This is virtually possible to pin down. Colorado’s vast geography and collective area provides everything except beachfront property. Nonetheless, we’ll take a stab at providing a high level view of where to visit for your next camping trip in the Centennial State.
Let’s start with Rocky Mountain National Park. Located between Estes Park and Grand Lake, the park covers more than 400 square miles preserved for outdoor enthusiasts. There are more than 60 peaks above 12,000 feet including Longs Peak towering at 14,259 feet. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to the Trail Ridge Road Scenic Byway, the highest continuous paved road in the United States. The byway also connects Estes Park and Grand Lake.
Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, is known for its stunning red rock formations and hiking trails. The park spans over 1,300 acres and offers many different hiking trails that vary in difficulty. Visitors can hike through the towering rock formations and take in the beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. The park also offers rock climbing and mountain biking opportunities.
Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado and is known for its ancient cliff dwellings. The park contains over 5,000 known archeological sites, including over 600 cliff dwellings that were built by the Ancestral Pueblo people in the 13th century AD. Visitors can take ranger-led tours of the cliff dwellings and learn about the history and culture of the people who built them. In addition to the cliff dwellings, the park also offers a variety of hiking trails that showcase the stunning landscape of the region, including canyons, mesas, and forests. Visitors to Mesa Verde National Park can also stay overnight in the park’s campground or in one of the nearby lodges. Overall, Mesa Verde National Park is a unique and fascinating destination that offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived in the region over a thousand years ago.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a remote and rugged park located in western Colorado. It is named for the steep, narrow canyon carved by the Gunnison River, which drops an average of 34 feet per mile through the park. The canyon is over 2,000 feet deep in some places, and the walls are composed of a dark, volcanic rock that gives the canyon its name. Visitors to the park can take scenic drives along the rim of the canyon, hike down to the river, or camp at one of the park’s campsites. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and mule deer. Overall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Colorado who is looking for a remote and rugged outdoor experience.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in southern Colorado and is known for its towering sand dunes, which are the tallest in North America. The park covers over 30,000 acres and includes the Great Sand Dunes themselves, as well as wetlands, grasslands, and forests. Visitors to the park can hike on the dunes, camp in the park’s campground, or take a scenic drive through the surrounding landscape. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep. One unique activity that visitors can enjoy at the park is sandboarding, which involves surfing down the sand dunes on a specially designed board.
National parks offer indisputable recreation opportunities and while we could provide more examples, such as Colorado National Monument, there are other notable places to visit with unrivaled charm.
- Breckenridge – located in Summit County, is primarily known for its alpine skiing. The town has a beautiful old-style charm with modern flare. During the warmer months locals and visitors enjoy hiking, bicycling, fishing and the best outdoors experiences anywhere.
- Durango – near Mesa Verde National Park in the southwest corner of Colorado, Durango is also known for the Durango Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad and Vallecito Reservoir.
- Telluride – As with many towns in the Colorado Rockies, Telluride is also know for vibrant skiing during the winter. Summertime also provides similar activities to other towns but is especially known for festivals.
There’s really no end to the possibilities for camping and outdoor recreation throughout Colorado. Whether you like hiking and biking or boating and watersports, you don’t have to go far to find a great location.