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Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Durango and Silverton Railroad offers passengers a scenic 45-mile journey through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. This train ride provides a glimpse into the history of southwestern Colorado, along with breathtaking views from every window. The ride takes approximately three and a half hours to travel from Durango to Silverton. Once in Silverton, passengers have around two hours to explore before they board the train for the return trip to Durango. Additionally, there is a bus service available where passengers can take the train to Silverton and return to Durango by bus.
Royal Gorge Bridge Park, Colorado
Adventure seekers need to look no further than the Royal Gorge Bridge Park. You can walk, float, zipline, or ride an aerial gondola over one of the deepest canyons in Colorado. Enjoy stunning views of the gorge and the Arkansas River below while marveling at the highest suspension bridge in the United States. Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is open year-round in Cañon City, Colorado. The drive from Denver is about two hours. May 1 through September 30 is the Peak Season. General admission tickets include access to the park, bridge, theater, and unlimited Gondola rides.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Dating back to 1879, the Railroad tracks originally transported miners and ore from the region and also served as a passenger route. Today, trains operate year-round, taking passengers on a scenic journey through the Royal Gorge, departing from the Santa Fe Depot in Cañon City and traveling to the western terminus in Parkdale before returning. This train ride is regarded as one of America’s most spectacular railroad journeys. The experience offers breathtaking natural beauty and excellent onboard service, making it truly unforgettable.
Garden of the Gods Natural Landmark
Enjoy dramatic views of the towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of brilliant blue skies, interspersed with the snow-capped peaks of Pikes Peak. It is truly one of the most picturesque views in all of Colorado. Open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (November-April until 9:00 p.m.), the park sees about two million visitors annually. Dogs are allowed on designated trails, and facilities include restrooms and picnic areas. The Visitor and Nature Center provides exhibits on geology, ecology, and history, plus a café and shop. Entry is free, though some activities, like the 1909 Jensen Historic Ranch tour, require fees.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Located 80 miles northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park attracts nearly 5 million visitors annually. Rocky Mountain is considered one of the nation’s highest national parks, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet to 14,00 feet. Activities include hiking, camping, fishing, sightseeing, and driving on the park’s Trail Ridge Road, which ends at the continental divide. With 355 miles of hiking trails to explore, Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker’s paradise. There are various routes ranging from flat lakeside strolls for novice hikers to steep mountain peak climbs for experienced hikers. Website.
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
Passengers on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad enjoy a scenic train ride into the Rocky Mountains. The train operates along the old Denver, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado & Southern line along the Arkansas River Valley. The train runs from Memorial Day weekend through early April, with daily departures (10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in peak season, June 15–August 18; 2:00 p.m. otherwise). Tickets rarely sell out due to high capacity, and group discounts are available for 20+ people. Special trips include the Fall Photo Special, Devil’s Tail BBQ, Oktoberfest, and Winter Holiday Express, with add-ons like zipline or rafting packages. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Website.
Indian Hot Springs
Indian Hot Springs features an indoor swimming pool filled with natural hot mineral water, with temperatures ranging from 90° to 100°. Discovered by George A. Jackson during the Gold Rush in 1859, the site was transformed into a bathhouse after hot water was found instead of gold. Today, the resort offers various soaking experiences, lodging options, and spa services, all set against the scenic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Day-use passes and overnight accommodations are available at 302 Soda Creek Road, Idaho Springs, Colorado.. Website.
Glenwood Springs Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is the ideal destination for enjoying mineral hot springs while surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains. The World’s Largest Hot Springs Pool boasts over one million gallons of water. The area offers a variety of activities, including river rafting on the Colorado River, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking.
In town, you’ll also find the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which features 16 smaller, quieter soaking pools with temperatures ranging from 98°F to 108°F, creating a family-friendly atmosphere. The springs are open from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and ticket prices range from $28 to $52. For a more exclusive experience, private pools are available.
Nevadaville Ghost Town
Nevadaville is a 1860s North Central Colorado gold-mining town that is all but a ghost town. A few of the original buildings are still standing, including the Town Masonic Lodge and the town’s city hall. At its peak, some 4000 people called Nevadaville home. The Masonic Cemetery is known for paranormal activity, including sightings of a “lady in black.” Mine ruins remain but are hazardous due to unstable shafts. The site is accessible year-round via Nevadaville Road, with free parking and a walkable Main Street. Visitors should respect private property and avoid mine areas.
St. Elmo Ghost Town
St. Elmo is situated at nearly 10,000 feet in Central Colorado. By the 1890s, the area’s mines had recovered over a million dollars in gold, boosting the town’s population to almost 2,000. St. Elmo featured several hotels, saloons, newspapers, and railroad services. Main Street features wooden buildings like the 1881 Town Hall, Home Comfort Hotel, Stark family general store, and a restored schoolhouse. Many are privately owned but viewable from public paths. The St. Elmo General Store and Buena Vista Heritage maintain the Miners Exchange and other structures. Website.
Creede Underground Mining Museum
Creede is a historic mining town in Mineral County, Colorado. Creede was the last silver boom town in Colorado and, at one time, had a population of nearly 10,000. These days, the city is a much quieter place, with tourism being its leading industry. The Creede Underground Mining Museum is located just north of downtown Creede. Visitors can walk along a 600-foot mine drift that displays what it was like to be a silver miner. Creede is also home to a unique roadside attraction, the World’s Largest Fork, as featured on the Mining Museum website.
Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
Located five miles east of Silverton, the Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour takes visitors into an absolute gold mine on board a mine train. The tour operator provides a hard hat and a waterproof coat before you enter the mine. Tour guides demonstrate the equipment miners used to extract gold ore inside the mine. After the gold mine tour, visitors can try panning for gold. Open May through the end of August. Website.
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad runs tourist train excursions in Alamosa, Colorado. The La Veta Pass Train Tour takes passengers into the Rocky Mountains over the La Veta Pass to the town of La Veta. Excursion tickets include brunch served onboard the train. The round-trip distance is over 100 miles, so plan on spending a whole day if you want to take this train excursion. The train departs Alamosa at 9:30 in the morning. And returns late afternoon at 5:15 p.m. Currently, no trains are running on this Railroad, and it is uncertain that train rides will be offered in the future.
Georgetown Loop Railroad
The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a historic narrow-gauge steam train ride in Georgetown, Colorado, about 45 miles west of Denver off I-70. Completed in 1884, it was an engineering marvel designed to connect the mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, navigating a 2-mile distance with a 640-foot elevation gain through rugged Clear Creek Canyon. The Railroad runs 5-mile round-trip excursions between Georgetown and Silver Plume. Passengers can board the train from either station. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is located on I-70, about 45 miles west of Denver. Website.
Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
Cripple Creek Railroad takes passengers on a four-mile trip over a train trestle and past abandoned mines. Train rides are offered from May through October and are pulled by historic coal-fired steam engines. The train trip takes about one hour. To round out your visit, consider taking a tour of the Mollie Kathleen Mine. Visitors descend 1000 feet underground via elevators to see the inner workings of the gold mine.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
The Great Sand Dunes are located on the Eastern edge of the San Luis Valley. The giant dunes rise to over 700 feet high and are the tallest dunes in North America. Visitors must cross Medano Creek to reach the dune, which is usually only a couple of inches. The park features an informative visitor center and a paved parking lot adjacent to the dune field. Sandboarding and Sand Sledding are popular activities at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Website.
Chimney Rock National Monument
Located in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, Chimney Rock was once the site of a Pueblo Indian settlement. The site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970, is culturally significant to modern Pueblo tribes, who consider it sacred and request limited excavation to respect ancestral spirits. Visit early (May/June) or late (September) to avoid monsoons. Follow Leave No Trace principles and stay on marked trails to protect fragile sites: no RVs or oversized vehicles on the mesa road.
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep, NM, preserves the ruins of six villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 by the Pueblo people. Square Tower is the largest ruin at the monument and once housed over 500 people. Hovenweep is located in a remote area along the border between Utah and southwest Colorado—the monuments. The visitor center is open year-round. The nearest town to Hovenweep National Monument is Cortez, Colorado. Website.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde NP is one of the lesser-visited National Parks, although it can be pretty crowded if you visit in the summer. There are four principal Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings in the park. Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House. To visit Spruce or Balcony, visitors must sign up for a Ranger-guided tour at the visitor center. Several roads run through the park, allowing visitors to view cliff dwellings from a distance. Website.