Colorado: Top 5 Things To Do

Famous for its vivid landscapes and snow tipped rocky mountains, as well as its canyons and desert lands, it’s no surprise that Colorado is practically geared to outdoor and nature enthusiasts. There are so many outdoor things to do in Colorado, from swimming in the cool water lakes to day tours and extreme sports, the point that often is a real problem for visitors is choosing what to do.

We know that communing with nature and having fun are one of life’s truest delights. This is why in this guide we’re going to talk you through the top 5 things that you absolutely need to do when visiting Colorado.

1. Camping

Spending a starry night under the Colorado sky is something you’ll never forget. Colorado is famous for its clear views of the mesmerising night sky, with its brighter, giant-appearing moon. There are a number of camping sites all over Colorado where you can pitch a tent and enjoy the state’s natural wonder, from the awe-inspiring slopes of the Rocky Mountain National Park Camping to the Curecanti National Recreation Area and Stagecoach State Park near the sparkling blue of the Gunnison river.

For higher altitude camping, Maroon Bells is a popular pick, a glacial valley with over 14,000 peaks and amazing views of the Crater Lake and woodlands.

The state really has a little bit of something for everyone.

2. Hiking

With its rocky mountain landscape, forests and beautiful canyons, Colorado is practically made for hiking. The entire state is bursting with natural splendor that you just have to see to believe, and we’ve picked the best places to start when hiking in Colorado.

Here are some standouts.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park has some of the best hiking views Colorado has to offer. The Park is 265,807 acres and features an amazing range of diverse rocky mountain landscape, lush greenery, lakes and beautiful waterfalls. Alberta Falls is one of the most famous hiking trails in the country with its summit glacier, and there are also the Timberlane Falls and Fern Falls hiking trails, among many others.

Roxborough National Park

If you’ve had enough of the lush greenery and forests, and want to appreciate Colorado’s famous orange and pink stoned rocky mountains and canyons, then the 2.3 mile Fountain Valley Trail at Roxborough National Park offers stunning hiking opportunities with absolutely amazing views.

3. Biking

Colorado is home to some of the best mountain biking and dirt bike riding in the world. From glorious mountain trails out on rocky terrain to city-run dirt bike parks and pump tracks, Colorado has you covered.

Aspen’s Snowmass Bike Park

A real gem for downhill trailing is the Snowmass Bike Park in Aspen, which stretches over a whopping 25 miles, extending from Elk Camp Chairlift all the way down to Snowmass Base Village. With an excellent mix of terrain to test your mountain biking skills and keep your blood pumping, this mountain biking trek also has some incredible views of Colorado's natural wonders.

Monarch Crest Bike Trail

This bike trail offers some stunning views outside of Salida, Chaffee County. The trail is initially quite flat, although becomes more challenging as you progress, testing your mountain biking skills in a wholly natural environment surrounded by nature.

The Garden of the Gods

A tourist favourite, the Garden of the Gods is, as the name suggests, a treasure trove of sights with towering sandstone rock formations. It’s excellent for biking, with a number of paved cycle paths for a less rough and ready, more scenic route.

4. Caving

When it comes to adventure activities in Colorado, caving is a great choice. Due to its diversity of rock formations and terrains, Colorado has a whole host of caves and caverns to traverse, climb and explore.

Here are a couple of our favourites.

Fulford Cave

Part of White River National Forest, Fulford Cave is a roughly 1 mile long wild cave that offers some excellent caving as well as hiking and camping adventures with a 7.7 mile trek up to the cave and Fulford Cave Campground. For added atmosphere when communing with the outdoors, the cave is home to fascinating critters like the Townsend Big-Eared bat and various Myotis ‘mouse-eared’ bat species as well.

To prevent disturbing the local wildlife’s hibernation cycle, the cave is closed from October 15 to April 15 every year.

The Glenwood Caverns

The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is Colorado's largest cave on show and frequently ranks in the top ten underground attractions to visit in the US. From 2 hour long wild tours that have you crawling through deep caverns to a heart-racing giant canyon swing and 3,400 feet long alpine coaster, the Park features a whole host of fun activities for thrill seekers.

Alternatively, if you want to take things easier and just enjoy the scenery in all its bacon formation glory, there are 40 minute walking tours with an easy set pace.

5. Canyoneering, Climbing and River Rafting

The Colorado National Monument and its surrounding area offers some of the best outdoor activities in Colorado when traversing its terrain, both via its unique rock formations and the waterways that run through them.

Canyoneering and climbing can be the perfect activity for thrill seekers, pushing yourself to the limit in some of the most beautiful environments in the US. Meanwhile, river rafting can be a great way to explore the area from the water, with great views of the beautiful rock formations and natural wildlife of Colorado.

This list is just a start to the activities and adventures that Colorado has to offer, but we hope this offers a great starting point to planning your next visit. Exploring the world around us and embracing new cultures is an essential part of our brand story here at Sherpa Adventure Gear. From Colorado and Delaware to the Himalayas and more, we aim to provide practical, comfortable and durable clothing that pairs perfectly with the adventures you will take, whilst giving back to the incredible society in Nepal.

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