Colorado: 10 places to see, from Rocky Mountains to Royal

Explore Colorado's top destinations across 3,914 km, from Rocky Mountain National Park's iconic Long's Peak and alpine lakes near Estes Park to the mountain towns of Telluride and Ouray. The route covers Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mount Evans Fourteener accessible by car, Royal Gorge's suspension bridge, and scenic drives including the Million Dollar Highway.

Mode
Places
Start
Long's Peak & Iconic Mountains
End
Glenwood Springs
Stops
28
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Long's Peak & Iconic Mountains — Colorado's most prominent mountain at 14,259 feet offers challenging summit hikes rewarding climbers with panoramic views across the Rocky Mountains.
  2. Easy Accessible Hikes (Bear Lake, Lily Lake) — Gentle lakeside trails featuring pristine alpine waters and mountain reflections, ideal for families and those seeking accessible nature experiences.
  3. Telluride & Ouray Mountain Towns
  4. Million Dollar Highway — Breathtaking scenic drive through high mountain passes with dramatic cliff edges, connecting Ouray and Silverton with unmatched landscape views.
  5. Bridal Veil Falls & Via Ferrata — Colorado's tallest waterfall with an adjacent via ferrata climbing route combines waterfall viewing with thrilling mountaineering experiences.
  6. Royal Gorge Family Destination — Spectacular 1,000-foot canyon carved by the Arkansas River features a historic suspension bridge and multiple adventure activities for all ages.
  7. Arkansas River & Canon City — Major whitewater rafting destination where the Arkansas River cuts through Colorado's front range, offering rapids suitable for beginners to experts.
  8. Sand Dunes & Fourteeners Backdrop — Golden sand dunes contrast dramatically against 14,000-foot mountain peaks, offering surreal desert-mountain landscapes and diverse recreational opportunities.
  9. Mount Evans Fourteener — Colorado's highest peak at 14,130 feet accessible via scenic mountain highway and short hiking trail offering alpine tundra views.
  10. Denver Starting Point & I-70 Route — Colorado's capital city serves as the primary hub for mountain access, with I-70 providing the main corridor westward into the Rockies.
  11. Idaho Springs & Echo Lake — Historic mining town and scenic alpine lake provide gateway mountain experiences with geothermal hot springs and panoramic peak reflections.
  12. Garden of the Gods — Scenic red rock formation backdrop by Pikes Peak, featuring rock climbing at Kindergarten Rock. Located under 1.5 hours from downtown Denver.
  13. Maroon Bells Iconic Views — Two symmetrical snow-capped peaks reflected in Maroon Lake create Colorado's most photographed mountain scenery near Aspen.
  14. Crater Lake Short Hike — Accessible alpine lake hike through subalpine forest leading to pristine waters surrounded by dramatic mountain cliffs and glaciated terrain.
  15. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Resort — Natural hot springs complex on the Colorado River offers therapeutic mineral pools with mountain views in a historic western resort town.
  16. White River National Forest — Vast wilderness spanning over two million acres protects pristine alpine lakes, meadows, and peaks accessible through numerous recreational trails.
  17. Iron Mountain Gondola — Scenic chairlift ascends 2,000 feet above Glenwood Springs providing panoramic valley views and easy access to mountain-top hiking trails.
  18. Pikes Peak America's Mountain — Colorado's most visited mountain at 14,115 feet accessible via scenic cog railway or winding highway with commanding views of the front range.
  19. Manitou Springs Access — Charming artsy town serves as primary gateway to Pikes Peak with natural mineral springs, hiking trails, and historic tourist attractions.
  20. The Incline Challenge
  21. Rim Rock Drive Scenic Route — Winding 35-mile road through Garden of the Gods offering dramatic red-rock formations, desert landscapes, and multiple pullouts for photography.
  22. Rocky Mountain National Park
  23. Estes Park — Town on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park; gateway community.
  24. Grand Lake — Town on the southwest side of Rocky Mountain National Park.
  25. Telluride
  26. Ouray — Picturesque mountain town dubbed the Switzerland of America, situated at the base of Million Dollar Highway.
  27. Great Sand Dunes National Park — Park featuring tall sand dunes and visitor center at 8,170 feet elevation. High Dune offers a three-mile round trip hike to the tallest dune.
  28. Glenwood Springs — Resort city known for hot springs, surrounded by White River National Forest. Located 2.5 hours from Denver, features Iron Mountain gondola.

Useful for your trip

Transport
Rocky Mountain National Park is 90 minutes northwest of downtown Denver and 2 hours from Denver International Airport. Visit from Estes Park (east side, recommended) or Grand Lake (southwest side).
Tip
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America at 12,183 feet elevation. It's an easy roadside accessible option if not hiking.
Transport
Telluride and Ouray are 10 miles apart but the drive between them takes about 1 hour due to roads and mountains. Telluride has one road in and one road out.
Transport
Royal Gorge is 45 minutes west of Pueblo and 2 hours from downtown Denver. Royal Gorge Railroad tickets range from $80 to $300 based on experience chosen.
Timing
Mount Evans is not open year-round but opens at the end of May. Vehicle reservations required on recreation.gov; $2 with annual national parks pass or $17 without.
Avoid
Mount Evans: summer temperatures can reach 100°F in Denver but be below freezing at the summit (14,265 ft). Check Mountain forecast weather before going.
Transport
Mount Evans is 30 minutes from Denver via I-70 to Idaho Springs, then 20 minutes to Echo Lake, then 40 minutes to summit parking (90 minutes total from Denver).
Transport
Garden of the Gods is under 1.5 hours from downtown Denver. Entrance is free.
Timing
Maroon Bells: shuttle tickets are $16 per person ($10 for kids under 12 and seniors over 65). Buy online in advance as it sells out, especially weekends.
Transport
Glenwood Springs is 2.5 hours from Denver. Better as a weekend getaway than day trip. Hanging Lake hike inside Glenwood Canyon requires a permit.
Transport
Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde are 3 hours apart and can both be visited in one day. Both parks can be explored mainly via overlooks with minimal hiking.
Timing
Pikes Peak: drive to summit takes 2.5 hours from Colorado Springs (1 hour from Denver). Alternatively, take the Cog Railway train ride for a scenic experience.

Video on this route

TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN COLORADO

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