10 Best Weekend Trips From Denver – Bearfoot Theory

One of essentially the most superb issues about dwelling in Denver is the limitless out of doors actions and adventures that you may go on from snowboarding to mountaineering and the whole lot in between. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or searching for a fast getaway, there are many stunning weekend journeys from the Denver metro space to a number of the most stunning locations inside Colorado.

Within a brief distance, there are numerous adventures for out of doors fanatics together with National Parks, wildlife-viewing alternatives, scenic byways, and a lot extra.

Below you’ll discover 10 of one of the best lengthy weekend journeys from Denver inside the state of Colorado.

Important Reminder: As it goes in the entire locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and keep in mind to Leave No Trace. This means packing out your whole rubbish (together with rest room paper), being respectful to others on busy trails, and following the established guidelines.

Feature picture: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs | Photo credit score: Abby Price

1. Rocky Mountain National Park

One of one of the best weekend journeys from Denver is to Rocky Mountain National Park. Not solely is that this one of the vital stunning National Parks within the nation however it additionally incorporates some magnificent mountaineering trails, limitless wildlife, and one of the vital well-known scenic byways within the United States: the Rocky Mountain National Park Scenic Loop.

Rocky Mountain National Park is positioned solely about 2 to three hours from the Denver metro space making it a brilliant simple drive and the views are unbelievable the whole means.

One of the highest points of interest inside the park is the Trail Ridge Road which is the best steady paved street within the United States. It is roughly 50 miles in size and takes you from Estes Park to Grand Lake.

2. Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is a superb weekend journey from Denver if you’re trying to discover a smaller metropolis inside an hour or two of Denver. The city of Colorado Springs has a lot to supply from quaint espresso outlets, breweries, limitless eating places, and fairly a little bit of purchasing. If you might be searching for a number of the greatest chocolate in Colorado, make sure you try Cacao Chemistry for a tasty deal with!

For a extra outdoorsy and adventurous lengthy weekend journey, there are limitless mountaineering choices within the space together with Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.

One of the principle points of interest in Colorado Springs is having the ability to drive to the highest of Pikes Peak, which is just 15 ft in need of being the best paved street within the United States at 14,115 ft in elevation. It’s such a steep drive down the mountain that they cease all automobiles on the midway level to verify your brake temperatures. Whether you select to drive or hike to the summit, the views from the highest are unbelievable and it’s an exquisite technique to verify off your first 14er!

3. Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs is thought for its stunning ski resort city and proximity to the slopes. If you might be searching for a enjoyable weekend getaway however want to concentrate on snowboarding powder, look no additional. Ski Steamboat’s ‘champagne powder’, charming downtown space, and numerous purchasing and eating choices. Additionally, being a bit additional away from Denver than a lot of the different resorts, you’ll keep away from a number of the crowds too!

As you might have guessed from the title, there are some great scorching springs within the space as properly. We love heading to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs after a protracted, chilly day on the slopes to heat up and get some much-needed leisure.

4. Breckenridge

Breckenridge is among the most well-known ski cities within the United States and has a lot to supply for each guests and locals alike together with limitless outlets, eating choices, unbelievable ski slopes, and their notorious brewery!

If you haven’t already observed, Colorado has most of the highest elevation information within the United States and Breckenridge is not any exception. For the skiers and snowboarders searching for a bit further thrill make sure you head up the Imperial Express, which is the best chair raise in North America taking you all the best way as much as 12,840 ft!

If you might be visiting Colorado in the summertime, convey your mountain bike and take a look at the limitless trails that Breck has to supply. Another possibility in the summertime is to take a look at one of many superb hikes within the space corresponding to Quandary Peak for the extra intense hikers or a stroll across the Dillion Reservoir for the extra informal hikers, which is located between the cities on Breckenridge, Frisco, and Dillion.

5. Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is a small city about three hours from Denver that’s identified for its Glenwood Hot Springs. For these that aren’t acquainted, a scorching spring is a pure “hot tub” the place you possibly can calm down in “tubs” of heat water which might be naturally created from the recent springs under.

Glennwood Springs can also be a terrific central metropolis within the mountains. You can rapidly drive to Aspen to ski or try the legendary fall foliage across the Maroon Bells or head over to the wineries in Palisade, that are talked about subsequent!

6. Palisade

Palisade is positioned in Colorado’s wine nation and is an ideal vacation spot for an lovely and romantic lengthy weekend journey from Denver. The small city of Palisade is filled with wineries each large and small and can also be identified for its scrumptious peaches!

If you’re searching for extra of an adventure-filled weekend, the Palisade Plunge mountain bike path drops riders over 30 miles and seven,500 ft from Mesa Top to city. It’s an enormous, backcountry experience, so make certain you’re ready if that is in your journey listing.

For a tamer weekend, Palisade is located close to the doorway of Colorado National Monument, which is thought for its sheer wall canyons, distinctive rock formations, and scenic 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

7. Ouray

If you might be searching for a weekend journey that may be a bit off the overwhelmed path, Ouray is your spot. Ouray is usually often known as the “Switzerland of America” due to its old-school allure, quaint institutions, and proximity to a number of the sheerest, drastic mountains within the United States!

Additionally, Ouray is just an hour’s drive from Telluride, making it a great location to take a look at if you wish to get a neighborhood really feel close to such a well-liked vacationer vacation spot!

8. Fort Collins

Fort Collins is about an hour outdoors of Denver which makes it such a straightforward drive for a weekend journey or only a brief day journey.

Fort Collins is thought for limitless brewery choices and is house to a number of the greatest beer within the state. Make certain to swing by Odell Brewing Company for a beer by one among their fireplace pits as their beer is known in Colorado and rising quickly throughout the nation!

9. Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is one among Colorado’s most unusual National Parks. It options large sand dunes which have fashioned on the base of 13,000-foot peaks. Seeing dunes backed up towards snowcapped mountains is actually magical.

If you’re planning to go to within the spring, convey a seaside chair. Yes, you learn that accurately, a seaside chair! The snowmelt from the mountains creates a large, slow-moving river on the base of the sand dunes and other people come from throughout to expertise a Colorado “beach”.

If the Great Sand Dunes National Park is your last vacation spot, however you aren’t feeling as much as tenting, then try the close by city of Alamosa which has a cute important avenue stuffed with eating places and breweries.

10. Bonus: Moab, Utah

Moab is outdoors of Colorado, however only a 6-hour drive from downtown Denver, making it a terrific lengthy weekend journey. Moab has a lot to supply from the limitless crimson rock formations to Arches National Park, and a lot extra. If you’re searching for a number of days of exploration and a change of surroundings, with a number of the greatest mountaineering trails in Utah, you could try Moab!

Additionally, Idaho Springs, Frisco, Glenwood Springs, and Palisade are on the best way to Moab so if you’re trying to cease at a number of areas throughout your lengthy weekend journey it is a nice possibility.

We hope this listing helps you discover one of the best weekend journeys from Denver! What are your high locations to go to round Colorado? Which locations are in your listing to go to? Leave a remark under!

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