Colorado is an American state known for its rugged and diverse landscapes. In addition, you will get to know the real Wild West in beautiful Colorado. As the capital of Denver, Colorado offers many attractions. From snowcapped mountains in the Rocky Mountains, to the Great Sand Dunes. Check necessaryhome for a list of U.S. cities starting with G.
In addition, this special destination has many natural parks and historical destinations such as the Dinosaur National Monument and the Mesa Verde National Park. The variety and impressive natural phenomena make Colorado the perfect holiday destination in the United States. To make your stay even more complete, we have listed the most special sights for you.
Colorado ‘s Top 10 Attractions
Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rocky Mountains, and therefore the National Park, can be found in northern Colorado. The park is known for the presence of many animal species and the beautiful nature. Within the park you will find a large number of mountains with an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. Long Peaks is by far the highest at 4,346 meters. Rocky Mountains National Park has a number of beautiful trails that you can follow by car. The most impressive trail has to be the Trail Ridge Road with a distance of 43 miles. This route runs from the east to the southwest. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful panoramas and views. Prefer hiking in the Rocky Mountains? The Coyote Valley Trail and the Adams Falls Trail are highly recommended. The Coyote Valley Trail takes you along the Colorado River, while the Adams Falls Trail takes you to the waterfall of the same name. Together with the Chasm Falls, these falls are the most impressive of Rocky Mountains National Park.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde is a park for real culture lovers. The five major occupations that you will find in this park are mainly found in the canyons. They give you a unique insight into the way of life of the Pueblo Indian tribe. The Mesa Verde was their habitat until the 13th century. In Mesa Verde National Park, the best way to see the sights is from the Chapin Mesa road. It takes you past Far View where you can view various excavations of houses. Cedar Tree Tower is also nearby. This tower is related to an underground room where ceremonies were held. Along the Chapin Mesa is also an archaeological museum where you can watch a film and an exhibition about the history of this area. Long House is also worth a visit. You take this tour by tram where you climb the last meters via ladders. A visit to Long House is only possible with a ticket that you can purchase at the visitor center.
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is located in the city of Colorado Springs. This nature park is located close to the Pikes Peak, which with an altitude of 4,300 meters is quite impressive to see. The park is characterized by the many narrow rock formations. The Garden of the Gods is very suitable for a nice bike ride or walk. The roads are passable and asphalted. From the parking lot in the middle of the park you can take a nice walk to Central Garden. Here you can admire the most famous rocks of the park such as Sentinel Rock and The Three Graces. A visit to the park is also interesting for archeology enthusiasts. This is mainly because the history of the Garden of the Gods is so interesting. Many different fossils have also been found here. The park is also recommended for photographers. The unusually shaped rocks give a nice contrast with the sky.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. The park is home to America’s two tallest sand dunes, Star Dune and High Dune. They cover an area of more than 80 m2 and are up to 229 meters high. The dunes were created by the strong current of the wind. As a result, the Great Sand Dunes also change shape regularly. The dunes are mainly used for sandboarding. In the Great Sand Dunes National Park you will also find more places of interest. Medano Creek on the east side of the dunes is mostly seen in spring through summer. This stream starts out narrow and eventually grows to a considerable width. When summer is in full swing, Medano Creek slowly disappears. When you visit the creek in Great Sand Dunes National Park, it is nice to keep an eye out for the surge flow in the water. This natural phenomenon can only be admired in a few locations in the world. The sand carried by the current forms into a small dam. In the event of a breakthrough, this brings small waves with it, which is very special to see. This phenomenon repeats itself every 10 to 15 seconds. The sand carried by the current forms into a small dam. In the event of a breakthrough, this brings small waves with it, which is very special to see. This phenomenon repeats itself every 10 to 15 seconds. The sand carried by the current forms into a small dam. In the event of a breakthrough, this brings small waves with it, which is very special to see. This phenomenon repeats itself every 10 to 15 seconds.
Denver
The ultimate combination of activity and the old wild west can be found in Denver. Where Denver used to be known for its gold miners, it is now a bustling city at exactly one mile. In Lower Downtown you can stroll through attractive streets with Victorian-style houses. You will find plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants. Larimer Square is the oldest part of the city. Denver has always been a city for prospectors, which is reflected in the golden dome of the State Capitol. The State Capitol also houses a museum that tells you everything about the history of Colorado. Are you in Denver and in need of some rest and relaxation? Then visit Confluence Park. This is a favorite park among the locals and is ideal for a nice walk or picnic. From here you can also take a walk via the Cherry Creek Trail to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
Dinosaur National Monument
During your vacation in Colorado, a visit to Dinosaur National Monument is a must. This monument is located southeast of the Uinta Mountains. In this park you can admire the fossils of many dinosaurs, including the Allosaurus and the sauropoda. The Dinosaur National Monument is home to the impressive Wall of Bones in the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Here you can admire a wall of no less than 24 meters long full of fossils. In the park you can walk various short or long trails. Also some trails can be traveled by car such as Cub Creek Road. You will pass several landmarks such as the Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs and Pictographs. These are rock paintings depicting various strange animal species by the Fremont People. They were the original inhabitants of this area 1000 years ago.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the smallest parks in America and is known for its dark and wild canyons. These were formed by the nearby Gunnison River as the water forced its way through the hard rocks of the Rocky Mountains for more than 2 million years. The name Black is due to the volcanic material from which the Canyon is built. The best way to visit the park is by car via the South Rim Road. There you will encounter the most beautiful panoramic views of the National Park on the way. Hiking is also a great option in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. You can do this via various trails such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail or the Cedar Point Nature Trail.
Colorado National Monument
The Colorado National Monument is located near Grand Junction. The park is characterized by impressive rock formations, gorges and views. You can easily reach the most beautiful places by car via the Rim Rock Drive. This is also accessible to cyclists and takes you past breathtaking panoramas. The road runs east to west of the Colorado National Monument. Along the way you will visit points such as the Coke Ovens, Fruita and Ute Canyon View and the Grand View. If you take this route around sunset, you are fully assured of a great visual experience. You can also indulge yourself in this park for a nice walk. For example, follow the short Devil’s Kitchen Tour or the somewhat extensive Lower Monument Canyon Trail around the Wedding Canyon. Count on impressive rocks and spectacular views.
Independence Pass
The Independence Pass is closely connected with Highway 82. This is one of the highest roads in America. The mountain pass used to be called Hunter Pass and is part of the Rocky Mountains. You will find the Independence Pass at almost 4,000 meters near Aspen and Twin Lakes. The special places that the Independence Pass offers you are therefore best viewed by car via Highway 82. Here you can get a good view of the treeless plains and alpines from a landscaped vantage point.
Red Rocks
If you are in the Denver area, a visit to Red Rocks is highly recommended. This open-air amphitheater is located about 15 miles from Denver Colorado. The stands and stage of this impressive theater are sideways assisted by two huge monoliths. They are named Ship Rock and Creation Rock and are at least 100 meters high. The rocks are formed by sand-lime bricks and have a history that takes you back 250 million years. Nowadays Red Rocks is mainly used as an open air movie theater or for giving concerts. Nice to know is that the recordings of the U2 concert in 1983 were used for the clip of the song Sunday Bloody Sunday.