Check out these mini itineraries for our matches made in heaven.
Colorado Hiking & Hot Springs
After a brisk hike, there are few sensations as stellar as an outdoor hot-springs soak. And lucky for all of us, Colorado’s geography seems to share this sentiment. There are natural hot springs all over the state, with trails to suit every kind of hiker.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
If you’re more chill than thrill, make the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort your home base — then head for the Narrow Gauge Trail. Just a few miles’ drive from the resort, this easy 4.5-mile out-and-back trail runs along the north side of Chalk Creek and climbs slowly through the forest.
Back at the resort, you’ll have plenty of choices for things to do. Mount Princeton offers large exercise and relaxation pools as well as intimate Japanese-style cascading pools and even a 400-foot water slide.
Piedra River Hot Springs
Near the quaint southern hamlet of Pagosa Springs, you’ll find one of Colorado’s most rustic natural soaks: Piedra River Hot Springs. Thanks to the remote, ultra-private setting, this is a picnic-must, clothing-maybe kind of place. So, after you pack up your lunch in town, head southwest on U.S. 160 to First Fork Road — then continue to Sheep Creek Trailhead.
It’s a moderate 3-mile round-trip hike to the springs, which are primitive rock pools woven into the Piedra River. Locals’ tip: You need not be afraid to dip in the buff; only the marmots and mule deer are watching.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Tucked into a secluded conifer grove just outside of Steamboat Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs is also rustic — but on a truly grand scale. From Highway 40, turn right on Elk River Road, then follow the challenging Mad Creek Trail (8.9 steep miles, out and back) through quivering aspens and wildflower-painted meadows to the springs. Here, the facilities come off as enhanced rather than engineered, with handcrafted rock walls and waterfalls separating the spacious, sandy-bottomed pools. Watch a video about Strawberry Park Hot Springs
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Colorado Biking & Breweries
Coloradans are passionate about their bikes and their brews — and whether you’re a seasoned centurion or a single-speed type, we’ve got plenty of ways to gear up for beer.
Fort Collins
If mellow, guided tours are how you roll, try Fort Collins' Beer & Bike Tours, a locally owned and operated business that will help you get an insider’s perspective on this lively college town’s best watering holes.
Each four-hour cruise covers 3 to 6 miles of easy riding with stops at three local breweries of your choice, including New Belgium, Odell Brewing Co., Horse & Dragon and Funkwerks. Your cruiser comes with a basket for growlers and other goodies. Read Colorado Views & Brews: 1 Day in Fort Collins
Boulder
Boulder looks even better from the back of a bike — and thanks to the city’s B-Cycle program, you won’t even need your own wheels. It's easy to score one of these sturdy townie-style bikes for 24 hours, and you can rent or return them at stations all around town.
Start your self-guided tour on downtown's Pearl Street. Shine and Mountain Sun are all within easy reach. An easterly jaunt down the scenic Boulder Creek Path puts you in shouting distance of Upslope and the Wild Provisions Beer Project. Tuckered out? Catch the bike-friendly bus back downtown. Find a bike-to-breweries map
Carbondale to Snowmass
Experienced cyclists looking for a breathtaking ride should start in Carbondale with a carbo-load at Carbondale Beer Works — a few blocks off the Rio Grande Trail — then head north. As the pretty, paved trail weaves its way along the river, you can sample local brews at Capitol Creek Brewery in Basalt, or press on to Snowmass Village for a visit to the New Belgium Ranger Station.
From the village, pick up a leisurely side trail to the legendary Woody Creek Tavern, a longtime haunt of Hunter S. Thompson, or keep heading north to the Aspen Brewing Company. Not up for a 30-mile incline? Take the bus to the top, then coast down the gorgeous valley.
Colorado Wildflowers & Wine
As it turns out, the conditions that produce Colorado’s wine grapes are also ideal for our most popular uncultivated crop: wildflowers. Bring them together for a romantic, intoxicating combo.
Crested Butte
The tiny town of Crested Butte hosts not one but two festivals every July — the Wildflower Festival (July), and the Wine & Food Festival (July). Flower lovers have a full week to appreciate the local color with hikes, 4x4 tours and classes in every subject from painting and photography to edibles and medicinals. Foodies and oenophiles can spend days immersed in sips and seminars, with hundreds of top-tier wines from around the world. Find more Colorado summer festivals
Palisade
Though it’s arguably most famous for its perfect peaches, sleepy Palisade is also proud to be in the heart of wine country — and the host of the Colorado Lavender Festival (June). This fragrant weekend fête blends tours of local gardens and lavender farms with hands-on learning experiences led by local artisans and lavender-inspired meals. Festivalgoers can stay at the Spoke and Vine Motel, which provides easy access to the area’s abundant selection of wineries and warm Western Slope hospitality.
North Fork Valley
Colorado’s tranquil North Fork Valley is also a haven for both wildflowers and wine, with the added benefit of being a bit off the beaten path. The lasso-shaped West Elk Loop scenic and historic byway covers an astounding 205 miles, much of it peppered with vibrant, flower-filled meadows and cool historic sites.
But wine lovers will be most interested in the portion that links Paonia, Hotchkiss and Cedaredge, now known as the West Elks AVA. This pristine, high-elevation valley is home to independent wineries producing quality riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot gris and chardonnay varietals. Not all have dedicated tasting rooms, but most will arrange a private tour if you call ahead.
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Learn more about Colorado wildflower hikes and wine trails and tasting rooms, or wine your way around Colorado.