Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is known for its lively tourist attractions and rugged natural beauty. Whether you’re into food, hiking, shopping, or bar-hopping, you’ll be able to find plenty to do here for couples, families, or solo travelers alike.
Those who love the outdoors will go wild for the scenery. Colorado Springs is home to rushing rivers and jagged lakes, all explorable on foot, by canoe, or via zipline platforms through the trees.
For those who prefer indoor fun, the city is host to a number of malls, theatres, museums, art galleries, and performance halls.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado is known for its massive sand dunes and for the seasonal Medano Creek at their base. Its highest dune stands at a towering 755 feet and visitors are invited to climb and explore any part of the 30 square mile dune field.
The park is crisscrossed with trails that lead to wetlands, forests, and alpine lakes including Medano Lake, which hosts trout and tundra wildlife. Whether you fancy a hike or want to try your hand at snowboarding on sand, this national park is well worth a visit.
Entrance to the park starts at $25.
This unique park is well-known for its incredible history and amazing sights. For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived and thrived in the cliffs of Mesa Verde and on the mesas. In the modern-day, the Mesa Verde National Park protects the impressive cultural heritage of 26 tribes and gives visitors to the area great insight into the past.
In this slice of the past, you’re able to tour ancient dwellings, gaze on petroglyphs, and learn more about the area at the local museum. The park is also home to a wide range of wildlife, giving visitors something to spot as they explore the surroundings.
The entrance fee to the park is $20.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the United States. It sports 60 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet with its highest, Longs Peak, capping out at over 14,000 feet. As you can imagine, the views from these peaks are well worth the hike to get to them.
The Continental Divide runs north to south through the park and can be crossed either on foot or via the Trail Ridge Road – the highest paved road within the national park system.
There are several ecological zones within the park. The highest zone of the park is the alpine tundra where temperatures drop and wildlife becomes scarce. A little lower sits the subalpine region which is known for its forests and lakes. Finally, the lowest region features lush meadows and copious wildlife.
Whether you’re into hiking or climbing, the Rocky Mountain National Park is rife with adventure and stunning views.
