers applies at many; check out rates for families and seniors.
