Let's talk about adventure. While Colorado offers experiences you'd expect—like mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, and downhill skiing—it also offers a few quirkier adventures. Become a fighter pilot for a day. Jump off the world's highest suspension bridge. Drift in a balloon over green valleys and snowy ridges. Or take part in a real cattle drive. This isn't your typical vacation fare—it's true Colorado adventure. Read on for experiences that will get your nerves tingling and your heart pumping. If you crave thrills, Colorado has plenty of ways to satisfy your appetite for adventure.
Paragliding
Paragliding is a bit like flying a kite. Actually, it's like being a kite. You run off the side of a mountain and float into the sky, hanging beneath a giant canopy with the whole world spread out below you. Considering that you're looking down at some of the nation's best mountain scenery, and you've got the makings of an unforgettable flight. No experience? No problem. Enjoy a tandem flight, where you just relax and enjoy the ride.
Additional Information:
Paragliding companies
Spelunking
You've hiked up the Rockies and stood on their summits. Now view the mountains from the inside. A guided tour of caverns gets you deep inside Colorado, hundreds of feet beneath the ground. Equipped with a headlamp and rope, you'll squeeze through narrow fissures and explore dark and mysterious tunnels. Unlike the manmade mine shafts that dot the Rockies, these largely uncharted, subterranean conduits are all natural—carved by rivers, ice flows and lava millions of years ago. To witness one of the great secrets Colorado has left, take an eerily fascinating cave tour.
Additional Information:
Cave Tour Companies
Hut Touring
Nestled high and deep in the Sawatch Range, the
10th Mountain Huts offer refuge from the world. They're connected by 300 miles of rugged, breathtakingly beautiful trails that crisscross the Continental Divide. These routes once prepared American ski troops for Alpine combat during World War II; today they're a recreational challenge for hikers and mountain bikers in summer and cross-country skiers in winter. The 10th Mountain Huts lie between Aspen, Leadville and Vail, in one of the most inaccessible parts of the Rockies. There are no phones, no cars, no crowds. It's just you, a warm bed, a roaring fire and a sky full of stars. But don't worry. Hut is actually quite a misnomer. These are roomy two-story backcountry cabins, furnished with bunks, wood stoves (firewood included), propane burners and kitchens. Most of the 14 dwellings stand above 11,000 feet of elevation, so the experience can literally take your breath away.
Contact:
10th Mountain Hut Association, 970-925-5775 or
www.huts.org
Cattle Driving
There are plenty of real cowboys in Colorado. Now you can hop in the saddle and work right alongside them—moving several hundred head of cattle across miles of open country, using nothing more than your wits, your lariat and a pair of spurs. Make no mistake, this is work, not play. But a "day at the office" has never been so rewarding. You'll get a real taste of the cowboy life, with all its benefits (camaraderie, fresh air, gorgeous scenery) and sacrifices (sore muscles and sunburn).
Additional Information:
Colorado Dude Ranches
Hot Air Ballooning
Nearly every major city and resort town in Colorado offers a thrilling bird's-eye view of local scenery from the basket of a hot air balloon. Updrafts and winds can create challenges for pilots, who quickly learn how to handle their craft in unsettled conditions. Early morning is the most popular time to fly, and some adventures come complete with a champagne breakfast or in-balloon snack.
Additional Information:
Hot Air Balloon Companies
Updated: 7/31/2007