The forecast for summer activities in Colorado calls for big blue skies in the day and cool evenings at any altitude. Claim your share of things to do in Colorado’s mild summer season by getting outside and getting active.
Summer Activities
With millions of acres of natural lands in Colorado’s National Parks and Monuments, National Forests and Colorado State Parks, the summer season is a beacon to travelers who love the great outdoors.
Hiking: Whether your goal is “Summit or Bust” up the side of a fourteeners or a lazy creekside amble, Colorado has hundreds of miles of hiking trails that are just your speed. Colorado trails are easy to access and lead through diverse landscapes — wildflower meadows, colorful cliffs and canyons, swaying grasslands, rushing waterfalls and much more.
Camping/Backpacking: There’s no better way to get close to Colorado’s abundant wilderness areas than by making one of its campgrounds home, either in a tent or a yurt, under the stars or in a fully loaded RV park. Check in for the night in our 41 Colorado State Parks, on more than 22 million acres of national forests or in hundreds of private campgrounds.
Mountain Biking/Cycling: In Colorado, bicycle riding is not just a way to get around: It’s a way of life. From the state that invented mountain biking (Crested Butte holds that honor) to dozens of endurance and high-altitude races each year, you can bet Colorado is home to an abundance of bike trails.
Boating: Colorado may be landlocked, but we still have shorelines. On thousands of acres of water, boaters find solace traveling through mountain basins or the deep, blue-water oases on plains of eastern Colorado. Tow a waterskier or tuber or just feel the wind on your face as you glide along Colorado lakes and reservoirs.
Golf: At Colorado’s high altitude, where the air is thin and dry, everyone’s golf ball flies farther and straighter. This is likely one of the reasons so many golfers are drawn to the state. The only-in-Colorado mountain backdrops, a variety of layouts and companies that offer packaged golf tours are another.
This handful of options for Colorado summer activities is only the tip of the iceberg. Take any of those vacation ideas and add horseback riding, motorcycle touring, whitewater rafting or kayaking, and you’re sure to call Colorado a summer vacation paradise.
