Colorado Road Trip: Surrounded by Nature on the National Parks Loop

Fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), which offers nonstop and connecting flights from around the world. Denver is known for its laid-back atmosphere, craft beer and culinary scenes, beautiful scenery and attractions for all ages. With hundreds of craft breweries, Colorado is a top contender for the ultimate beer state in the USA. Visit the state’s first brewpub, Wynkoop Brewing Company (cofounded by former governor John Hickenlooper), for a free brewery tour. They’ll even show you which beers pair best with menu items. Foodies should save room for the historic Denver Union Station, a transit hub that has taken on a new life as an artisan food haven. Next Door American Eatery is great for a healthy meal (vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options are plentiful), followed by a hand-made ice cream cone at Milkbox Ice Creamery. End your visit at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, a legendary music venue equally known for its fascinating geological formations. Arrive early to explore the hiking trails, take pictures and check out the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. It’s a can’t-miss stop for nature lovers and photographers alike, and there’s no charge to visit, making it a perfect stop before the drive to Estes Park. Make the drive part of the experience by traveling along the Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway featuring small towns and stunning valleys from Central City to Estes Park.

Visited by millions of people each year, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of the USA’s natural treasures and the fourth most visited national park in the country. Estes Park, known as the base camp for RMNP, is a year-round tourist destination with a walkable downtown that’s home to diverse restaurants, unique shops and festive events. Park your rental car, because convenient (and complimentary) shuttles transport you around town and into RMNP. Outdoor activities are too numerous to list, but consider horseback riding, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, camping, biking and nearly 600 kilometers of hiking trails. Take the family-friendly Alluvial Fan Trail hike, the scene of a massive flood that left a fanned-out field of massive boulders, rocks and sediment. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the power of nature. Winter brings snowy fun, from sledding to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ranger-led programs and guided tours are excellent ways to learn about the park from experts. When you’re done for the day, relax with a local craft beverage and a hearty meal at one of Estes Park’s many restaurants featuring locally sourced cuisine. The mountain views from the town’s outdoor patios are breathtaking, and wildlife sightings are plentiful.

The drive to your next stop is along Trail Ridge Road, RMNP’s “highway to the sky” and likely one of the most dramatic drives you’ll ever make. Designated as a National Scenic Byway All-American Road, this route is a destination unto itself, crossing the Continental Divide and transitioning from thick forest to windy tundra above the tree line at 3,700 meters elevation. The road closes in the winter, but the community of Grand Lake is easily accessible by alternate routes. Grand Lake is considered the western gateway to RMNP, and you can expect an equal abundance of activities in nature. Winter sports are especially noteworthy, including snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and ice fishing, but the snowmobiling is so epic, it’s known as the Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado. Local outfitters offer rentals and guided tours of 482 kilometers of groomed and backcountry trails. Even the town streets are designated snowmobiling trails in the winter. When the snow melts, enjoy the plethora of warm-weather fun at Colorado’s largest natural lake: fishing, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and sunbathing, all with gorgeous views of Mount Craig (also called Mount Baldy) as a backdrop. Take the short hike to Adams Falls before you leave. The series of cascading waterfalls is great for pictures and the hike is appropriate for all fitness levels.

From Grand Lake, drive southwest along the Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway, which follows the source of the Colorado River alongside lush prairies and the impressive Gore Canyon. Your destination of Grand Junction is, not surprisingly, also incredibly photogenic, but also a different side of Colorado than you’ve seen so far. The can’t-miss park here is Colorado National Monument, whose deep canyons, scenic outlooks and red rock spires are unlike anything else you will find in Colorado. In addition to exploring a variety of hiking trails, many visitors drive or bike the scenic 37-kilometer Rim Rock Drive. It’s a challenging route, but the views are truly stunning. Spend the night in downtown Grand Junction to take in the culinary scene (featuring fresh, local ingredients), family-friendly attractions and walkable Main Street. You won’t run out of things to see, do and experience here. Look for whimsical sculptures (including fountains and a dinosaur riding a bicycle), sit down for a cold beer (Grand Junction has three breweries) or a locally made wine (Grand Valley is home to more than 20 wineries). Before heading south toward Montrose, consider a detour north along the Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic Byway to follow in the ancient footsteps of the dinosaurs across starkly beautiful wild lands.

Vast, largely undeveloped plains follow you to Montrose, one of several mountain towns on the West Elk Loop National Forest Scenic Byway, which also includes Crested Butte, Gunnison and the surrounding mountainous national forests. Montrose has a friendly atmosphere, outdoor recreation and a quaint downtown lined with colorful storefronts. Grab your camera and head to Black Canyon National Park, named for the dramatic, deep gorge carved by the Gunnison River over the course of 1.7 billion years. The canyon walls are so tall that the bottom of the gorge receives only minutes of sunlight each day. It’s hard to believe that the park isn’t more heavily traveled – the vistas are absolutely jaw-dropping. Take the scenic South Rim drive and pull off at the overlooks for dizzying views of the river far below. For avid anglers, nearby Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area offers Gold Medal trout fishing on the Gunnison River. As night falls, you can watch the twinkling ribbon of the Milky Way rise into the sky at Black Canyon, an International Dark Sky Park. Camp overnight or go for more modern lodging in town. You’re in for a real treat at your next destination, Mesa Verde.

The drive from Montrose crosses the San Juan National Forest, passing the legendary ski resort at Telluride before linking up with the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway. This multi-state byway traces monuments, museums and landmarks where you can learn more about Indigenous American heritage and history. Stop in the town of Dolores to stretch your legs and visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, dedicated to the history of the Pueblo, Ute and Navajo Native Americans – it’s the perfect preview to Mesa Verde National Park, home to some of the best-preserved, ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings. Purchase tickets at the visitor center for the Cliff Palace tour, the park’s largest cliff dwelling, or the Balcony House tour, an incredible adventure that will have you climbing ladders and crawling through tunnels. You can also opt for the self-guided driving tour on Mesa Top Loop Road, featuring 12 scenic overlooks on the 10-kilometer loop. Keep an eye out for some of the park’s diverse wildlife: deer, coyote, foxes, elk and exotic reptiles among them. Insider tip: Bring binoculars! If you’re visiting between April and October, make reservations at the Far View Lodge. The sweeping views of the desert and colorful sunsets can’t be beat. There’s no cell service and no TVs. If it weren’t for the free Wi-Fi, it would be a true break from modern life.

About halfway between Mesa Verde and Alamosa is Pagosa Springs, the world’s deepest geothermal hot springs – set aside an extra couple of hours to experience the rejuvenating waters. Your last stop is Alamosa, home to Great Sand Dunes National Park and the tallest sand dunes in North America. It’s difficult to do justice to the unusual scenery here; the massive dunes are surrounded by evergreen spruce and pine forests, wetlands, grassy plains and towering 3,900-meter mountain peaks. Don’t miss a chance to experience sandboarding or sandsledding. You can rent equipment outside of the park. The weather – especially the wind – changes quite a bit here: Your best bet is to hike the dunes early in the morning, then plan for a forest hike and cooling off afterward in Medano Creek (depending on seasonal water flow). Enjoy a hike at Zapata Falls and soak in the stunning views of the dunes and San Luis Valley. You might opt to enjoy a final side trip on this journey through more of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway, before catching a flight home from Denver or Albuquerque, New Mexico.