Idaho Springs

Things to Do in Idaho Springs, Colorado

Long considered the birthplace of the Rocky Mountain Gold Rush, Idaho Springs has attained considerable popularity has an outdoor enthusiasts’ mecca in its own right and a good lodging choice with easy access to six nearby ski resorts.

Its history is well preserved, with numerous restored 19th century mines providing tours and a Main Street that has retained much of its authentic Gold Rush architecture and charm.

In addition to treasures held dear by miners and settlers of a bygone era, Idaho Springs also continues to showcase a resource that brought the area’s early Native American inhabitants to the region: natural hot springs valued for their restorative powers, and Indian Hot Springs is a locals’ and visitors’ favorite.

Scenery is also a huge draw: The highest paved road on the continent goes south out of town and reaches the top of Mountain Evans, one of the state’s 53 Fourteeners – peaks that reach more than 14,000 feet above sea level. Nearby Golden Gate State Park provides views of the Continental Divide, and the drive to Central City and Black Hawk is also scenic.

For outdoor recreation, Idaho Springs provides either direct access or is a great staging area for biking, with the Oh My God Road to Central City challenging and exhilarating. There’s also fishing, golfing, hiking of course, horseback riding, ATVing, climbing and canyoneering, skiing and boarding, whitewater river rafting and ziplining. Woo hoo!

Georgetown

Visit Georgetown, Colorado

An easy 45-minute drive up Interstate 70 from Denver lands you smack dab in the middle of beautiful downtown Georgetown, one of Colorado’s definitive “small but mighty” attractions in the state’s many historic gold mining towns.

First established in 1859 during the Gold Rush, this mining town is tucked into a valley corridor some might call “breezy.” The elevation is 8,530 breathtaking feet above sea level.

A Historical Journey

As you stroll through Georgetown downtown’s National Historic Register District, you’ll be privy to several attractions, including the Hotel de Paris Museum, once a luxurious hotel, the restored Hamill House, an elegant reminder of Victorian times, the Firefighting Museum and the Energy Museum. Make sure to soak up some of this great history while you’re in town. Once the third-largest town in Colorado, Georgetown is now home to slightly more than 1,000 residents. Still, services are fantastic: outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, four-wheeling, fishing and horseback riding, and you can also tour the Lebanon Silver Mine.

Georgetown Stunning Scenic Train Ride

Check out the Georgetown Loop Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad as well. The line connects Georgetown with nearby (and uphill) Silver Plume, gaining 640 feet in elevation during the two miles up. You’ll also cross four trestles as you travel through the steep-sided, narrow Clear Creek Canyon.

And while I-70 provides a quick route to Summit County and its four ski areas and an incredible array of outdoor activities and events. Guanella Pass (a seasonal road closes in late November, and opens on Memorial Day) is the perfect opportunity to put your car into “mosey” gear and do some serious sightseeing. You won’t regret a moment!

Carbondale

Explore Carbondale, Colorado

Is Carbondale a big little town or a little big town? We’re not sure, but one thing we do know is that it’s a beautiful setting for outdoor activities and a wonderful peek into the state’s rich history.

Sitting at the base of Mt. Sopris at the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers, Carbondale is just 12 miles from Glenwood Springs and 30 miles from Aspen. The sun shines on average 295 days each year, and in addition to abundant vitamin D, this sweet little place also blesses its visitors with access to soothing geothermal pools at nearby Avalanche Ranch.

Fly fishing is a favorite pastime in the Roaring Fork Valley, and when you’re not wetting a line, you can venture off on a bike or hike along the Rio Grande Bike and multi-use trail.

Summertime is rodeo time in Carbondale, with rip-snortin’ thrills every Thursday night, and on the somewhat more refined side of activities, concerts and films are presented during June and July.

Golf? But of course! Scenic drives? Spectacular! Dining? Divine!

In short, historic big/little (or little/big) Carbondale is a not-to-be-missed gem.

Basalt

Find Adventure in Basalt, Colorado

Where is Basalt

Basalt is located in the middle of the Roaring Fork Valley, at the confluence of the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Rivers. This jewel of a town offers an incredible array of outdoor activities for all seasons, plus a variety of local parks to keep kids of all ages engaged. Learn more about Basalt at the local Chamber of Commerce.

On the Water

Nearby Ruedi Reservoir provides the perfect setting for summertime watersports and fishing, and the rivers’ Gold Medal waters are nirvana for anglers of all abilities.

All Kinds of Activities for All Types

Camping, hiking, hunting, rafting, golfing, four-wheeling, horseback riding – if it’s out of doors and fun, Basalt is where you’ll find it.

Basalt Culture, Art, Concerts, Shopping, and more…

Visitors can also expect a healthy dose of culture, with numerous galleries showcasing Western, Southwestern, contemporary, and primitive art, photography, and artisan wares. Live theater and the town’s renowned summer concert series are also part of the scene.

Shopping options are plentiful, and there is no shortage of dining choices. And lodging is both affordable and plentiful.

Nearby Aspen and Snowmass

Remember that you are within minutes of Aspen and Snowmass (drive times vary according to season, of course).

Parachute

Parachute, Colorado

Located about halfway between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction in western Colorado, the small town of Parachute and its sister community of unincorporated Battlement Mesa are at the confluence of the Colorado River and Parachute Creek.

Though the town is not a mecca of amenities, it does have an info center.

Things to Do in Parachute:

Fishing at Harvey Gap Reservoir and Rifle Gap Reservoir. These two reservoirs are year-round fishing waterways and produce some of Colorado’s largest bass, perch, crappie, catfish, rainbow trout, and northern pike.
Ice climbing at Rifle Mountain Park. This park features 80-foot canyon walls and is considered the best location in the country for limestone sport climbing.
Skiing and snowboarding at Powderhorn Resort.
Snowmobiling on the Grand Mesa, which has over 500 square miles of winter wonderland to explore.
Hunting and rafting are also popular in the Parachute area, and its proximity to Glenwood Springs and the famed hot springs is a draw. It’s also close to Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction.

Around Parachute, the primary lifestyle is cattle ranching, and some of the working ranches have opened themselves to visitors who want an up-close glimpse Western lifestyle.

There are two lodging choices and two dining options in town.

Montrose

Tour Montrose, Colorado

With a history that encompasses not only bits of the Wild West but also inhabitants that pre-date settlers who came from the East, Montrose is an amazing blend of ancient, old and very, very new.

At the Ute Indian Museum just south of Montrose proper, visitors are given a unique glimpse into Native life in the 1700s and 1800s. The Museum is located on the original homestead site of revered Chief Ouray and his wife, Chipeta. Not only does the complex include a memorial park devoted to Chief Ouray, but it also is the burial place of Chipeta. It has been lovingly restored and maintained with native plants, picnic areas, teepees and walking paths – and there is a memorial to the Spanish Conquistadors who were in the region the year the United States gained its independence – 1776.

There are other museums as well, along with a vibrant shopping area and a number of fine eateries and lodging accommodations. Much of what you’ll find in the shops is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind, and the art ranges from Western and Southwestern to edgy and playful.

In fact, there’s so much to do in Montrose that Outdoor Life magazine named it to its “Top 200 Towns for Outdoorsmen” in 2010.

During the warmer weather months from spring through fall, there are three challenging 18-hole golf courses to sample, and as your very good geographical luck would have it, Montrose is an excellent gateway to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, with a seemingly unending range of things to do and see.

Rock climbing is epic, and in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area you’ll find unparalleled rafting and unbeatable fishing in Gold Medal waters. What’s more, the San Juan Mountains are where your camping, hiking and biking memories are waiting to be made – with something great for all levels of outdoor abilities.

Got the need for off-road? Got your cure right here. BLM lands are perfect for badland enthusiasts, but you’ll find a full range of terrain, from forest trails to scree routes.

Make sure your camera batteries are full before you leave for one or all of the six designated scenic or historic byway excursions. You’ll hit elevations of 12,000 lofty feet above sea level as you cross mountain passes – with spectacular vistas all along the way.

Wintertime means more fun, with Telluride and Crested Butte ski areas within driving distance, and snowshoeing even closer in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Yep, there’s snowmobiling as well, along with Nordic and backcountry skiing. All year, all fun.

Adventure Parks

Colorado Adventure Parks

Many people come to Colorado for adventure, and Adventure Parks top that experience off. Adventure Parks in Colorado are amazing because they have been incorporated into the natural mountain landscape. Using mountainous terrain and features to help peek the thrill of rides and awe-inspiring experiences. Various choices of Adventure Parks are spread across Colorado, and due to their popularity, aspects of Adventure Parks are popping up or are mixed in with other types of adventure.

Featured Adventure Parks

The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park near Cañon City is renowned for their featured attraction, the highest suspension bridge in North America. However, this park features several thrill-seeking rides and experiences. Here’s the list:

Royal Rush Skycoaster – is literally a giant swing that momentarily peaks out at 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River (the Royal Gorge) before sweeping back down at 50 mph.
Via Ferrata – a guided climbing adventure that leads visitors through massive granite walls on a cable system overlooking the Royal Gorge.
Cloudscraper Zip Line – soar above the roaring Arkansas River via state-of-the-art harnesses and braking system.
Aerial Gondola Ride – Glide across the Royal Gorge in a Poma-Leitner Gondola car. The gondola ride is included with your General Admission ticket.
Tommy Knocker Playland – with slides, ropes, 20-foot towers, tunnels, and a splash pad, this playground is a kid’s dream come true.
Water Clock – check out the historical replica.
Plaza Theater – explore the roots of the Bridge and Park while taking a journey into the past.

Royal Gorge rafting and Zipline Tours

Whitewater rafting in the Arkansas River or through the Royal Gorge is a huge attraction and a stand-alone thrill-seeking adventure. Some companies feature combo packages such as Royal Gorge Rafting and Zipline Tours. This company maximizes your fun by keeping these experiences headquartered out of the same location, the Adventure Hub.

Alpenglow Adventure Tours

Alpenglow Adventure Train Tours specializes in beginning and ending your tour right from your door. Planning your adventure via Alpenglow means choosing between Colorado’s top scenic train rides: the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Zephyr Tour, or the Royal Gorge Railroad Tour, and receiving 25% Off your group ticket price.

Edge Zipline and Adventure Park

This outdoor adventure center is located near Denver (Castle Rock, CO.) and features 4 popular attractions.

Ziplines – 10 fast and long, thrilling zipline cables
Sky Trek – a 4-story aerial trekking course. Come check out the 110 unique elements from simple to full-fledged daredevil achievements. The ultimate jungle gym experience for kids and adults.
Adventure Tower – gear up to scale the wall or test your nerve with various free falls. Check out 13 thrilling elements.
Ninja Course – challenge yourself to a test of speed, agility, and endurance. Their course features 6 levels.

Find Adventure Parks

Adventure Parks in Colorado are in motion as they continue to pop up in various locations and combine man-made features and natural settings. Learn more about Colorado’s best thrill rides.

Glenwood Caverns

If you are in or traveling by Glenwood Springs, CO., stop at Glenwood Caverns. This mountain-top park goes year-round with various thrill-seeking rides, a scenic gondola, and cave tours.

Popular Resort Towns Adventure Parks

Adventure parks or elements of adventure parks are becoming more and more prevalent in Colorado’s popular resort towns. This is especially true for ski resort base areas. You can anticipate to find any assortment of the following during the summer months:

Scenic gondola rides or chairlift rides. In addition to the scenic ride, many access mountain-top parks with various challenges for kids and adults. Hiking trails or guided tours are often available along with mountain-top dining.
Lift service mountain biking has become a mainstay for resorts in the summertime. Bike and gear rentals, along with shops, are always close by. Sign up for lessons, tours, or bike demos.

Activity Centers – Mini Adventure Parks

Typical Ski Resort Base Area summertime attractions are activity centers or mini-adventure parks. Many have attractions such as:

Mountain coasters – rail-supported or track mountain coaster rides that wind through spectacular mountain scenery.
Bungee trampoline setups – strap in and flip out on a fantastic high-tech trampoline.
Mini golf courses – fun with the gang while sharpening your putting.
Gem Panning – a keep-what-you-find assimilation of panning for precious gem stones.
Ropes and challenge course jungle gyms.
Climbing walls – challenge yourself on a fabricated climbing wall.

Pagosa Springs

Things to Do in Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Nestled in Southwest Colorado at the base of the Continental Divide, Pagosa Springs is one of the state’s undiscovered gems. Known for its three natural hot springs facilities, “Pagosah” is the Southwestern Ute word for “healing waters”. With 300+days of sunshine, ancient archaeological areas, and pristine forests, Pagosa Springs offers plenty of opportunities to soak up the scenery and enliven your spirit.

Surrounded by the largest contiguous wilderness area in the country, the Weminuche Wilderness, visitors to Pagosa Springs enjoy more than 3 million acres of National Forest to hike, bike, climb, drive, run, fish, raft, float, ride or explore our endless trails.

Pagosa Springs also offers visitors a rich geological and cultural history with Chimney Rock Archeological Site, the farthest “outlier” of Chaco Canyon, offering a fascinating historical look into the ancient culture of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians and the Fred Harman and Historical Museums both giving and intriguing insight at the rich past.

Grand Junction

Visit Grand Junction, Colorado

Surrounded by some of the most fantastic – and fantastical – landscapes on the continent, Grand Junction is a study in contrasts. Here in far western Colorado, the Colorado River meets up with the Gunnison and flows onto the Gulf of California. Even with the two rivers’ confluence, much of the area is desert-like. But it also boasts abundant fruit tree orchards, vegetable farms and an increasingly fruitful wine industry.

Things to do Places to See – Grand Junction

Off to the west of the city, where the desert gets serious, visitors encounter jutting spires, enormous domes and yawning, mysterious canyons of the awesome Colorado Monument, but just a short drive to the southeastern hem of the city is the much cooler, much higher pine and aspen forested wilderness of Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world.

Oh, and to the north is a moonscape of weathered rock known as the Book Cliffs.

You’ll find much in the way of water sports – there’s plenty of fishing both on the Mesa and the Gunnison; the Colorado is great for guided white water raft trips that can be expanded to include kayaking.

Mountain biking is unparalleled no matter which direction you go; hiking is likewise an adventure waiting while you to lace your boots; horseback riding can take you through lush forests atop the Mesa or into a shadow-filled canyon. Climbing enthusiasts will enjoy mountain climbing, bouldering, canyoneering – the challenges change with the topography.

And don’t forget you can get off the beaten path and go four-wheeling as well.

Grand Junction Business District

Downtown is a charming mix of old and new, Western and college town. There are enough restaurants to give you ample choices in cuisine and appointment; shopping is just as adventurous as you might expect in a town that continues to spread its wings culturally. It’s eclectic but, at the same time, reassuringly peaceful – a mix of culture and outdoor activity flare.

Music at Colorado Mesa University is a series of more than three dozen concerts; the Math & Science Center features more than 150 interactive exhibits geared for kids; Western Colorado Center for the Arts features exhibits and educational programs; and you can cheer on the boys of summer at a Grand Junction Rockies Minor League baseball game!

If that’s not enough, go fly a kite – or, better yet, go for a helicopter tour and get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Grand Junction.

Gateway

Find Adventure in Gateway, Colorado

The breathtaking setting for unincorporated Gateway in far western Colorado is the rugged buttes and depths of John Brown and Unaweep canyons, and as its name implies, the town is a gateway from Colorado into bordering Utah.

Offering a great staging area for adventures in the La Sal Mountains and the Uncompahgre National Forest, Gateway gives access to spectacular rock formations and sweeping vistas, but the region is also replete with desert arroyos that can and do flood quickly during sudden rainstorms. Knowing the signs saves lives.

Water enthusiasts find thrills in whitewater rapids of class III and IV that sweep through the five-mile stretch of the Dolores River through Paradox Canyon, and for pure exploration exhilaration, the Unaweep/Taberguache Scenic and Historic Byway can’t be beat. The 133-mile byway takes you through the red sandstone formations of Unaweep, where prehistoric fossils are visible in the many layers of the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Gateway Canyons Resort, Discovery Channel founder John S. Hendricks, provides a wide array of outdoor activity with mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking and climbing, fishing and rafting, kayaking, off-road tours, air tours, several foot races, a large bike race and even an auto museum.

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Idaho Springs

Things to Do in Idaho Springs, Colorado

Georgetown

Visit Georgetown, Colorado