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- Descend one of dozens of trails that dive into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a national park where granite walls tower more than 2,000 feet above the Gunnison River.
- Have a relaxing soak in one of Pagosa Springs’ many natural hot-spring pools, which range from 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Marvel at the ancient towers and dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans at Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments, just northwest of Cortez.
- Stroll down to Santa Rita Park just south of downtown Durango to watch rafters run the Class III Smelter Rapid, or to cheer kayakers as they race through the river’s slalom course.
- Drive Cliff Palace Road in Mesa Verde National Park and get a bird’s-eye view of magnificent Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, perched high above the valley floor in Cliff Canyon.
- Pull into a roadside stand in Olathe to enjoy some tasty sweet corn, often regarded as the best in the state.
- Fish from a drift boat for rainbow and brown trout—as well as the occasional kokanee salmon—on the famous stretches of the Gunnison River just above and below the town of Gunnison.
- Study ancient regional culture at the Anasazi Heritage Center, which contains more than 3.5 million artifacts—many of which were removed from land that is now covered by McPhee Lake.
- Drive the Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray , which is just 24 miles of the 236-mile San Juan Skyway National Scenic and Historic Byway. This high-mountain All American Road offers stunning views and was the engineering darling of its day.
- All aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which snakes through the impressive Animas River Gorge.
- Disappear into the wildest and most untouched terrain in the state, at the 500,000-acre Weminuche Wilderness Area between Silverton, Durango, Pagosa Springs and Creede.
- Get your groove on at one of several Telluride music festivals, like the Bluegrass Festival, Jazz Celebration or Blues & Brews.
- Watch as local rodeo aces rope and ride during Gunnison’s Cattlemen’s Days, the state’s oldest and longest running rodeo.
- Stroll among the colorful Victorian buildings that line Elk Avenue in Crested Butte, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll find great shopping and marvel at some of the unique buildings (such as the license-plate-clad cabin turned cafe).
- Drive Kebler Pass on the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway between Paonia and Crested Butte, where you will encounter one of the world’s largest aspen groves and arguably the best autumn leaf viewing in the state.
- Cross-country ski or snowshoe into one of many plush or rustic backcountry huts sprinkled throughout the San Juan Mountains.
- Discover an Ancestral Puebloan dwelling perched high above the valley floor at the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area. Two-hour guided walking tours offer an in-depth history of the area.
- Savor the sweet apples of Cedaredge at the annual Apple Fest—held in early October when the air is still warm, and the apples are crisp and juicy.
- Ride on a historic stagecoach and enjoy a cowboy cookout in the beautiful Mancos Valley.
- Visit the working marble quarry—which has supplied marble for the Lincoln Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier—just beyond downtown of the aptly named Marble, Colorado.
- Ski your way down the renowned mogul runs of Telluride Ski Resort. If bumps aren’t your thing, the area is also known for having runs that are "groomed with a view."
- Take in the panoramic view of the San Juans in Ridgway, which provided the backdrop for the 1969 John Wayne classic True Grit.
- "Have an ice day" at the Ouray Ice Park, one of the world’s foremost ice-climbing destinations. Watch the pros, or give it a shot under the tutelage of a knowledgeable guide.
- Discover Lake San Cristobal just outside of Lake City, which was formed only 800 years ago when the Slumgullion Earthflow blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
- Dare to take a four-wheel-drive Jeep along the Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway through the mountains between Silverton, Ouray and Lake City.
- Watch as outlaws storm the corner of Blair and 12th Streets in Silverton with guns a-blazin’ in a Wild West gunfight reenactment—the showdown happens at 5:30p.m. sharp during the summer.
- In summer, take a short hike outside of town to discover why Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado. In July celebrate at the week-long Wildflower Festival and month-long Crested Butte Music Festival.
- Feed the fish at the Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery, Western Colorado’s main supplier of rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.
- Hone your water-skiing skills on the glassy morning waters of McPhee Lake near Dolores.
- Take on the challenging rapids of the Dolores River while you can—this little-known and wildly scenic river has a short and intense spring running season that is celebrated by local rafters.
- Hike along the final stretch of the Colorado Trail. The 479-mile, cross-state trail begins in Denver and comes to an end in Durango.
- Have a picnic with a view of the entire Animas River valley at the Animas Overlook. The area offers a handicap-accessible nature walk and a picnic area with unmatched views of the valley.
- Pray to the powder gods for a generous helping of fresh snow in Mount Crested Butte, home to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, for some of Colorado’s best snow, steeps, grooming and off-piste terrain.
- Sample a tasty craft beer from one of Durango’s local breweries.
- Relax in the toasty waters of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, full of natural hot spring water, and situated under a banner of jagged peaks.
- Watch as the impressive Silverton Fourth of July fireworks display illuminates 13,064-foot Kendall Mountain, which towers over town.
- Discover the roots of off-road riding at the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame in Crested Butte.
- Hike the short, steep, one-mile trail just outside of Telluride up to Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state.
- Cheer on the more than 2,000 cyclists who set out to race the train over two mountain passes from Durango to Silverton in the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic each Memorial Weekend.
- Tempt lady luck at the Southern Ute Casino just outside of Ignacio, or the Ute Mountain Casino in Towaoc, just south of Cortez.
- Hike past an old mining camp and through fields of columbine flowers as you make your way up the three-mile trail to the idyllic Ice Lakes outside Silverton.
- Help pick cherries—or just enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor with a slice of cherry pie—during the annual Cherry Days in Paonia.
- Savor the flavor of some of Colorado’s most exciting wines as you follow the Wine Trail in Delta, Montrose and Montezuma counties.
- Join in festivities such as a bone-throwing contest, as Lake City locals make light of Colorado’s most famous cannibal at Alfred Packer Days.
- Tour along North Rim Drive in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The unpaved road sees less traffic, but offers stunning views of the canyon.
- Take a tour of Spruce Tree House in Mesa Verde National Park, an impressive Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site within the 102-year-old national park.
- Saddle up with one of several horseback-riding outfitters for an afternoon trail ride or even a 10-day pack trip through the San Juan National Forest outside of Pagosa Springs.
- Hike the 2.5-mile Dillon Pinnacles Trail for long views of Blue Mesa Reservoir—the state’s largest body of water at Curecanti National Recreation Area—and to explore the strangely eroded spires of volcanic tuff.
- Rent a boat and head out on Navajo Reservoir in Navajo State Park, where you can fish for everything from rainbow trout to large-mouth bass.
- Catch the premiere of the next great cinematic masterpiece at the annual Telluride Film Festival, held every September.
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