Colorado for Tourists
Colorado for Tourists

Colorado for Tourists

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According to Acronymmonster, Colorado has numerous attractions to offer its visitors that will make the hearts beat faster. If you want, you can walk in the footsteps of the gigantic dinosaurs in the state of the century, visit hot springs, explore the state with the nostalgic train, experience historical places, ghost towns, casinos and amusement parks, ski and immerse yourself in the unique nature of the state.

On the trail of the dinosaurs through Colorado

Colorado has a rich cultural heritage that was shaped by the Indians and the conquest of the west by the whites. The state’s oldest historical sites, however, date back to millions of years ago. Because once the largest land animals of all time roamed the area of ​​today’s Colorado and there are numerous opportunities to discover traces of Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus and many other dinosaurs from this time.

The Dinosaur National Monument

The known Dinosaur monument is located in northwest Colorado in the southeastern foothills of the Uinta Mountains. The eastern part of the National Monument is in Colorado, the world-famous dinosaur quarry with around 1,500 dinosaur fossils in the rock face of the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall is in Utah. Dinosaur National Park with the Canyon Visitor Center in Colorado is perfect for experiencing the wonderful nature of the state. Vacationers can go bird watching, camping, swimming, hiking, canoeing, rafting, fishing and much more. Just a few miles from Denver is Dinosaur Ridge, home to one of the world’s most remarkable collections of natural dinosaur tracks and fossils.

On the trail of cowboys and Indians through the Wild West

Colorado is, without exception, a fantastic destination for those who have always wanted to experience the Wild West and learn more about times gone by. There are still mining sites and many abandoned ghost towns in Gilpin County (Apex, Nevadaville and Russell Gulch), among others.

For those interested in Indians, the Mesa Verde National Park, the Hovenweep National Monument and the Anasazi Heritage Center in the southwest are worthwhile places to go. But also galleries, festivals, museums and places like that Ute Indian Museum and the Koshare Indian Museum as well as the panorama road “Trail of the Ancients” are worth a visit.

Also very nice are the Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, which runs through Denvers Mountain Park. During the drive you can visit Buffalo Bill’s grave and museum, the Hiwan Homestead Museum, which Colorado Railroad Museum and visit the famous mountain park “Red Rocks”.

Numerous historical fortresses from the time of the conquest of the West, such as Bent’s Old Fort on the Santa Fe Trail, the forts Garland and Uncompahgre and the Museum of Northwest Colorado with one of the best cowboy collections in the country round off the attractions for those interested in the Wild West Century state from.

The Silverton Heritage Pass also grants access to the three main mining attractions in Silverton. It includes tours of the Mayflower Gold Mill and the Old 100 Mine.

With the nostalgic train through Colorado

In Colorado, numerous historic railways from the 1970s and 1980s run on the railways that are now operated as museum railways.

Including the:

  • Durrango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the San Juan Mountains
  • Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad on the Coloradian-New Mexican border
  • Georgetown Loop Railroad in Georgetown

The most beautiful routes

  • Narrow-gauge railway line between Cripple Creek and Victor: The seven-kilometer journey on the narrow-gauge railway leads past former gold rushes and through the historic town of Victor.
  • Cumbres & Tolec train journey: The 103-kilometer route between Antonito in Colorado and Chama in New Mexico is considered the longest and highest narrow-gauge train route in North America. The open sightseeing car is a fantastic way to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the century-old state.
  • Narrow gauge railway line between Durango & Silverton: This beautiful train journey in an originally restored passenger car from 1880 takes you past abandoned mines, pristine forests and the wild Animas River and stops in the old gold rush town of Silverton, among other places. Gold and silver used to be transported on the historic route.
  • Georgetown Loop Historic Gold Rush Railway Park: The historic narrow gauge railway between Georgetown and the Silver Plume Depot is one of the main attractions in Georgetown. The train from 1884 takes you from one place to another in around an hour and a quarter. If you want, you can also take part in a mine tour.
  • Southern Railroad, Leadville, Colorado: Leadville brings Colorado mining and railroad history to life. And that with a breathtaking view of the Arkansas River Valley.
  • Manitou and Pikes Peak Rack Railway: The rack railway to the 4,300 meter high Pikes Peak is the highest rack railway in the world and offers a great view. The operation is currently closed, but the railway is to be reopened with new technology in 2021.
  • Royal Gorge Scenic Railway: The small funicular with its open carriages offers a great view of the mountains of Sangre de Cristo and the region around Royal Gorge.
  • Royal Gorge Route Railroad: A railway from the 50s takes you through one of the most spectacular canyons in the USA and with a magnificent view.

Ranch vacation in Colorado

And if that’s not enough, you can experience the spirit of the old wild west on a ranch vacation in the land of cowboys and Indians. If you want, you can ride on tourist ranches over pastures and into the terrain, herd and round up cattle, practice using the lasso and take part in equestrian competitions, nights out and family rodeos. The offers range from pure work farms to real luxury resorts.

Many of the ranches, many of which are located in the great plains in the east but also in the mountains of the Rocky Mountains, also offer additional activities such as a special children’s program, mountain biking, hiking, swimming or even hot air balloon rides.

Cultural Monuments and Landmarks in Colorado

Colorado has a rich cultural heritage and numerous historical artifacts. In total there are two National Historic Sites in the century state (Bent’s Old Fort at La Junta and Sand Creek Massacre), four National Historic Trails (California Trail, Old Spanish Trail, Pony Express Trail, Santa Fe Trail), 15 National Historic Landmarks as well as a total of 1,551 structures and sites that are part of the National Register of Historic Places are registered.

Also well worth seeing is the wooden carousel in Kit Carson County with its 46 hand-carved wooden animal figures. It is the only one of its kind that still has the original color on the animals and backdrops.

A nationally significant collection of decorative art from the 20th century is in the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art to find. For those interested in art, a visit to Steamboat Springs and the Denver Art Museum, which houses a major exhibition of Indian craftsmanship. The Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver, where many greats in the music industry such as the Beatles, U2 and Bruno Mars have performed, is also unique.

National parks and natural landmarks in Colorado

Colorado is home to more than 960 species of animals, and there are plenty of opportunities to hike, climb, camp, ride, or mountain bike. White water sports such as kayaking, paddling or rafting can be enjoyed in the state’s rivers.

Thousands of kilometers of well-preserved hiking trails run through the mountains, forests and plains of this century-old state, and the beautiful national parks in particular are a must for nature lovers visiting Colorado.

List of national parks in Colorado

There are four national parks in Colorado:

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  • Great Sand Dunes National Park
  • Mesa Verde National Park
  • Rocky Mountain National Park

List of national monuments in Colorado

There are eight national monuments in the state of the century:

  • Browns Canyon National Monument
  • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
  • Chimney Rock National Monument
  • Colorado National Monument
  • Dinosaur National Monument
  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
  • Hovenweep National Monument
  • Yucca House National Monument

List of national forests in Colorado

11 national forests invite you to explore the state:

  • Arapaho National Forest
  • Grand Mesa National Forest
  • Gunnison National Forest
  • Pike National Forest
  • Rio Grande National Forest
  • Roosevelt National Forest
  • Routt National Forest
  • San Isabel National Forest
  • San Juan National Forest
  • Uncompahgre National Forest
  • White River National Forest

The NPS also assigns a total of fifteen for Colorado National Natural Landmarks and with the Curecanti National Recreation Area a National Recreation Area.

Skiing in Colorado

The Rocky Mountains are by far the best-known paradise for winter sports enthusiasts in the USA and at 15,783 hectares offer the largest area of ​​ski slopes in North America. The powder snow there is just as legendary as the record-breaking snowfall and the many wonderful mountain resorts that invite you to an unforgettable winter holiday in the state.

List of ski resorts in Colorado

There are numerous well-known ski areas in the century-old state that are popular with tourists and locals alike:

  • Arapahoe Basin
  • Aspen Highlands
  • Aspen Mountain
  • Beaver Creek Resort
  • Breckenridge Ski Resort
  • Buttermilk
  • Copper Mountain
  • Crested Butte
  • Durango Mountain Resort
  • Eldora
  • Howelsen
  • Keystone
  • Loveland Ski Area
  • monarch
  • Powderhorn
  • Silverton
  • Ski Cooper
  • Snowmass
  • Solvista
  • Steamboat
  • Sunlight
  • Telluride
  • Vail
  • Winter park

Colorado for Tourists

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