From big-city skylines to whimsical hamlets, there’s something in each of the five lines here for everyone in your crew. We’re talking farming, dining, hiking and more.
Sawatch Range
Most Recognizable Peak: Mount Elbert
Best Photo Op: Collegiate Peaks Overlook (Buena Vista)
Do: The most sought-after whitewater in North America resides in the Centennial State, and at Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (Salida), you can howl down it in a river raft. Fish for plump rainbow trout at Clear Creek Reservoir (Granite) or lace up your boots for a steep climb to a glassy alpine lake on scenic Willis Gulch Trail (Twin Lakes). Kick up some gravel on a mountain bike to Interlaken Historic Resort (Twin Lakes) — the once bopping destination offers impeccable mountain-meets-lake views.
Farm: Plant seeds to provide hunger relief to families in crisis at Colorado Farm to Table in Salida. Then purchase bona fide, Colorado-grown onions and cauliflower at Knapp Harvest (Eagle).
Chow: Swoon for just-out of-the-oven cinnamon rolls at Little Red Hen Bakery (Salida) or sip your calories at Elevation Beer Company (Poncha Springs). Grab a patio table with vistas for miles at Harvest Restaurant & Bar (Edwards), indulge in a baked-cheese skillet at Wesley & Rose (Buena Vista) or nom on tangy pulled pork at Kirby Cosmo's BBQ Bar (Minturn).
Rest: Say “good morning” to alpacas from your farm-stay apartment at Jefferson Farms Natural Fibers (Salida) or soak until the cows come home at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort (Nathrop). Surf Hotel & Chateau (Buena Vista), Green Bridge Inn (Red Cliff) and Hummingbird Lodge (Avon) are also memorable stays.
Mosquito/Tenmile Range
Most Recognizable Peak: Mount Lincoln
Best Photo Op: Boreas Pass Road (Breckenridge) or Mayflower Gulch Trail (Frisco)
Do: Six challenging miles of snowmelt streams, mining ruins and glacial lakes make up the Spruce Creek Trail loop hike (Breckenridge), while Sapphire Point Overlook Trail is an easy 0.6-mile trek to — you guessed it — a gemstone-blue lake (Dillon). Cry “Eureka!” when you discover gold at Country Boy Mine (Breckenridge), then take a further step back in time in the open-air car of the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad. The whole fam will love biking, skate-parking and disc golfing at Frisco Adventure Park, or they can absorb some history on a tour of South Park City Museum’s 44 original 19th-century buildings (Fairplay) and the Tabor Opera House (Leadville). Hop on the (free!) BreckConnect Gondola for sunset scenes of the village below.
Farm: The Breckenridge Sunday Market has a bounty of goodies like drip-down-your-chin juicy peaches, steamy tamales and Colorado beef jerky.
Chow: Looking like a cross between your grandfather’s study and a hipster’s apartment, Toast & Co. (Copper Mountain) dishes up some delectable gluten-free breakfasts. Hearthstone (Breckenridge) creates gastronomic masterpieces with local game while Treeline Kitchen (Leadville) touts elevated riffs on classics (think barbecued ribs and lamb pasta). Duck into Mountain Top Cookie Shop (Breckenridge) for a chewy red-velvet number or Bristlecone Bake Shop (Alma) for a delicate apple-and-tahini-caramel croissant. Within the brilliant yellow walls of Java Moose (Fairplay) hide stand-out panini, salads and breakfast burritos.
Rest: Lay your head where Doc Holliday slept in the Delaware Hotel (Leadville) or opt for comfy bunkbeds at Gravity Haus (Breckenridge). Steps away from shopping, dining and ample activities, the plush village lodgings of Copper Mountain Resort are another fine option.
San Juan Range
Most Recognizable Peak: Uncompahgre Peak
Best Photo Op: Bear Creek Trail (Telluride)
Do: Opulent mountain communities, soaring summits and lush valleys bedeck the Alpine Loop scenic byway. Pop by Bachelor Syracuse Mine for a tour or Box Canyon Park for a view of the 85-foot plummeting waterfall (both in Ouray) while the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers 1880s-era rides. Get a Jeep aggressively muddy on the notorious Black Bear Road (Telluride): This isn’t for those as yellow bellied as marmots, so if your speed’s slower, climb high above the town on Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail.
Farm: Stop at Honeyville (Durango) for bear-shaped bottles filled to the brim with sweet liquid gold. Explore the San Juans with the grunting guides of Redwood Llamas (Silverton).
Chow: Guzzle down a Camp Bird Blonde at Ouray Brewery (Ouray) or sample the hefty Hansel's Hazy IPA at Avalanche Brewing Company (Silverton). Fresh-cut truffle fries at Climb Elevated Eatery (Lake City) make for a delectable post-drinking snack, as does the organic chicken-and-bacon sandwich at The Butcher & The Baker (Telluride). It’s topped with a chili-lime aioli that is *chef’s kiss*. The homemade pies from The Rose (Pagosa Springs) are Paul-Hollywood-handshake-worthy.
Rest: The 1902 Wyman Hotel (Silverton) combines minimalism with luxurious pale-pink details, and Telluride’s Hotel Columbia brings similar boutique energy. The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings (Ouray) and The Springs Resort (Pagosa Springs) round out the area’s best stays.